News Archive (6192)
Thursday, 03 June 2010 06:08
Plymouth Commission Expected to Discuss Architect Committee
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Plymouth Planning Commission Wednesday was scheduled to discuss the make-up of a city Architecture Committee, which has been tabled for about a year. Community Development Director Barry Siebe in a report said city staff, directed by the Planning Commission and the public in 2008 and 2009 drafted “Design Guidelines for the Downtown Plymouth area.” In November 2008, the commission council adoption, for which a public hearing was held in April of 2009, and the document was sent back to the commission for revision. Siebe said: “Staff has attempted to ascertain all of the comments from the city council, including review of the written minutes and review of the recorded tapes of the meeting,” but the minutes were “limited in detail, and the majority of the taped discussion is missing.” He said the “record as it exists does reveal some discussion regarding the make-up of the Architectural Committee and concerns from the city attorney about members of the planning commission or city council being conflicted out of the appeal process if they sat on the committee for a decision that was appealed.” Siebe said city staffing changes have allowed the issue to fall by the wayside. The work was held in the transition from council to commission and with staff changes, when the city planner’s contract was not renewed, and the council hired Siebe as its first on-staff community development director. The commission asked for the Architecture Committee issue to be brought back to them for reconsideration, and it has “been over a year since it was seen by the council.” He said the commission Wednesday likely would have a general discussion of the issue. Siebe said council discussion included having architectural industry professionals on the committee, but raised the question of whether they would be paid or volunteer. If they get to the point where they want to make recommendations for the council to take action, Siebe said he would initiate the public hearing process. He said “it had been kind of languishing for some time,” and Wednesday’s meeting would be informal, with no action, because that would require the public hearing process. The report said “no annotated or detailed summary of the council recommended changes has been found.” Siebe recommended the commission “review and discuss design guidelines and staff comments, and provide direction to staff.” Draft guidelines “would provide design review authority for projects inside the downtown area,” including site planning, architectural character, landscaping, streets, parking, access, outdoor retail sales and signs. Past work included a draft amendment to city zoning code, applying to development of parcels in the existing “Downtown Overlay District.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 03 June 2010 06:09
Journey of Hope Philanthropic Ride to Visit Arc of Amador
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Journey of Hope cyclists, a group of young men who ride annually across the country to raise money and awareness for people with disabilities, are scheduled to visit the Amador office of the Arc of Amador and Calaveras on June 15. Journey of Hope is hosted by Push America and is the official philanthropy of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. What began as a solo ride by event founder and fraternity member Bruce Rogers in 1987 became an annual trek across the continental United States for dozens of fraternity brothers. Along the way they stop at various community centers for what are known as daily “friendship visits.” This year’s journey begins in San Francisco on June 12, and participants will follow one of three alternate routes on their way to Washington, D.C. Half of the 40 participants will make their way through Jackson, where they have chosen to visit the Arc of Amador and Calaveras for the 22nd year. As always, the Arc is welcoming the bicyclists with open arms and a “friendship” picnic “replete with camaraderie, food, drink, and lots of fun.” The picnic will be at St Sava’s complex in Jackson between 11:00 am and 2:30 pm on June 15. Other local sponsors include Jackson Family Sports and Mel and Faye’s diner. The folks at Jackson Family help the PUSH team with their bike maintenance needs while Mel and Faye’s has provided breakfast for the riders on Wednesday morning for many years. Pi Kappa Phi is the only national men’s fraternity to establish and maintain their own service project. Fraternity members have raised over 10 million dollars for Push America since 1977. Each cross-country trip is 63 days long and the bicyclist’s average 75 miles per day. Every day the riders meet with disability groups and promote events to raise awareness and understanding of people with disabilities. For more information contact The Arc at 267-5978. The Arc has provided services to people with disabilities since 1971. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – Amador County’s Teen Zone Live television show returned from a 5-year hiatus this year and wrapped a successful season with the help of dozens of local youths. The adults involved in Teen Zone Live (TZL) were far outnumbered by the kids, but they helped teach the older teens who were mentoring younger teens. Lori Halvorson of the local Mentoring Works! Program said that 42 kids helped produce and host the television variety show, while others appeared as interview subjects to talk about their successes in school and extracurricular activities. Halvorson said about 60 children total were involved in the 2010 version of Teen Zone Live, which began in 2000 on the Tom Slivick Production Network (Comcast Channel 7, Volcano Vision Channel 5, and www.tspntv.com). TSPN’s Teen Zone Live ran 5 seasons, before the hiatus. TSPN Vice President and cofounder Sue Slivick recruited Halvorson and her Mentoring Works! Program, through the Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency, to bring back the show. Show hosts changed each episode and throughout show segments – a change from TZL’s original format. Halvorson said she “wanted more kids to get the opportunity to have the leadership positions.” She said it worked. Halvorson said the success showed in those 2 months. She said: “I just think the high school kids did an exemplary job of being positive role models for the junior high kids, and I was really amazed at the growth I saw in some of the younger kids’ self esteem and self image and their ability to present themselves in front of a live audience.” The junior high kids went from literally being “behind the scenes,” operating TV cameras in earlier episodes, “to being the main hosts” of a later episode. “It made them realize what they had to do to be prepared,” Halvorson said, and the kids were versatile too, as some would host one show, then be camera people the next. “They were all willing to pitch in to do what needed to be done to make sure that the show happened.” TZL youths from Amador and Argonaut High Schools and Ione and Jackson Junior High Schools helped create 10 episodes, starting March 29th and airing live on Monday nights through May 24th. Each TZL repeated 16 times through the week. Summer school break ended the season, and Halvorson and TSPN plan to bring the fall version of Teen Zone Live when school resumes in September. Major sponsor of TZL was the Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel & Conference Center; and Roundtable Pizza. To learn about TZL or adult-child mentoring, call Halvorson at 223-1485 ext. 242 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 03 June 2010 06:12
Supes Seek Public Input on Land Use-Public Works Reorganization
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors announced Tuesday that they will be soliciting public comments on the planned reorganization of the Land Use and Public Works agencies in a workshop planned for June 10. Both Agencies will be reorganized into a single Community Development Agency to include Building, Code Enforcement, Environmental Health, Planning, Public Works, and Waste Management functions. This agency restructuring is part of a larger reorganization plan to reduce 11 existing departments “who have overlapping or shared functions” into 5 units: Administration, Community Development, Health & Human Services, General Services Administration and Public Services. All 5 units fall under the supervision of the County Administrative Officer, who in turn reports to the Board of Supervisors. “This is no longer business as usual; things have changed and we have to change with them,” said CAO Terri Daly shortly before the board approved the plan last month. She said “the reorganization is the result of the financial situation of the County which has not changed dramatically since the mid-year budget update” presented in March. Daly announced her resignation last week in order to take another position, and the County is currently seeking applicants to fill her spot. The upcoming workshop will seek feedback specific to the reorganization of the Land Use and Public Works agencies, including questions on what existing services or processes within the several departments should be retained, what suggestions might make service or processes quicker and less costly, and what services customers feel are most valuable. The County says “written responses in lieu of or in addition to workshop participation are also welcome,” but reminds the public to “be aware that early input will provide the most benefit in the process.” Comments may be submitted in person at the public workshop, e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or mailed to the Community Development Agency, 810 Court Street, Jackson, CA 95642-2132. The workshop is planned for 2 – 4 pm, June 10, in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, also located at 810 Court Street. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County - The Amador-El Dorado-Sacramento-Alpine Unit of CAL FIRE is reminding everyone that we are moving into a period of increased risk of wildfires. Although there has been an unusually wet and extended spring, temperatures will be increasing and humidities will be decreasing, drying out the lighter vegetation such as grass and increasing the risk of wildfires. Summer will be here soon and CAL FIRE anticipates that wildfires will be unusually difficult and hazardous to firefighters due to the amount of broken off or crushed to the ground trees from the December snow storm and an unusually thick and tall grass crop. Unit Fire Chief Bill Holmes reminds everyone to clean up around their property now making a 100 foot defensible space around all structures. Lastly, although dooryard burning is allowed with a burning permit now, there will be a burn ban around July 1. Visit CAL FIRE's website at www.fire.ca.gov or www.readyforwildfire.org for more information or call (530) 644-2345 for a free brochure. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – After 2 days of discussion last week, including a public workshop and resuming the topic the next day, the Amador Water Agency board of directors decided Thursday to shy away from the idea of charging “up front” developer service fees. The AWA board revised a proposed amendment to its “will serve” and participation fee policy, which will be reintroduced at the June 10th board meeting, “and voted on at a subsequent meeting,” said AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo. If adopted, the new ordinance would go into effect 30 days after adoption. Board President Bill Condrashoff proposed a new fee schedule, including a requirement for the initial 10 percent to be paid up front with the conditional will-serve commitment. Mancebo said in a release Monday that a “new provision in the ordinance would give property owners 2 years after receiving a conditional will serve commitment to pay 10 percent of participation fees due.” It would also “allow one 3-year extension before a final map and additional payment would be required.” Conditions of the commitment agreement “would be reviewed and could be revised if an extension is requested. When a final map is recorded, 25 percent of participation fees would be due,” and there would be “credit for previous payment.” 25 percent annual payments then would be made over the ensuing 3 years. The “installment plan” would be “subject to any increase in participation fees taking place until payment is made in full.” Another change would allow fee refunds “only until the final map stage, and any refund would be applied to fees for another property in the same system, a future project, or when other participation fees are collected.” AWA policy now requires fee payment when an application is made for a building permit, when a lot sells, or when service is requested. The fees buy into existing systems, and pay toward “capacity impacts.” Mancebo said “changes under consideration are designed to cover agency costs” such as “reserving” water supply and for the “infrastructure for property owners who hold will-serve commitments indefinitely,” as “there is no time limit to a will-serve commitment.” The board must still decide “whether to require any pending applications for water service to be subject to the new ordinance,” an issue that “will be taken up at a future board meeting.” From Staff reports This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County - The California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission on Thursday approved a total of $7,196,161 for mental health services in Amador, Madera, San Francisco, and Sonoma Counties. $417,195 in Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) funds were approved for Amador County. PEI funds are approved for programs that apply strategies focused on preventing mental illness from becoming severe and disabling. MHSOAC Chair Andrew Poat said, “Our prevention programs will decrease expensive emergency room visits as we provide prevention services to consumers of mental health services. Prevention and Early Intervention funds will keep kids in school, keep families together, and will avoid long term unemployment.” Amador County will use their PEI funds for five projects. Project 4, Promotores de Salud, addresses access issues to mental health services in the Spanish-speaking community. Access will be increased by providing transportation and dealing with language barriers and stigma issues. “We will stop requiring consumers to “fail first” before receiving services and we will move to a “help first” system. Prevention and Early Intervention programs are a new approach to mental health in California. This program is a win for both mental health consumers and taxpayers,” said Poat. $854,297 was approved for Madera County, $4,200,900 was approved for San Francisco County, and $1,723,769 was approved for Sonoma County for Innovation (INN) programs. The funds approved by the MHSOAC for Innovation (INN) purposes will help fund county mental health programs that are “novel, creative, and ingenious” in their mental health approaches. These programs are also being developed within communities in ways that are inclusive and representative. Poat said, “Innovation funds will help to jump start our thinking about how to improve our mental health programs.” The MHSOAC met on Thursday, May 27 at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento. The California MHSOAC is a 16-member commission charged with the oversight of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). The MHSA was approved by California voters in 2004 as Proposition 63 to provide for expanded mental health services in California. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – Animal Control Director John Vail and representatives of the County Planning Department urged the Board of Supervisors last week to revisit and possibly amend existing County laws pertaining to kennel permits, with the issue eventually being tabled for further review by County staff. A “proposed resolution of intention to amend Title 19 (Zoning) and Title 8 (animals) was submitted to the board by the Planning Department, as is proper procedure. Planning Director Susan Grijalva wrote in the agenda that, “Existing and proposed situations have arisen demonstrating a review of the kennel ordinance and definitions may be warranted to more adequately meet the needs and desires of the County.” Specifically, she said “not all residential zone districts can apply for a non-commercial kennel permit to allow more than four dogs as personal pets” and “the responsibility for kennel regulations needs to be clarified.” Vail said there is no existing provision to make an exemption for people in some residential zones who may own more than four dogs due to circumstances. He recalled the story of a person who owned dogs and promised a dying relative that they would care for their four dogs as well. He said the current four dog limit was “set arbitrarily” some time ago and should be revisited. “When people have emotional ties or responsibilities to these animals, it’s not that simple for them to let go,” said Vail. He said that although he is sympathetic to their situation, his department “still has regulations they must enforce” which may result in taking away someone’s pets. Supervisors Richard Forster and Louis Boitano, both of whom were on the board when the four dog limit was set, opted not to revisit the basic number but said they were open to other solutions. Vail said some Supervisors have been contacted by citizens frustrated with current law, especially when it changes across different zones and regions. The Supervisors chose not to make any decisions regarding zone changes, and instead “unanimously moved to adopt a resolution of intention to initiate proceedings to consider changes.” Vail said that means the board approves of the idea but wants the Planning Department to create a plan with specific proposed changes. The Planning Department will bring suggestions for changes back to the board within the next month. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – Plymouth City Council last week tabled several items, including a ballot measure to increase the city’s Transient Occupancy Tax. It was tabled to June 10th, so the full council could have input. Councilwoman Pat Shackleton and Mayor Pat Fordyce were absent last week. City Manager Dixon Flynn also asked council members to discuss the TOT ballot measure with 49er Village owner Chuck Hayes. Flynn said Hayes “did not feel he was notified about the (TOT) meeting in April.” Flynn said he didn’t “think anyone in town did not know about it,” and City Clerk Gloria Stoddard said she mailed Hayes an agenda, so “it may have been an oversight by him.” The council on April 8th directed staff to prepare a ballot measure that if passed on a city-wide vote would raise the Transient Occupancy Tax from 6 percent to 10 percent on hotels, motels and mobile home park rentals inside city limits. The change would require a simple majority vote of 50 percent plus 1 to pass. A non-binding advisory measure will accompany the TOT measure, asking voters if 2 percent of the 4 percent increase should be spent on enhancing tourism, and 2 percent should be spent on streets, roads and landscaping. Plymouth’s current 6 percent TOT tax raised $75,000 last year and Finance Manager Jeff Gardner said the 4 percent increase could add another $50,000 to that total. Gardner last week gave a year to date budget report, saying that revenues were down, especially in TOT. He said the “third quarter this year was quite wet, windy and rainy,” hurting tourism. But he said “stay-cations” were expected to increase more local vacationers who forego flying to take road trips. Flynn said promotions may help, including large group special rates at 49er Village. He said the TOT and the city might also benefit from a hotel planned by the owners of Taste Restaurant. Colburn said new owners of the Shenandoah Inn are refurbishing the place, and were at Lowe’s recently buying Jacuzzi tubs. City Treasurer Suzon Hatley said the owners have refurbished 70 percent of the rooms at Shenandoah Inn and they plan a community open house to show what they’ve done. They were also doing landscaping, but were slowed by weather. Community Development Director Barry Siebe said the rooms are very nice, “word is getting out,” and “people have seen the transformation.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe announced today (June 1) that Kenneth Morton, an inmate in Mule Creek State Prison, was sentenced on May 27, 2010 to a term of 25 years to life in state prison for the first degree murder of cellmate David Noles. On August 30, 2010, Mule Creek Correctional officers discovered inmate Noles dead in his cell. An autopsy was conducted and it was determined that the inmate died of asphyxia due to massive blunt force trauma to the neck. District Attorney Investigator John D’Agostini met with a witness who stated that Morton, 43, had admitted to him that he had killed the victim by choking and hitting the victim in the throat because he was upset that the victim was selling their toilet paper. D’Agostini and District Attorney Investigator Ron Rios interviewed Morton, who admitted to killing the victim while intoxicated from drinking “pruno,” an inmate manufactured wine. Morton was serving a sentence of 15 years to life in state prison for second degree murder at the time he killed his victim. Pursuant to the sentence, Morton must serve his current term first before his first degree murder term begins. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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