News Archive (6192)
Amador County – Amador County and California District 3 Congressman Dan Lungren, said last Friday “was a missed opportunity to help the economy and the American people” and he said “our focus should have been creating jobs, not increasing government spending.” Lungren joined 176 of his fellow Republicans and six Democrats in opposition to what Lungren called “wasteful government spending” by voting against last Friday’s $787 billion stimulus bill. Lungren in the release said: “Make no mistake; I understand the severity of our economic situation and the pressure weighing on all Americans during these tough times. Today I did not vote against economic recovery, I voted against wasteful government spending.” Lungren aid Brian Kaveney in a Friday press release said that the 1,000-page bill was a laundry list of government programs, most of which would do little if nothing to stimulate the economy. Lungren said: “instead of allowing American families and small business owners to keep more of what they earn, Congress has just loaded more debt on their backs.” Lungren supported alternative legislation that “micro-targeted economic recovery.” He said he understood that “we need to take action to revive our faltering economy. Let us not use this crisis as an excuse to recklessly throw away taxpayer’s money only to say we did something.” Lungren serves as Ranking Member on the House Administration Committee in addition to serving on the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. Staff Reports (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
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Amador County – There were 35 foreclosures in Amador County during the fourth quarter of 2008, marking a consistent downward trend within the last three months. According to La Jolla- based housing research company DataQuick, foreclosures in the capitol region fell to their lowest levels in a year during the last three months of 2008. But researchers approach this trend with cautious optimism when considering that statewide defaults were back up to 39,993- approximately the same level they had been at during the months of March through August. Fourth quarter foreclosures in Amador, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties were at 4,413, down 7,796 in the third quarter. Statewide, there were 237, 131 foreclosures in 2008. DataQuick analysts believe the temporary foreclosure drop may be due to a state law passed in September that forced lenders to keep people in their homes. Federal mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie May also passed moratoriums on foreclosures through the first quarter of this year. According to one local real estate expert, realtors are bracing for a second smaller but still significant wave of foreclosures to hit the area soon. There are a growing number of short sales in the Sacramento area, which some real estate trackers warn is a sign of more foreclosures to come. 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 – About 20 people spoke in support of streamlining exterior commercial upgrades in downtown Ione, during a special joint meeting of the Ione City Council and the Planning Commission. Speakers suggested lowering fees and inspiring investments into downtown businesses. The discussion talked about various architectural styles in downtown and adhering to them when making repairs. Councilman Jim Ulm said they might be doing too much, and City Planner Christopher Jordan said they can scale back, “but what is on the books now is ineffective,” sending applicants through planning and council public hearings before permitting. Dominic Atlan of Castle Oaks said it costs about $1,000 for two public hearings. He suggested having a “sale” to inspire people to beautify their buildings, with free or minimal fees. Atlan said “it’s going to cost less in approval fees than it will cost in materials.” The owner of the Curves building said he and his wife want to revamp the building and are searching for old photos of it. He said he likes the old Coca-Cola ad but he wants to keep kids from prying bricks from the building’s wall, which he said might benefit with more lighting. Karl Knobelauch, owner of Curves, encouraged lower fees, saying “it will help to accomplish what I believe is a common goal for us.” He said the “current process is unacceptable and burdensome on property owners.” Mayor Lee Ard said there has to be a fee so the city can see that things are being built to code, but the city can possibly help with grants. Commissioner Joe Wylie suggested a flat rate fee of $25, and “if it costs us $100, then we put in $75,… but we don’t stop people form fixing their window.” Jordan said he will draft a new ordinance, and “bring something forward and let the planning commission chew on it.” 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 – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors last week took department reports on various topics, including water storage at Mace Meadow Golf Course, USDA reimbursements in Plymouth and stalls to wastewater hookups in the Camanche area. Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo reported a high-cost solution to water storage issues at the Mace Meadow Golf Course, where expansion of its storage pond could cost $700,000 to $800,000. Mancebo said that storage capacity was needed in winter months for the excess water from backwash flow at the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant. He said the Agency was looking for grants to fund expansion as the cost would be a big hit to ratepayers. He said another option would be to seek permits for discharging. Finance Director Mike Lee said the Plymouth Pipeline Project financing was closed through the federal government department that would send the $3.5 Million in paperwork to be processed. The results will reimburse the AWA and the city of Plymouth for costs already spent on the water project, Lee said, “Then the agency is handling the project from here on out.” Plymouth City Manager Dixon Flynn said last week that Plymouth expects a check by the end of February. Lee said the AWA receives about $230,000 annually in property tax reimbursements, which were taken away by the state a couple of years ago. The property taxes return and a substituting surcharge to AWA customers “goes away in March.” Lee warned that with the state economy as it is, the “property tax issue might be something that goes back on the table.” Mancebo said the AWA has been getting calls about wastewater service in the Camanche system, where the Regional Water Quality Control Board last year authorized about 20 new water service hookups annually after Well Number 14 went on-line. Mancebo said Camanche Unit 6 has water available but there are no sewer hook-ups available. In Sutter Creek, AWA tested fire flow water pressures and found a flow of about 1,200 gallons a minute in the Nickerson & Main Streets area. They also expected that adding a 6-inch water line to the Badger Street area could boost flow from 200 gallons a minute to around 1,000 gallons a minute. In Ione, a Preston-area pump station will have 53 feet of pipeline impacted by CALTRANS road widening. Mancebo said the “unbudgeted” impact will affect the pipeline, currently under sidewalks and within the CALTRANS right-of-ways. 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 – The Ione City Council today will consider starting the environmental work on Ione’s new Land Use Plan and will discuss a city “beautification project.” The meeting starts at 6 pm today and includes a 7 pm public hearing on the Land Use Element. Adoption of the General Plan will require preparation of a full Environmental Impact Report. City Planner Christopher Jordan said staff is preparing to initiate that process, but “before work on the EIR can begin, the council must identify and direct staff to analyze a preferred Land Use Plan.” But “because formal adoption is not being completed at this time … no environmental review is necessary.” City Manager Kim Kerr will give the council a staff report on the Ione Beautification Project, for the city draft Code Enforcement ordinance. A Town Hall meeting will get feedback from Ione residents and “discuss ways to assist in beautifying the city.” Kerr, in a city newsletter, said the “city is looking for ways to assist homeowners, business owners and residents in cleaning up their neighborhoods,” which will include removal of trash and abandoned vehicles and improvement to the overall appearance of Main Street and Ione neighborhoods. Kerr said “community ideas and support are needed to enhance and improve the appearance of the city.” The intent of the Town Hall meeting is to take comments and see how the “City can help clean up or enhance the downtown corridor and neighborhoods.” Staff will discuss the “definition of public nuisance and other concepts in the Code Enforcement ordinance to get feedback from the public.” The Town Hall meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 22nd, at Evalynn Bishop Hall. 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 – With winter storming last week, the Plymouth City Council and the Amador County Recreation Agency put a double-team defense on the city’s need for indoor recreation. Specifically: basketball. The city council approved a $14,000 repair to the roof of a building at the Amador County Fair grounds, which would house a new, portable basketball floor that ACRA has been authorized to purchase. ACRA Executive Director Tracy Towner-Yepp told the council she has been authorized by her board to spend $8,000 on the professional quality basketball floor that is owned by Avery Middle School. Avery school is now paying to store the floor, and its children play basketball in a new gymnasium. Councilwoman Patricia Fordyce said “if it all jells – if the council is willing to fix up the roof of the building,” and ACRA buys the floor, there was also the possibility of reimbursement to the city from the Amador County Fair Board, through a grant. City Manager Dixon Flynn recommended the council approve spending $14,000 to fix the building, “with the idea that we will work with the fair grounds to be reimbursed if they get the grant.” Mayor Jon Colburn asked about the bids for the work and also about the manpower it would take to staff the building. Towner-Yepp said she had only one bid for the project, but other companies told her their bids would be higher than the one she had. She said she will be looking for volunteers and had a couple of people in mind already. The basketball court would be open 10 months a year, closed in July and August, and she said the fair board already had promised a free storage area for the basketball court. Towner-Yepp said she is “pretty much stuck with” the PG&E bill. Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin asked about the Plymouth Grade School gymnasium. Towner-Yepp said the basketball standards had been removed and basketball is no longer played there. Councilwoman Patricia Shackleton said the basketball hoops were removed to use the space for other purposes. The council approved the roof fix, to be paid over 3 years, on the condition that Towner-Yepp “can make all the arrangements.” Towner-Yepp thanked the council and said: (quote): “I look forward to coming out and shooting some hoops.” 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 – The Sutter Creek Planning Commission was set to resume regular business in its first meeting this month, but the meeting was canceled. Two Sutter Creek City Council agenda items Monday were tabled, including clarification of Finance Director Jeffry Gardner’s duties, and City Manager Rob Duke’s financial recommendations and an action plan for 2009. Duke said that both were not ready for presentation. The City Council and members of the public on Monday discussed one item that would have been on the canceled planning commission agenda. Commissioner Bob Olsen pointed out two weeks ago that an A-frame placard sign that normally sits on the Main Street sidewalk near Gopher Flat was an illegal sign. The sign advertises Chaos Glassworks art glass-blowing studio and gallery. Olsen said it should be a subject of the Planning Commission’s regular meeting next Monday. But the city of Sutter Creek announced this week that the February 9th meeting was canceled. Sharyn Brown of Sutter Creek spoke about sidewalk signs and recommended that a historic-themed sign could be approved for use downtown to point out such businesses. Brown said Chaos could have an “old timey” sign that fit into the historic downtown decorum. Mayor Gary Wooten said in Kennebunkport, Maine, there is a 4-by-4-foot sign with “1,000 arrows” pointing out different destinations in the town, and he suggested something might benefit Sutter Creek’s businesses. Wooten said he thought they should have a committee look at the issue and come back to the city council with a report or suggestions. Brown is a member of the Sutter Creek Architectural Review Committee, seated last October by the city council. Sutter Creek resident Ed Swift recommended that the Planning Commission be approached and study sidewalk signs that can hang from the awnings on storefronts, above foot-traffic. He said the signs could be used in the same way to point out locations in Sutter Creek’s downtown. The Planning Commission returns to work reviewing elements of the Specific Plan for the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort at its next meeting, Monday, February 23rd. 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 - The Regional Council of Rural Counties, or RCRC, announced Monday that it has selected Senator Dave Cox, who represents the Northeastern part of the state, as one of two recipients for the annual "Patti Mattingly Award" for 2008. The Patti Mattingly Award is given to a policymaker who has demonstrated leadership on rural issues and an understanding of the unique challenges that rural communities face. “It is with much appreciation that RCRC selects Cox for his important work on behalf of rural counties in the State Senate,” said Supervisor Dave Finigan of Del Norte County and Chair of the Regional Council of Rural Counties. He added that Senator Cox’s efforts helped the state’s rural counties meet the challenges of a very difficult 2008 Legislative Session. “As Senator for 12 Northeastern California counties, I was just doing my job,” said Cox. “It is the collaborative effort of rural county supervisors and the professional staff of RCRC Regional Council of Rural Counties that has enabled us to accomplish many things for rural communities.” RCRC’s Patti Mattingly Award was established in memory of former Supervisor Patti Mattingly of Siskiyou County who was remembered for tremendous courage, commitment, and an ability to promote constructive solutions surrounding rural issues. The recipient is selected by the RCRC Board of Directors. Placer County Supervisor Jim Holmes commented, “Senator Cox is a tireless public servant who sets an excellent example for all elected officials. The member counties of RCRC applaud his efforts in Sacramento.” Amador County Supervisor Richard Forster said that, “One of his important efforts was securing the passage of a Senate Bill which provided an exemption to counties under 40,000 in population from experiencing deferrals in state payments to counties to assist with the state’s cash flow crisis. Forster added that without passage of this bill, many rural counties could have faced dire fiscal straits.” Staff Report (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
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Amador County – The Amador Joint Water Committee discussed upcoming law that deals with septic tanks on an individual level and plan to have the item on an upcoming agenda. State Assembly Bill 885, signed by Governor Gray Davis in 2000, begat the law, which the state Regional Water Quality Control Board will implement by July 2010. Amador Water Agency General Manager Jim Abercrombie said it will govern “Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems,” or individual septic systems. State regulations would be accompanied by fees. A Draft Environmental Impact Report, released in November 2008, lists project objectives “Based on the requirements of AB 885 and the intent of the state legislature in drafting the legislation.” Those include adopting Onsite Wastewater Treatment System “regulations and a statewide conditional waiver” and helping “to ensure that public health and beneficial uses of the state’s waters are protected from (septic) effluent discharges.” The objective notes that regulations and the waiver “consider economic costs, practical considerations for implementation, and technological capabilities.”
The DEIR was subject of statewide public workshops, which concluded yesterday with a meeting in Eureka. Amador Joint Water Committee member John Plasse said the legislation originated in Santa Barbara County. The DEIR notes that the California Environmental Quality Act requires that the EIR identify areas of controversy known to the lead agency, including issues raised by agencies and the public. The DEIR said: “In general, areas of potential controversy known to the State Water Board include” the “the need for consistent statewide regulations.” Other issues included monitoring and “questions about the need for and applicability of domestic well monitoring,” and the “increased cost to develop property, and the increased cost for local agencies of enforcing the regulations.” Joint Committee member Terence Moore and the committee agreed that AB 885 should be on an upcoming joint water committee agenda. A public hearing on the DEIR is set for 1:30 p.m. Monday, February 9th at the Byron Sher Auditorium, in the California EPA Building, 1001 “I” Street in Sacramento. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
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Wednesday, 28 January 2009 01:37
ACTC Picks Chair, Vice Chair, Discusses Indian Grinding Rock
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Amador County – The Amador County Transportation Commission board of directors kept its chairman and selected a new vice chairman last week in its first meeting of 2009. District 4 Supervisor Louis Boitano was selected to remain as chairman of the ACTC board for the year. Plymouth City Councilman Greg Baldwin was picked as vice chairman for the year. Both Baldwin and Boitano were reelected to their respective positions last year. Among discussions at the meeting was the status of removing a historic grinding rock from a Caltrans right-of-ways near Ione. Supervisor Richard Forster said the project was stalled because of the state of the rock, used by Indians for grinding. He said an attempt to move the rock was made, and when it was lifted, it began to crumble. Kathleen McClaflin, Rural Planning and Administrator for Caltrans District 10 suggested that local Indian tribes be contacted about the bedrock mortars. Forster said that had been done and the moving of the rock had become a political issue as much as it had become a historical issue. Forster said he is “not in favor of that rock going to Plymouth,” where the Ione Band of Miwok Indians has had hopes to take the rock. Ione City Councilman and ACTC board member David Plank said Amador County “tried to pawn this off on the city,” adding that “it’s not a complicated issue,” it’s just a matter of “who breaks the rock?” McClaflin said ACTC might want to contact “all of the tribes in the area,” who all might want to come together to talk about the rock, possibly in a teleconference. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
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