At their meeting last Thursday night, the Plymouth City Council once again revisited the topic of participation in the Amador Regional Planning Committee, a discussion that has been underway for months. The Amador Regional Planning Committee is the brainchild of Sutter Creek councilman Tim Murphy, and was established in early 2007. According to the Committee’s Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, the committee was created in order to “require a more formalized structure to address the increasing regional pressures upon infrastructure, municipal services, and land use planning.” Since its inception, the County of Amador, as well as the cities of Sutter Creek, Jackson, and Ione, have joined.

The committee consists of one elected official from each participating city and the Amador County Board of Supervisors. Plymouth Council members discussed proposed changes to the Memorandum of Understanding that they will present to the Regional Planning Committee Members. The Council’s primary issues with the MOU center around subjects such as revenue sharing, increasing rates for services, as well as the possibility that the committee could become the major power in determining the direction of planning and associated revenue in the county. The changes to the MOU proposed by the council included provisions that would require the unanimous approval of all cities and the county before any changes are made to the “duties, responsibilities, and limitations” of the committee.PlymouthBaldwin stated, “Joining this committee could put us on a level playing field with the county. They have been a big player in our planning process. Now I think its time they step up to our plate and live up to their words.” 

The Council would also like to see a limitation placed on the number of committee members, requiring them to be actual elected officials of the cities and the county. If the committee agrees to accept the changes, then the city council will consider joining. Vice Mayor Pat Fordyce and Councilman Greg Baldwin will attend the next Regional Planning Committee Meeting to discuss the proposed changes. At the close of the discussion,

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

Although many customers are unaware, Blue Cross of California has officially and
subtly announced that they will be changing their title to Anthem. The official name
change takes place today. Blue Cross has made no official announcements as to
why the name change is taking place. In advertisements that appeared in
newspapers throughout California yesterday, Blue Cross mentions the name change
in a full page ad that also highlights Blue Cross’ pledge to improve health services in
an industry with many problems. Many Amador residents and programs subscribe to
Blue Cross. One industry insider suggests that the name change is a way to avoid
the negative stigma associated with Blue Cross’ past problems.  Blue Cross
proclaims, “Today isn’t the end of an era. It’s the beginning of a new one.” Whichever the case, prepare to think of
the name Blue Cross in the past tense.

When San Joaquin, Calaveras and Amador counties last week applied for more than $128 million in state funds to expand their county jails, they were not alone. In total, 24 counties turned in nearly $1.2 billion worth of proposals to the state board in charge of doling out the $750 million available to add much-needed space to overflowing local jails. In California, 17,000 of the state's 173,000 inmates are in non-traditional housing. San Joaquin County is well positioned to get "at least the lion's share" of the $80 million requested to expand the jail by 1,280 beds as early as 2013. The jail regularly releases inmates early because of a court order to relieve overcrowding.

San Joaquin County also has shown a willingness to accommodate state inmates returning from sentences in California's prisons in a re-entry facility planned at a converted women's prison near Stockton. It's meant to be a regional facility, for use by San Joaquin, Amador and Calaveras counties. The $750 million in funding is available through AB900, which was signed into law last year. Small counties such as Amador and Calaveras are competing for a portion of $100 million. San Joaquin County will be vying for part of $650 million available to medium- and large-size counties. Governor Schwarzenegger's administration is pushing to fix financial, legal and ethical troubles.

Under the microscope is a state prison agency whose budget has ballooned by more than 200 percent in the past 15 years. Schwarzenegger is to unveil a new state budget proposal this month. A broad list of potential cuts include freezing raises for prison guards and curbing health care costs. Another corrections item proposes the elimination of one meal for inmates on weekends and holidays by having brunch instead of breakfast and lunch.

A local Cub Scout pack is back in business after a lengthy break from meetings. Pack 89, based in Pioneer, had discontinued further meetings due to an apparent lack of community interest and no scout master. Anxious and devoted cubs were left in the dark as to when and if their pack would become active again. But Pack 89 resumed meetings again last month after some local boys and their parents made inquiries. Helping the pack get started again was Boy Scout District Commissioner Tom Harris. The Cub Scout Motto is to “do your best” and boys are taught the importance of helping others. Patches and beads are earned as scouts achieve certain goals. Cub Scouts are for boys in grades 1 through 5, and Boy Scouts are grades 6 through 11. Pack 89 now has about nine boys and meetings are being held at the Faith Lutheran Church in Pioneer. For more information on meetings, you can contact Mr. Harris at 295-2343. 

In a press release late yesterday, the Amador County District Attorney’s Office announced that Kevin Daniel Barnett pled guilty to embezzlement and grand theft for criminal acts which occurred while Barnett served as the president of theSan Joaquin. In April 2007, MLYAC board members suspected something was wrong with the organization’s finances after receiving a cancellation notice for their liability insurance, which covers the teams’ practices and games. They also received several calls from vendors inquiring about unpaid invoices. During a preliminary hearing, Dan McHoul, the current MLYAC president, testified he made contact with Barnett who said, “Dan, I need to talk to you. I took the money, the league money.” Doug Grey from the Jackson Police Department also testified about his investigation, which revealed 11 checks made out to cash by Barnett for a total of over 8,200 dollars. In addition to the checks were 24 ATM withdrawals and 9 debit card transactions. Grey testified that he spoke with Barnett in November 2007, and Barnett admitted the checks and ATM withdrawals were for Barnett’s personal use. Some transactions included payments to an automotive tire company and for Comcast cable service. Grey testified that Barnett told him he had “spent the money on other debt obligations.” The judgment and sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2008 in Amador County Superior Court. Mother Lode Youth Athletic Conference, or MLYAC. Barnett was a MLYAC board member for sixteen years and president for the past six years. The conference consists of eight football teams with players and cheerleaders ranging in age from 8 to 14 from the counties of Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and a portion of

 

What could be viewed as a minor victory for those against the Buena Vista Casino and in support of the County’s lawsuit was announced late last week. A federal judge issued a “minute order” on March 21st in the County’s case“The Court’s ruling means that the Court has filed as a matter of right the County’s amended complaint challenging the federal government’s ruling that the land is eligible for gaming. The amended complaint adds to the original lawsuit a claim that historically there was no tribe at the Buena Vista Rancheria for which land served as a tribal reservation,” stated Martha Shaver, County Counsel for Amador County. Further, the Court ordered that in light of the filing of the amended complaint, the federal government’s motion to dismiss was denied without prejudice. But what exactly does that mean? “This means that the government can refile the motion to dismiss or file an answer or other responsive pleading that the statement has been amended,” said Shaver. In other words, a very small hurdle in an uphill battle. “It’s too early to say. They have a ten day timeline to file,” says Supervisor Louis Boitano, who remains optimistic. “At least we know the judge is working on this.” challenging the federal government’s determination that the site of the casino is eligible for Indian gaming. In a statement released yesterday, County Administrative Officer Terri Daly outlined the details of the decision.

The Concerned Citizens of Jackson group wants the Jackson City Council to reimburse them for over 2200 dollars spent on opposing the Jackson Hills Project. The group spent that money creating a website and flyers to disseminate information to the public about the project.  Concerned Citizens spent that money only after the Jackson City Council approved two resolutions in November that put two measures on the June ballot.  The council rescinded those resolutions at their last meeting at the request of the developer, New Faze Development, effectively removing those measures from the ballot.  Thornton Consolo of Jackson says, “You made a commitment to the people,” and then “took it away at the last minute,” inferring that the group may not have incurred those expenses if the ballot measures would be removed.

City Attorney Andrew J. Morris announced that per the Government Code, a city council cannot spend money to support or oppose a ballot measure.  In his opinion, reimbursing Concerned Citizens of Jackson would amount to opposing the ballot measures.  Public comment reverted back to the reasons why the council rescinded those resolutions in the first place. Mayor Rosalie Pryor Escamilla reminded the public that the item on the agenda was whether or not the expenses should be reimbursed.  Several citizens then asked if the council could recommend to New Faze development to reimburse Concerned Citizens of Jackson.  The Mayor then announced that she felt the group’s actions were “premature” and that the flyers produced by the group “provides misleading and incorrect information” and is “designed to inflame” instead of providing valuable public information.  Pryor Escamilla then noted that the Environmental Impact Report was not even mentioned in the flyer. After hearing public comments and discussing the matter, the council voted unanimously to not reimburse the group for expenses incurred opposing the Jackson Hills Project.

The Foothill Rideshare project has received a 10,000 dollar grant from the Amador Air District.  Renee Chapman gave a presentation to the Amador Air District Board of Directors at their meeting on Tuesday.  Chapman says that according to the 2000 Census, approximately 33 percent of Amador County’s workers travel out of the county for work, and that most of those commuters travel in SOV’s, or single-occupant vehicles.

The project’s solution is to form vanpools.  Chapman says that many people are wary of forming a vanpool because other riders are liable for another rider’s share of cost if they “drop out of” the program.  The 10,000 dollar grant will subsidize the vanpool program and pay for up to two seats of a vanpool for up to three months if a rider leaves that vanpool.  Chapman says the purpose of this program is to “get cars off the road” and “cut emissions.” Foothill Rideshare has been operating for about a year and had about 220 people sign up during their pilot program. 

Now, that number has increased to about 340.  They are hoping to get the word out, and will be installing signs along commuter thoroughfares, such as Latrobe Rd. In addition to vanpooling, Amador County offers many other solutions to commuting, such as carpooling, Amador Regional Transit System, walking, and of course, the good old fashioned bicycle. For more information on joining a vanpool, or other commuting alternatives, visit the Foothill Rideshare project’s website at www.FoothillRideshare.com.

Cal Fire and El Dorado and Amador Fire personnel responded to one of the first local wildland fires of the season last Tuesday near Camino. The fire started with a controlled debris burn that escaped and ignited five acres of leaves and debris. The fire did not cause a significant amount of damage to the burned area, however, if there had been structures nearby it could have easily caused significant damage. As the dangers of fire season grow more perilous, Cal Fire is reminding citizens to take all necessary prevention measures, particularly when it comes to fires started by controlled burns. These reminders include not burning on windy days, never leaving a fire unattended, making sure you have a shovel and hose in sight and keeping pile sizes to a maximum of four feet by four feet.