News Archive (6192)
Caltrans District 10 has announced its participation in a new initiative that aims to reduce emissions through the valley and foothills and subsequently improve the health and quality of life for residents. Entitled Healthy Air Living, the initiative was inspired by a recent statewide Healthy Air Living Week, and has additional support from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. “We understand the seriousness of the valley’s air quality status and are committed to doing our part by joining residents in cleaning up our air,” said Kome Ajise, Caltrans District 10 Director.
The Central Valley faces unmatched statewide challenges due to meteorological and topographical factors in reaching clean air-standards. Unhealthy air qualities in the valley directly effect ozone levels in Amador County, creating a notoriously unhealthy climate. Because of the valley’s bowl shape, it has a reduced ability to 
naturally clean itself of emissions from various sources. According to Air Control statistics, cars and trucks are responsible for up to 80 percent of the valley’s air pollution problem. “It is efforts such as these by Caltrans District 10 that will move us even closer to clean air in the valley,” said Seyed Sadredin, the Air District’s air pollution control officer and executive director. The initiative encourages individuals and companies to make clean air decisions a natural part of everyday life. Caltrans has pledged to continue to offer alternative work schedules, telecommuting, links to carpooling and vanpooling resources and subsidize mass transit for employees to reduce trips to work.
Capital-area home sales racked up a third straight month of year-over-year gains in June, as closed escrows reached almost a two-year high, DataQuick Information Systems reported today. But median prices continue to fall. The sales increases were not universal, though. Half of area counties - Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba - saw higher sales than the same time last year. Four others - Placer, El Dorado, Amador and Nevada - still showed fewer sales than a year ago. The La Jolla property research firm reported that 3,922 homes closed escrow during June in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties. That was the highest number since September 2006. The month also marked a 15-month low in the number of homes for sale in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties, according to another researcher, Trend Graphix of Sacramento. June ended with 11,854 homes for sale in those counties - 4,073 fewer than last year as buyers scoop up thousands of discounted foreclosed homes being sold by banks.
Another
packed chamber at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting symbolized the importance of a reoccurring item
on the agenda- the proposed Amador Economic Stimulus Package. A host of local
contractors and realtors showed up to voice their support for contractor
Paul Bramell’s proposed plan to temporarily cut impact and development fees in
order to stimulate growth in the sinking housing market. “I sat down with a
committee and we developed this new proposal,” said Bramell, referring to a
meeting the day before with County Administrative Officer Teri Daly and other
local representatives. “I
believe we came up with a pretty comprehensive plan that will still stimulate
the local economy,” he said.
The new, revised stimulus plan he refers to would allow a reduction in impact fees for local and regional traffic mitigation, recreation and capital facilities between July 1st, 2008 and December 31st, 2009. This includes a 100 percent reduction in fees until December 31st, 2008, a 50 percent reduction from then until June 30th, 2009, and a 25 percent reduction from then until December 31st, 2009. Considering the makeup of the audience, many were surprised by the mixed opinions voiced by public speakers. “Reducing impact fees, it’s just going to dig us a deeper hole. If less money is spent, you’re going to have just as big of a deficit,” said resident Bill Condershoff. “We don’t have any guarantees to what degree this will stimulate the economy, but I do think it will create work and employment,” said another resident, John Wheets. All the Board members expressed different opinions on the proposal. It was decided that the best course of action would be to continue discussions and consider it again at next week’s meeting.
Wednesday’s
meeting of the Amador County Technical Advisory Committee, or TAC, included a
request by California Shock/Trauma Air Rescue, or CALSTAR, to allow a
helicopter air ambulance program at the Westover Field Airport.
In a round-table
discussion, TAC members reviewed CALSTAR’s application for completeness and
potential environmental impacts
before recommending it to the planning commission. Any
major concern centered on insuring that the Air ambulance and landing area
would comply with local hazardous materials guidelines for disposal
of waste. Another question arose as to whether the airport was already at capacity and under a different contract
than the rest of Martell.
The discussion is expected to continue in future meetings. It was
agreed that the benefits of having a CALSTAR program are
numerous. CALSTAR’s response time to emergency calls is 2
minutes- less than half of the average emergency response time. CALSTAR is a
regional, public, non-profit helicopter ambulance.
Also at Thursday night’s meeting, the Plymouth City Council saw the approval of changes to the city’s motorcycle ordinance. After a short discussion, the council voted to amend Plymouth’s motorcycle ordinance to ensure“the operation of any motorcycle, motor driven cycle, or similar device on authority of a permit, shall be limited to the hours commencing one-half hour after sunrise and ending one-half hour before sunset. Operation shall not occur nearer than two hundred yards from any residential structure, church, assembly hall, or school.” The City of Plymouth currently requires that an individual and/or property owner obtain a yearly permit from the City Clerk before operating a motorcycle on private property, or allowing someone else to operate a motorcycle on private property. However, the city does not require a permit if the motorcycle is being used as a part of an agricultural or ranching operation. consistency with the city’s noise ordinance. The motorcycle ordinance states that
The Jackson City Council and citizens
hypothesized whether or not limiting
the number of political signs you display on your property is a violation of
the first amendment. Most of the discussion centered on the sign size
limits and time frames. Currently, the city ordinance states that political
candidate signs are limited
to 18 by 24 inches, two signs per property, and cannot be displayed before 60
days prior to an election.
Fate of the Old Buscaglia Building Discussed at Jackson City Council
Written by
Amador
Vintners held their annual “Behind The Cellar Door” event last week. The event began last Thursday and
ran through the weekend. Wine lovers from across the state gathered in Amador County to appreciate a region
famous for quality wines. In total, 28 wineries participated by offering food, live music,
seminars and wine-making demonstrations. Participating wineries were located along scenic
backroads, providing visitors with stunning views of the snow-capped Sierra Mountains.
Featured seminars included
discussions & tastings of Zinfandels, Barbera, Rhône varieties and Ports.
Visitors reported being impressed with the local culture and passion for
winemaking.
The Amador Branch of the American Association of University Women is inviting citizens to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a mother we all can love – Mother Earth. The “Have A Heart” Program, hosted by three local women, is designed to inform citizens on everyday actions that can make our collective footprint on the planet a bit smaller. Michelle Grondin, Manager of the Amador Farmers Market, will discuss how buying local products effects personal, community and global health. Anne Short, a Solid Waste Program Specialist, will give an overview of our county’s solid waste management. Gwen Starrett, Educator with the Amador County Unified School District, will address water issues including landscapes, and what we can do in our backyards, communities and county. The program takes place Thursday, February 14 at the Sutter Creek Community Theatre between 3 and 5pm. The “Have A Heart” program is free and open to the public.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, the Jackson City Council ruled to allocate zero Housing Equivalent Units - or HEUs - for this year. In other words, no new housing allocations for subdivision applicants in 2008. There were a number of factors considered in this decision, resulting in public debate that questioned whether or not all the proper steps had been taken to make an accurate decision. City Planner Susan Peters, speaking on behalf of the Planning Commission, recommended not allocating any more HEUs, based on the desire to see the impacts of already-approved projects, since none have been built and occupied to date.
