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News Archive (6192)
Sacramento – Assemblywoman Alyson Huber introduced a bill Thursday that would prohibit construction of a “peripheral canal” around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta without a full fiscal analysis and a vote of the state legislature. District 10 representative Huber announced the bill in an e-mail Friday, saying: “It is important that we maintain legislative oversight of large-scale projects and not delegate that authority to unelected bureaucrats.” Huber said she was “very concerned that the current water policy bill provides a clear path to building a canal and this (bill) ensures we get answers to some very important questions, and give the Delta a voice in the process.” Huber, who represents Amador County, co-authored the bill with state Senator Lois Wolk, of District 5. Wolk in the release said:
“The people of California deserve to know that due process will take place before tax payers and rate payers are asked to spend billions of dollars on a peripheral canal.” Wolk chairs the Senate Select Committee on Delta Stewardship and Sustainability. She said: “This bill ensures that the legislature is fully informed and that historic protections are maintained prior to moving forward with such a large-scale project.” Huber said the bill would also require the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s office to conduct an economic feasibility analysis “to ensure that Southern California ratepayers who are supposedly being asked to cover the cost of this massive project actually know how much this will cost.” It would “also ensure that the canal will not have a negative impact on water in the Delta and upstream communities – be it for our local cities or our farmers,” she said. A summary of the bill said it “would prohibit the construction of a peripheral canal … unless expressly authorized by the Legislature.” It defines the peripheral canal as one “that conveys water from a diversion point in the Sacramento River to a location south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.” The bill “would also require that the construction and operation of a peripheral canal not diminish or negatively affect the water supplies, water rights, or quality of water for water users within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed.” The bill was introduced by Huber, with Wolk as primary co-sponsor, and other co-authors, Assemblymen Bill Berryhill of District 26 and Wes Chesbro of District 1. Huber was in Amador County last week and told members of the Amador County Business Council about her opposition to the canal, and plans to put limits on it. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ione – Ione Mayor Lee Ard said last week that the city of Ione was not going to pay its portion of membership dues to the Amador County Recreation Agency. Ard, who is chairman of the ACRA board of directors, said board members were shocked last week when he told them Ione would not be paying the $13,000 voluntary membership fee to ACRA. He said ACRA Executive Director Tracy Towner-Yep told him the money paid salaries at the agency. Ard said the funds instead would go toward paying lifeguard staff at the Ione Pool, which the city will maintain itself, rather than pay ACRA to tend. Ard said “the money just doesn’t get to Ione.” City Manager Kim Kerr said the pool’s teenage lifeguards live in Ione and Camanche. Kerr said she will be asking ACRA “for a list of lifeguards.” Council David Plank said the city should start with Kristi Root, an Ione insurance seller, who is head coach of the Ione pool-based youth swimming team. Ard said that the Jackson City Council had reduced its membership fees to ACRA, cutting them in half this year. ACRA board member and Plymouth City Councilwoman Patricia Fordyce, said Plymouth this year paid its $5,000 membership. She said Plymouth City Council “is always pretty pleased” with Towner-Yep. But she said ACRA is hurting for money. At its next meeting Nov. 12th, the board will discuss its Blue Moon New Year’s Eve fundraiser, for which Fordyce is decorations committee chairwoman. The party will have 5 bands for $35. Fordyce told her city council last week that “there has to be 1,500 people to break even” and “Tracy’s hoping for 5,000 people.” Fordyce said Towner-Yep “is one of the most optimistic people I know.” She said: “All of us really feel that Tracy makes an effort to do things around Plymouth.” The agency runs the swimming pool at the fairgrounds, and this summer it stayed open a little later, a couple of weeks after school opened, staying open on the weekends. Fordyce said. “They had adult lap swimming for the first time,” she said, which gave adult swimmers an hour to swim laps, while children had to vacate pool. She said she believed the city “had more kids at the pool this year than we’ve had in the past.” ACRA also kept the pool open during the Amador County Fair. It normally was closed during the fair, but this year it stayed open. Fordyce said “Tracy’s constantly working on things to bring here,” which is nice to have because the city has generally had nothing as far as recreation. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jackson – District 10 Assemblywoman Alyson Huber said Wednesday that she opposes a water bill that would build a canal from the San Joaquin Delta to serve Southern California. Huber talked about Water Committee testimony on a “peripheral canal” in water legislation that would take water from the Delta and export it. She also thought it was strange that the most experienced legislator in the issue, Sen. Lois Wolk of District 5, who was excluded from the Water Committee. Huber said California needs more storage, and the state has “8 times more water rights holders than we actually have water.” She said the water bill talks “about exporting water when we don’t have enough to meet needs here.” Huber said a committee in the legislation’s language seems to have “the power to create the peripheral canal.” Conklin asked if there was “any way it isn’t going to happen.” Huber said she is “working on it.” And 1,500 people answered a postcard drive saying they “don’t want to see (water) shipped out of the region.” Huber said the $9.4 billion funding in the bill is “a general bond – a credit card” – but the biggest issue is that it is not emphasizing Southern California’s regional water issues. She said if Southern California did desalination, reclamation and conservation, before it started shipping in water – to develop in the desert – it could have its own rates pay for its own infrastructure improvements, “rather than have the rest of the state pay for a peripheral canal.” Huber said Schwarzenegger is “worried about his legacy and wants to get things done before he is out of office.” Amador Business Council member Ed Swift of ATI Auto Parts asked Huber if the legislation included a “Wild & Scenic” designation for the Mokelumne River. Huber said it did not, and she asked if the council “as a group had taken a position on Wild & Scenic.” Anne Platt, council president and CEO of Sutter Amador Hospital, said the group had not. Ken Deaver, council member and co-owner of Deaver Vineyards, said “let’s be sure it’s really necessary.” Huber said: “Here’s the reality. The entire water bill gets one vote, up or down.” She said her vote is “no,” because of the peripheral canal, the “equivalent of putting a 100-lane freeway through the county with no local representation.” She said the bill was badly written and has contradictions and a lot of “unintended” impacts. And she said they “can undo it at the ballot box, if we need to,” and they could also change the bill to require a vote of approval. Paul Molinelli Jr., vice president of the council, of ACES Waste Service, said “when it’s time, you can count on our help.” Conklin said she could count on the help of “several business councils.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jackson –The Amador County Board of Supervisors debated the merits of a Constitutional Convention for the State of California during their meeting Tuesday. Supervisor Louis Boitano added the item to the agenda for discussion and possible approval of a resolution in support of Repair California, an east bay coalition of reform, advocacy and business groups that is pushing for a limited constitutional convention. Bay Area Council President Jim Wunderman, whose group is part of the coalition, urged Boitano to help “fix the system and restore the balance of power between the state and local governments.” Boitano agreed and said the cause is important because “California seems to be hijacked by special interests.” He reminded the Supervisors that “22 times the (State Legislature) has failed to deliver a budget on time in the last 30 years.” Vice-Chairman Brian Oneto, who was heading up the day’s proceedings because Chairman Ted Novelli was ill, was skeptical about whether a convention is necessary. Boitano said, “I know you have a problem with who they might put on this” because “they are from the East Bay.” The power to convene a Constitutional Convention is currently decided by a vote in the legislature- something Boitano sees as entirely unfair. According to its website, Repair California’s proposal is to “empower the people” to call for a “limited” Constitutional Convention that will focus on governance issues. The group recently turned in measures to the attorney general’s office that would select 465 people to conduct limited redrafting of basic state laws. Upon the attorney general’s approval, they will have until mid-April to gather 694,435 registered voter’s signatures to qualify for the November 2010 ballot. During an interview last Monday at TSPN, Supervisor Richard Forster said he has “not really been a proponent” of the cause in the past but likes that Repair California is “asking for a limited Constitutional Convention to only address specific items, basically governance and taxation and avoiding social issues.” County Administrative Officer said “there are currently several groups with several propositions” for a convention. Forster made a motion to draft a resolution until they learn more about Repair California. The motion was passed 4-0. Said Boitano: “I just want to make the Golden State golden again.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jackson –Amador County staff announced Wednesday the county’s intention to purchase the former Wicklow Way subdivision property for the potential construction of a new county jail facility. Tuesday afternoon, the Board of Supervisors gave direction to staff to pursue the purchase of 201.37 acres located south of Wal-Mart in Martell. County Administrative Officer Terri Daly said in a statement Wednesday that the negotiated purchase price for the property is $1,810,000. Daly said the “purchase will be funded entirely with Jail Capital Facilities Fees-funds that can only be spent on a new jail facility- and will not impact the General Fund.” Daly said “the Board intends to use this property for the purpose of constructing a new Detention Facility and other future county facilities subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance.” The original project, as proposed by Lemke Construction, involved the subdivision of an approximately 200 acre parcel into hundreds of residential units and commercial space. But in August, the Amador County Planning Commission denied findings in the Wicklow Way Environmental Impact Report, effectively prohibiting further action on the massive subdivision unless the developer reapplied or was granted an appeal. The appeal never came. In a subsequent public auction at the county courthouse, Umpqua Bank settled a debt of $4.8 million on the property by reverting to a purchase of the property at a price of $1,484,942 and 62 cents, the listed opening bid of the sale. General Services Association Director Jon Hopkins had been researching more than 50 properties for a jail site before the Wicklow property became available. The county originally considered property near the Health and Human Services building as its best option for a new facility. Daly said “the Wicklow Way property proves to be a more valuable and cost effective venture for future planning needs.” The Board plans to enter into an agreement to purchase the property at its upcoming meeting on December 1. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sacramento – Eight state and local agencies are teaming up today (Thursday, October 29th) to promote using a “designated driver” in an effort to decrease the number of drunk driver-related deaths in California. Fran Clader, media relations officer for the California Highway Patrol in Sacramento said in a release Wednesday that a visual display will be shown at 10 a.m. today at the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office. The display will include a patrol car, a coroner’s vehicle and a gurney. Clader said: “Last year in California, 1,112 people were killed at the hands of an impaired driver.” Statewide, there were more that 217,000 arrests made for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Clader said: “With the help of its traffic safety partners and through the Designated Driver Program, the California Highway Patrol is dedicated to reducing the number of DUI-related collisions and victims killed.” Today’s program, “Save A Life, Designate A Driver,” includes 8 partner members, including CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow; and Brenda Frachiseur, acting executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Clader said attendees included California Office of Traffic Safety Director Christopher J. Murphy; and Sacramento Assistant Coroner Ed Smith. Also expected to attend are representatives from Alcoholic Beverage Control, Department of Motor Vehicles, California Chiefs of Police Association and California State Sheriff’s Association. A TSPN TV staff report. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County – An Amador City woman was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated Tuesday after crashing her vehicle into an occupied school bus that was stopped at an intersection on Highway 49, near Ridge Road. The California Highway Patrol’s Amador County Unit reported that 3 students and a driver were on the school bus, and all 4 escaped injury in the incident. CHP Public Information Officer Craig Harmon said that Catherine Rios, 48, of Amador City was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving while intoxicated. CHP reported that at about 11:59 a.m. Tuesday, Rios was driving a 2003 GMC and was northbound on Highway 49 just south of Ridge Road. The bus, a 2005 model, was stopped at the stop light in the northbound lane of Highway 49, in the same lane in which Rios was approaching in her vehicle. Rios failed to stop her vehicle and it crashed into the rear end of the school bus. Rios sustained moderate injuries as a result of the crash and was treated at a hospital and released. Harmon said Rios was cleared from the hospital and arrested for a DUI and for driving with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit, or greater than .08 percent. Rios was booked into the Amador County Jail. Harmon said CHP investigates all school bus collisions in any jurisdiction because CHP is the state regulator of school busses. Harmon said all 3 students and the driver were not injured. The students, 2 male minors and 1 female minor, and the bus driver, Judy Long, of Amador City, all were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. Harmon said the bus apparently sustained no damage. Harmon said the bus was one of the shorter busses in the fleet of the Amador County Unified School District. ACUSD Transportation Director Andy Peters did not return a call seeking information about the bus, its riders and its destination. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jackson – The Amador County Board of Supervisors approved adoption of an ordinance Tuesday that will transfer the office of the Public Conservator and Public Guardian over to Social Services, citing “conflicts of interest.” Discussion of the move from the District Attorney’s office began after the former conservator was charged with embezzlement shortly before 2001. County Administrative Officer Terri Daly said there will now be “several additional levels of oversight” under the supervision of Social Services Director Matt Zanze and Carolyn McDonald, Chief Deputy Public Conservator for Amador County. Zanze said stamps were used by the former conservator during the embezzlement, but any approval will now require both his signature and McDonald’s. In 1996, the Board of Supervisors enacted Ordinance Number 1413, which consolidated the elected offices of district attorney and public administrator. After the embezzlement scheme, in which an undisclosed amount of money was stolen by the former conservator, supervisors reevaluated the consolidation in order to provide the “office with more structure and a system of checks and balances.” Daly said problems arose when clients of the Conservator’s office became clients of the D.A.’s office. To avoid this conflict of interest, clients are currently referred out of the county, which often proves more costly and time consuming. The new ordinance states that “in order to achieve efficiencies and allow the district attorney to focus on law enforcement, Amador County has elected to separate the offices of district attorney and public administrator, and combine the appointive offices of public administrator and public guardian/conservator.” The two offices will be separated effective January 1, 2010 pursuant to the authority granted in California government code. Daly said this will add Amador County to a growing list of counties that make the conservator part of Social Services. Zanze said his department “has a depth of financial expertise to lend” and “will be happy to accommodate any changes.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pine Grove - Indian Grinding Rock in Amador County will suffer service reductions and reduced hours as a result of a string of park budget cuts that state officials feel will help remedy the state’s severe budget deficit. Calaveras Big Trees, its sister park, will not be affected. On Tuesday, the state parks department imposed sweeping cuts on more than half of California’s 279 state parks. In many cases, this means reduced hours, reduced cleaning, closed restrooms, cancelled school field trips and complete closure of some park areas. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the parks department to reduce spending by $14.2 million on September 25. Up until that point, he was pushing a plan to completely close 100 parks. State officials were hoping that private businesses and non-profit groups would step forward with the financial resources to keep the parks open. Many environmental groups, including the Audubon Society, the California State Parks Foundation and the Nature Conservancy, are reacting to these latest cuts by drafting legislation for the 2010 ballot that would increase parks funding by increasing vehicle registration fees to roughly $15 per year. Beyond Grinding Rock, a number of other regional parks will be affected. In Sacramento, the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park, Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park, California State Indian Museum and Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park will be closed on certain weekdays. Outside of Sacramento, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown will be closed on Mondays. The Sacramento-based Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks said there will be “minimal disruption expected for park visitors.” Please contact Indian Grinding Rock State Park at 296-7488 for more information on closures. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sutter Creek – The Sutter Creek City Council committee on grading discussed the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort on Monday, and asked the developer to bring back maps to illustrate the aerial look of the project. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe said the committee discussed grading and oak tree retention for a long time, and then asked the developers to bring back detailed maps showing the various types of grading, and also what the “tree crows” will look like. Rabe said the maps will show areas with less than 10 percent slope and areas with “10 percent crown cover for trees.” He said the maps will allow the committee to “see what the project will look like.” The developers will bring back the “canopy density,” and a map that shows the grading, in three degrees. They are general grading, mass grading, and no grading. Bunce in an early September public hearing said they proposed a mix of different grading, to avoid the planning commission’s suggestion of all custom grading. Bunce said “there is a happy medium between full custom lots and 600 acres of mass grading and tree denuding.” Bunce said at another meeting in mid-September that the Gold Rush plan would save about 20 percent of trees in residential areas, and the total number of trees saves “as a percentage is in the high 60s, maybe as high as 65 percent.” Rabe said the city and the developer still had to reach an agreement to “finalize oak tree retention” percentages that would be required to be left in the different grading areas. He said the maps will show the planned grading and its affects. The city council last week appointed the grading committee, which worked with Rabe and city agreement consultant Anders Hauge. Committee members are Councilman Pat Crosby, Councilwoman Sandy Anderson, Planning Commission Chairman Robin Peters, and Commissioner Frank Cunha. Gold Rush will bring the maps to a meeting of the grading committee, which reconvenes 2 p.m. Friday (October 30th) at the Sutter Creek Civic Building on Church Street. Rabe said if there was a scheduling conflict at the civic building, the meeting would be moved to the city auditorium on Main Street. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
