News Archive (6192)
Amador County – The Amador Regional Transit System (ARTS) Board of Directors discussed a possible new logo for the ARTS system at length Wednesday evening before tabling the discussion until further research is conducted. ARTS Transit Manager James Means said a rebranding is necessary because the current logo “seems out of touch with reality.” Mike Radogna of Element 58, the media design and development company hired to create a new brand, said his staff looked at as many as 200 logos from transit systems across the country. They concluded that nearly every system tried to form a singular name out of multiple words and the majority pulled a visual element from somewhere in their region. He said “nearly all of each areas public was able to make an association between the logo itself and the service it provided.” He said “ARTS” is a commonly used word and is in most cases associated with the visual arts. He suggested shortening the name to “Amador Transit.” He presented the board with a slideshow including pictures of the proposed new logo as it would appear on buses, business cards and letterhead. He said the color green was chosen “to represent green energy and the many benefits of using mass transit.” At-Large Commissioner Dave Richards said there was already a company called Amador Transit and asked if this would cause legal problems associated with name similarity. Radogna said the most important reason for the logo change is making it more recognizable to the general public, but admitted that there may be name conflicts. Board member and Supervisor John Plasse asked if there was any research conducted as to the cost of implementing the rebranding. Radogna said he had not conducted any formal study. Means said his agency was running out of the current letterhead which already includes the wrong telephone number and hoped to commit to the rebranding before more stock was ordered. He said there is a new grant where more buses will be acquired and suggested phasing in the new logo. Plasse said phasing in the logo will only cause confusion compared to doing it all at once or “doing nothing at all.” He said that “if you asked a lot of people about ‘arts’ they’re not going to say it’s the picture store on the corner of Main Street.” Board Member Pat Crosby said he never liked the current logo and “any change is a good thing.” Board member David Plank suggested using the name “Amador Public Transit” or “A.P.T.” to avoid confusion. Board member and Supervisor Richard Forster suggested using the color gold to represent Gold County. During public comment, Gary Reinoehl suggested the board consider a logo he sketched on a piece of paper while sitting in the audience. Forster said he was sure everyone in the room had some suggestion for a logo if you asked them. The board approved a motion by Forster to table the rebranding discussion until more research is done on the anticipated cost, color designs and a potential name conflict with existing businesses. The discussion will be raised again at the next meeting. 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 County Transportation Commission considered consolidating with the Amador Regional Transit System during their meeting Wednesday, but held off on making any decision until more information could be gathered. ACTC Program Manager Neil Peacock sought board approval for staff to initiate proposed “organizational improvements.” These improvements are based on suggestions from the Triennial Performance Audit, a performance review conducted every three years and required by state law. Peacock said the purpose of the evaluation was also to identify elements including, but not limited to ACTC’s roles and responsibilities and commission membership. The third-party audit, as conducted by Moore & Associates of Sacramento, suggests a number of benefits from consolidation, including cost savings, staffing “cross-utilization”, and improved cooperation between the two agencies, whose current relationship they said “appears to range from neglectful to adversarial.” Moore & Associates said the parallel boards of both entities do not support streamlined communications and “do not support transit’s integration into the full spectrum of mobility solutions for Amador County.” During public comment, Ione City Manager Kim Kerr said the consolidation made a lot of sense. Dave Richards, At-Large Commissioner for ACTC, called the combination a “no-brainer” and said it would streamline operations when one or both entities apply for funding. Peacock said that available cost savings of $30,000 outlined in ACTC’s mid-year budget report would be used to initiate the consolidation, with a total expenditure of $10,000 anticipated. He said input identifying all the issues to be investigated will be developed in conjunction with input from the Commission, the audit report and the public within the next couple months. He said it is anticipated that this effort will be completed within the next fiscal year. The board agreed to table the proposed consolidation until the investigation is completed and all input is gathered. The topic will be raised again at the next meeting in February. 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 Water Agency board discussed the Brown Act and e-mails last week, deciding to limit such interaction to setting board meetings. District 5 Director Terence Moore took criticism in December from District 4’s Debbie Dunn, when the board discussed its next vice president. Now Vice President Dunn said an e-mail to board members by Moore was leading and may have included “intent or purpose.” Moore in December said his e-mail simply reminded board members “what I said last year, that District 3 hasn’t been represented in a long time.” Moore said: “I don’t think that’s leading.” A 12-year board member, Moore recalled last year saying that “District 3 has not had a president for years,” and he thought “someone from District 3 needs to be president.” The e-mail noted that administrative appointments were on the agenda. District 3 Director Don Cooper was nominated for the vice presidency but pulled his nomination at that December 10th meeting, and Dunn went on to take the vice presidency. Cooper said he asked for the item on last week’s agenda to clarify “board correspondence and Brown Act compliance.” Cooper said he sought “some clarity in communications,” and wanted to share information but not influence opinion. Dunn said she also requested the Brown Act topic, saying “it jeopardizes all members on the board.” AWA Attorney Stephen Kronick summarized an e-mail he sent to the board explaining the issue. Kronick said serial meetings and communications are not a really clear subject, and the “law changed last year with a court interpretation.” It said politicians “cannot use serial communications to get a collective concurrence of a matter of agency business,” if it is intended to influence opinions. Kronick said the ruling “surprised the Legislature, which turned around and passed a law saying you can’t use serial communications for even discussing agency matters.” He said that included e-mailing or texting. Kronick said they can use e-mail for finding meeting time availability, and there may be other areas, but it cannot be used to determine a “collective concurrence” on board business. He said the board “cannot have serial communications to discuss an item of agency business.” Cooper asked about the propriety of his “write-up of the efficiencies of the pumps” in the Central Amador Water Project, which he sent to Engineering Committee member Bill Condrashoff, but not to Moore. Kronick said it was a “good move.” Cooper said he did send it to Interim General Manger Gene Mancebo, who could send it on to board members. Moore and Condrashoff said they would “cease and desist” all communications, except for meeting arrangements. District 2 Director Gary Thomas said: “I’m really guilty. I have never e-mailed anyone about anything, ever.” 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 – Sutter Creek City Council discussed its budget and an impending audit report Tuesday, and will look to monitor spending and make cuts. City Manager Rob Duke said General Fund revenue is down $20,000 this year. Expenses are projected to be $73,000 below budget, but because of revenue, the budget is still unbalanced by $110,000. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe said the city had just billed Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort for $100,000 for costs associated with the sewer plant Environmental Impact Report and legal fees. Duke said the largest budget savings will be realized in the police department and planning. The department will lose an officer later this year and not refill the position, saving about $30,000 to year’s end. Walgreens was burglarized 2 weeks ago and “burglars took copper wiring out of the walls,” Duke said, setting back the project 30 days, along with potential revenue. Councilwoman Linda Rianda said the Ad Hoc Budget Committee looked into public opinion that unions be removed from the city. She said representation for workers is legal and “we will not be removing any unions.” The committee will look at sewer-related overtime, and is getting good ideas from the public. Rianda said “you may not hear back from us, but we are going over that information.” Councilman Pat Crosby said “we had a good budget meeting July 1st,” and urged having another council budget meeting. He said the city does not have contracts with employees, and Rianda missed the point of advice from City Attorney Dennis Crabb. Crosby said the city must “take some drastic steps” to “lay off all city employees and start over.” Rianda acknowledged the advice, and Crosby said: “Of course that’s what you’ve got to do. That’s what you were told 6 months ago.” He said the city’s biggest output of money is paid to personnel. Mayor Gary Wooten said he disagreed with Crosby, and “we need employees.” Wooten said “if the county’s finances don’t improve, we might all be bankrupt.” Crosby said the city had to do something about its $30,000 a month deficit. Rianda said an auditor looking at city finances advises a need for budget controls and monitoring to make sure city staff is following spending policies that are in place. Crosby said he would like to have the entire council see the auditor’s report, but he knew it was only for the audit committee. Finance director Jeff Gardner said the auditor could give a presentation in open session, “then stick around for closed session.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:00
State Redistricting Could Impact Congressman Lungren’s Seat
Written by Tom
Amador County – Redistricting reform in California could lead to more legislative seats falling into the hands of Democrats, including the seat currently held by Congressman and 3rd District Representative Dan Lungren.
The process of creating an independent commission to redraw districts began after voters narrowly approved Proposition 11 in November 2008. Backed by Governor Schwarzenegger and a coalition of nonpartisan groups, the legislation calls for the creation of a 14-member panel to redraw the state’s 120 legislative districts and four Board of Equalization districts after the 2010 census, and will take effect with the 2012 election. At the time the proposition was proposed, Schwarzenegger argued that leaving redistricting up to the legislature is self-serving and leads to gerrymandering and lawmakers rigging their own elections. But there is a rival proposal from the Attorney General’s Office called the Berman measure which would erase the Prop. 11 measure and return power over redrawing districts to the Legislature after the 2010 census. UCLA Law Professor Daniel Lowenstein, a supporter of the Berman measure, said the state legislature is set up to resolve redistricting matter legitimately. “It's a complicated process of self interest, group interest and public interest. . . . A fair redistricting plan is whatever emerges from the political process of compromise and competition,” he said. This measure could ultimately work in the Democrats’ favor. Lungren already stands out as a vulnerable target for Democrats because he won less than 50 percent of the vote in a four-candidate race last year and has seen his lead decline in the last two elections. Dr. Ami Bera, a UC Davis physician and Lungren’s sole Democratic opponent in this year’s election, has continually out-raised the Republican through September 30th of 2009, one of only a handful of challengers nationwide to do so. Other Republican targets include Representatives Mary Bono Mack of Palm Springs and Ken Calvert in Corona. Another measure supported by wealthy Southern California financier Charles T. Munger to expand independent redistricting to the state’s congressional districts will likely be included on the 2008 ballot. But there have been a number of problems related to the creation of the redistricting commission so far. Officials report that the applicant pool so far consists of mostly older, white men and not enough women and minorities are applying. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:00
Calaveras Investigators Enlist Profiler in Shootings Investigation
Written by Tom
Calaveras County – A press conference on Tuesday held by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office addressed progress so far in the investigation of multiple random shootings in the Valley Springs area. Sheriff Dennis Downum said his department is making progress in eliminating suspects and is working with a profiler to try and narrow down the suspect pool. The first drive-by shooting report took place December 17 at a home on Highway 26 near Vista Del Lago Road. A total of 15 shootings into moving vehicles or homes reported overall have left community members shaken. In one instance, a victim driving on Watertown Road swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle with its high beams on which continued to swerve across the center divide and forced the victim off the roadway and into a ditch. Calaveras County Sheriff Sergeant Dave Seawell said the victim described the suspect vehicle as “a full size pick up truck painted white with silver and beige” and the “doors of the pick up truck were painted differently than the body of the truck.” Seawell said at the time that the “described pick up truck is a vehicle of interest.” Downum reported that the occupants of the pick up truck are now being treated as witnesses, not suspects. Investigators are still seeking another possible suspect vehicle identified as a light-colored late-model sedan with square headlights. The case became even more high profile when a Calaveras County family sent their 11-year-old daughter to school in body armor and a Kevlar helmet as a means of protection. The girl’s father, who did not want to be identified, told KCRA 3 that he is taking precautions because “there's some maniac running around here who could shoot at people from cover, ambush, driving by, or just sitting in your home.” Downum said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (A.T.F.), California Highway Patrol (C.H.P.) and F.B.I. have all been helpful in assisting with the investigation. “They're also bringing technologies that we certainly didn't have that we hope will help us in the investigation, but we're not going to expand on what those are,” he said. The A.T.F. is now offering a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the rash of shootings. Seawell said that in some cases, information has been delayed in getting to the Sheriff’s office. Anyone with information is asked to call the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office Tip Line at (209) 754-6030 or (209) 754-6500. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives tip line is 1-800-ATF-GUNS. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:00
Sutter Creek Finalizes Gold Rush, Discusses Budget Work
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council finalized the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort project Tuesday with second readings of a Development Agreement and zoning amendments. The council deferred amending the agreement on recommendations by Councilman Pat Crosby, so they would not have to reset the reading sequence. Crosby wanted the Development Agreement to allow a 10 percent surcharge on any sales of golf, carts, or buckets of balls at Gold Rush. City Attorney Dennis Crabb, speaking by telephone from the Lake Tahoe area due to road conditions, said if they “make substantive changes on the second reading,” they “must go back to the first reading again.” He said they can approve it, proceed with legal publication, then bring it back with changes to satisfy Crosby’s concerns. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe said the council can approve it “as is” and amend the agreement at the next council meeting. The council agreed to that, and approved the zoning ordinance amendments and development agreement for second readings, with no changes to either. About 20 people attended, including Gold Rush development partner Bill Bunce, who did not address the council, and left shortly after 5-0 votes off approval. The council also discussed budget woes of the city, receiving a treasurer’s report from Cathy Castillo, and an ad hoc budget committee report from Councilwoman Linda Rianda. Castillo said the city’s overall cash position in December was $1.33 million, down about $800,000 from a year ago, when it was $2.2 million. She said it was down because the city has not received all of its property taxes. Castillo said the city budget trend is “spending more than we are taking in.” That includes average monthly deposits of $200,000 to $300,000, with monthly average spending of $350,000. Castillo said “anything above operating costs should be pre-approved,” and the “state will be holding onto anything they can, and they will be hanging us out to dry this year.” Rianda said the ad hoc budget committee has met twice this month and continues “to look for ways to be creative and come up with new revenue.” She agreed that there could be “possible financial control issues.” She said the city may “need policy to see that budget variances are recorded,” with pre-approval for spending, such as in the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority. Rianda said: “We have policies in place” and the city needs “to make sure all employees are following them.” Castillo said it would help, by “just taking more control over the expenditures before they occur.” 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 – Earning its nickname of Hurricane Hill, the small stretch of Highway 88 east of Martell, between Highway 104 and Sunset West was the scene of 3 wind-aided semi tractor trailer roll-over crashes Wednesday during the storm that hit Amador County and the region. The stretch of Highway 88 was closed between 10 a.m. and at least 3:30 p.m. Wednesday by high wind and the crashes, the last involving 2 vehicles and injuring a man who had a tractor trailer roll over him, according to a radio report from the scene. Medics tried to get a helicopter ambulance to fly in to evacuate the patient, but all helicopter flights were grounded in the area, due to wind conditions. Highway 88 opened sometime after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Emergency personnel also responded to the 6300 block of Martin Lane on reports of power lines down in a field, with no one around, at about 1 p.m. Responders said the line was arcing and the power pole was smoking at the scene, and they closed Martin Lane to traffic 30 minutes later. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol reported Highway 88 was closed in 2 locations by midday Wednesday, including between Highway 104 and Lower Ridge Roads, due to high winds. A tractor trailer blocked all 3 lanes on Hurricane Hill. CHP said east-bound Highway 104 was closed leaving Ione, to stop traffic from going on Highway 88 toward Jackson. CHP took calls throughout the day reporting downed power lines, traffic incidents, and power outages. CHP said downed power lines on Shenandoah Road trapped some vehicles there for hours early Wednesday. CHP said Pacific Gas & Electric personnel helped with traffic control on Shenandoah Road between Bell and Dixon roads in the morning. CHP cleared out of the area by noon, but PG&E kept the road closed to restore fallen power lines. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a rare tornado warning in areas of the Central Valley as a storm packing winds of 60 mph battered the region. National Weather Service said today’s storm would pack 60 mph gusts along the coast and valleys, and up to 80 mph at higher elevations, while dropping rain at up to 1 1/2 inches per hour. Wind speeds of 25-45 mph were expected today. Officials issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for both Amador and Calaveras counties until 8 p.m. Wednesday, possibly stretching into today. As of 1:30 pm Wednesday, PG&E reported 50 customers without power in both the Sutter Creek and Ione areas. Story by Jim Reece, Alex Lane 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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Amador County – The Amador County Transportation Commission will consider recommendations today on its Regional Transportation Plan update “Stakeholder Roundtable Process,” and could also look at reorganizing ACTC and combining it with the Amador Regional Transit System. Program Manager Neil Peacock in a memo recommended revisions to the RTP process, after subcommittee direction by District 2 Supervisor Richard Forster and Ione Councilman David Plank. They seek reducing the Regional Transportation Plan “roundtable” from 24 members to 15 members, after criticism by the ACTC board. Peacock noted that cities asking for a voice on the roundtable should be aware that 7 different “venues exist for relevant public agencies to participate.” Those include quarterly Technical Advisory Committee meetings; public hearings and workshops; and the Stakeholder Roundtables, which are open to the public. The commission will also consider staff recommendations to make “organizational improvements” at both ACTC and the Amador Regional Transit System. Peacock asked that they “have an independent third-party assist ACTC staff in working with city, county, ARTS, and upcountry representatives to investigate, consider, and propose alternatives to implement various organizational improvements.” Those include “potential ACTC-ARTS consolidation, clarifying ACTC’s roles and responsibilities, commission membership,” and miscellaneous recommendations. In a December 9th memo, Moore & Associates of Valencia noted some findings leading Peacock and staff to consider improvements. Those include a “lack of oversight of ARTS performance by ACTC.” Moore & Associates “believe consolidation would result in improved coordination and cooperation between the 2 agencies, whose current relationship appears to range from neglectful to adversarial.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 20 January 2010 03:25
Huber-led Audit Committee Investigates Possible ARRA Mispending
Written by Tom
Amador County – The state’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee, chaired by 10th District Assemblymember Alyson Huber, will hold an informational hearing today in order to review the state auditor’s compliance reports related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). “To date California has received an unprecedented amount of federal funds through the American ARRA of 2009, but some state agencies are still struggling with insufficient internal controls and these funds are at risk,” said Huber aid Jennifer Wonnacott in a release Tuesday. She said the hearing will “focus on oversight of ARRA funds and what is being done to prevent the waste and misuse of ARRA funds, as well as the implementation of ARRA funds by two state agencies.” The California Energy Commission recently came under fire after the Auditor found it lacked adequate controls in place to prevent misuse of federal stimulus dollars and may be in jeopardy of losing the money altogether because it is not being spent quickly enough. The hearing will be televised and takes place today, Wednesday, January 20th in the State Capitol. Report by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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