Amador County – The Sutter Creek Planning Commission took a fiscal impact report from consultants Monday night and then continued other aspects of its study of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort until next month. About 50 people attended the meeting, which began with the annual election of commission president and vice president, with Commissioner Frank Cunha saying that “due to the work the commission has invested in Gold Rush over the last year,” he moved to either keep the president and vice president the same for another year or to postpone the election until the Gold Rush process is complete. Commissioner Mike Kirkley agreed and Cunha motioned to keep Robin Peters and president and Cort Strandberg as vice president, for another year, with the motion passing unanimously. City Attorney Dennis Crabb, slated to give an update on the developer agreement, asked to continue the item for a minimum of 30 days, saying the development agreement was not yet ready for commissioners. Mark Northcross of Goodwin & Associates gave a presentation on a fiscal study of Gold Rush, saying that the city relies on sales and property taxes for income. He said city residents do most of their shopping outside of town. Northcross said “20 percent stays here” and “80 percent of your sales tax dollars don’t stay in this town.” He said Sutter Creek has been a “low rate property tax city” since the tax rate was set state-wide in 1978. As such, “90 percent of the property tax goes somewhere besides Sutter Creek.” He said the good news was that the law allows the city an option to make up for lost property taxes. “We recommend that you make it up through the Mello-Roos Law.” He said the city council can enact the Mello-Roos, an improvement district, to fund capital improvement developments, by putting a “special tax” as a surcharge on property taxes to make up for the negative impacts of the development. The Planning Commission resumes its examination of Gold Rush on February 23rd. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County – A consultant told the Sutter Creek Planning Commission that impacts of Gold Rush Ranch & Gold Resort are certain, but costs are anything but certain, for now. Mark Northcross of Goodwin & Associates told the commissioners that due to the recession, the climate for Gold Rush would depend on making the project feasible for the developer, which would have adverse affects on the city. Making it feasible would mean adding impact surcharges that were unknown, but when the cost was determined, it would make it agreeable to the developer but not to the city. He gave an example of $300 per home, noting that “we can’t pour concrete on $300 a home,” because “we don’t know what homes will sell for in Gold Rush.” He said if it were a city the size of Rocklin or Elk Grove, with 30,000 to 50,000 residents, the 3,000 new residents would not be a problem and “you are not going to break the bank in city hall. But here, you are doubling the population of Sutter Creek. If you do it wrong, the circumstances are bigger, so you want to do it right.” Commissioner Robert Olson asked about adding more commercial enterprises to the development. Northcross said the answer is always typically “no,” though developers know the impact is beneficial to all with commercial development. It’s just that the designs do not take more businesses. Principal investor of Gold Rush, Bill Bunce addressed commissioners saying that the project was actually expanded on request, with commercial space quadrupled and nearly 5 times the original size. He said also that “the staff that the city hires is not going to be working exclusively on Gold Rush,” so the city will benefit immediately from staffing increase. The Planning Commission resumes its examination of Gold Rush on February 23rd. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

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.).

Amador County – The Amador Joint Water Committee discussed a few items Monday, including kicking around the idea of suggesting adding a Water Element to Amador County’s new General Plan. The months-long process of the General Plan update by Amador County Supervisors and planning commissioners is on hiatus for staff repairs to the document, and is due to meet in February. Joint Water Committee member and Amador Water Agency board member Bill Condrashoff asked if the water element was still a part of the general plan, or if it had been thrown out. Supervisors John Plasse and Chairman Ted Novelli both said water was still part of the plan. Plasse said water was referenced under two areas, the Economic Element and also the Governance Element, though a full-fledged Water Element was not part of the General Plan. Plasse said “it hasn’t been thrown out but it hasn’t been thrown in.” Pete Bell of the Foothill Conservancy said from the audience that there were ways to put water into the General Plan besides having it as an element and he and Condrashoff both alluded to the Calaveras County Water District working on a Water Element in its General Plan. AWA Chairman and committee member Terence Moore said he would like to see the CCWD’s plan, “just to see what it’s all about.” Bell said the document was out in draft form and he had a copy. He offered to e-mail it to Moore along with the Conservancy’s comments on it. Moore asked Bell to e-mail it to AWA Genral Manager Jim Abercrombie, who could then see that the AWA board gets the documents. The committee discussed the agenda item of talking about housing developments of 300 or more units, of which there were none. Condrashoff asked why there were no discussions of smaller numbered developments. Abercrombie said it was based on Senate Bill 610, which requires certain things for projects that size. Condrashoff asked for discussions of 100-unit sizes, due to the recession. Moore said “let’s knock it down to 100,” or, “right about now, any inquiry.” Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County – The Amador Joint Water Committee went through about a dozen items Monday, among those hearing that the construction company for the Plymouth Pipeline is “on board.” Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo told committee members, Supervisors Ted Novelli and John Plasse, and Amador Water Agency board members Terence Moore and Bill Condrashoff, that the construction agreement had be initiated. Builder Mountain Cascade has a work office are identified and should start “brushing and grubbing” this month and should be putting parts of the pipeline into the ground by March. The work schedule plans for a December completion of the pipeline, which will link the AWA’s Tanner Water Treatment Plant on Ridge Road in Sutter Creek with the Plymouth water facility and storage tank on East Main Street in Plymouth. Mancebo said Mountain Cascade was not yet sure if it will have 1 or 2 crews laying pipe. Discussion included the “Moke River Water Forum,” which AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said was not active now, pending a reactivation of state funding. But the forum talks about waters concerns and supplies in Amador and Calaveras counties and with East Bay Municipal Utilities District interests. The committee touched on 1958 water agreements between Amador County and East Bay MUD, which predate formation of the AWA. Moore said “we’re the one’s who seem to roll it up and hit East Bay MUD over the head with it all the time.” He said the AWA should encourage the county to take the lead more in agreement disputes with East Bay. The committee talked about the Wild & Scenic Designation for the North Fork of the Mokelumne River. Pete Bell of the Foothill Conservancy to the committee that last he heard from AWA, its staff was preparing a presentation on the designation, but he said his organization and the agency should meet. Bell said there was still a lot of work for Foothill to do before the issue was taken to the federal level, including speaking about it with Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Bell said they want to “run it by them. The last thing we need is to have somebody like PG&E stand up and say, ‘now wait a minute.’” Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - Low income families throughout the Mother Lode may not realize there are programs and agencies available to provide emergency assistance during tough economic times. One such agency is the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency, or ATCAA, serving families and individuals in need throughout Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. ATCAA provides energy assistance as well as assistance with rent or mortgage payments. According to Cathy Vanderford, ATCAA’s Jackson Service Center Secretary, the numbers of calls for assistance have increased dramatically in the last year. “We have very limited funding available, and we mail out applications to those people we believe need assistance the most,” she said. While emergency, rent and mortgage assistance is extremely limited and based on the goodwill of local donors, energy assistance comes through a grant through PG & E from the federal government. It covers utility bill payment assistance, energy-saving home improvements such as weather stripping, insulation and appliances, as well as education on reducing energy costs and budget counseling. In 2006, 111 homes were weatherized in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, and a total of 1,399 homes were assisted with utility payment. No specific numbers on funding amounts were provided, but sources say federal grants can be in excess of $10,000. ATCAA is currently out of funding for PG&E assistance but has a waiting list for funds when available again. ATCAAs Homeless and Transitional Shelters provide emergency shelter to homeless children and families, along with case management support for job training, housing search, as well as social, health and mental health services. Additionally, rent and utility assistance is provided through the Homeless Prevention program when available, as well as Housing and Budget Counseling in both Tuolumne and Amador counties. In 2006, 128 adults received Housing and Budget Counseling in both Amador and Tuolumne counties. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - Guitarists beware- there’s a whole new generation of kids looking to challenge your hand-eye coordination. Over 30 children ages 14 and under and families gathered for the first For Kids by Kids Guitar Hero Tournament at the Jackson Civic Center last Saturday afternoon. Organizers Michael Merzlak and Anthony Estrada, who also put on the For Kids By Kids Fishing Tournament, enjoyed the event that was covered by TSPN and the newspaper. Guitar Hero is a popular series of music video games in which the player uses a plastic guitar-shaped device to simulate corresponding musical cues represented by colored notes on-screen. The Guitar Hero franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, making many appearances in popular culture, becoming extremely popular as party games, and revolutionizing the modern music industry. The final round of the tournament brought everyone to their feet. Parents, relatives, and fans watched as Deion Terry of Jackson won by playing Ozzy Ozbourne’s “Crazy Train” on the expert level. Second place went to Caleb Schauer of Ione, and Adam Knaul of Jackson placed third. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County – Even though we are technically in the middle of winter, fire officials are warning Amador County residents that fire danger still exists. An unseasonably warm winter so far has increased the likelihood of fire occurrence. This warm weather pattern has continued over the last couple years, resulting in larger and more widespread fires throughout California which require larger response units. The California Department of Forestry and Protection, or CALFIRE, statistics reveal that in 2007 alone, 3,610 separate fires occurred within the agency’s jurisdiction. This accounted for 434,667 acres of fire. According to the Amador Fire Protection District, there were 3 structure fires, 1 cooking fire, 1 chimney fire, 1 vehicle fire and 3 wildland fires in Amador County during the month of December. In response, the Tuolumne/Calaveras Unit of CALFIRE is urging residence to take advantage of cool spring weather to finish clearing defensible space around your home in anticipation of another long, dry summer. “Live vegetation must be thinned and pruned to provide the horizontal and vertical spacing that will interrupt fire’s progress to or from a house or other building,” said Bureau Chief Dennis Townsend in a press release. Most importantly, remove all dead vegetation within 100 feet of all structures. He said that before burning each day, residents must check burn day status by calling the the Air Pollution Control District with jurisdiction over your area. Permissive burn days are determined on the basis of air quality, not whether it’s actually safe to burn. For more information about defensible space requirements, as well as safe burning practices, contact your local CAL FIRE station, or visit www.fire.ca.gov. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County – The Ione City Council set staff to draft a letter in support of keeping the Preston Youth Authority in business after word of its risk of closure reached the ears of city council last week. City Manager Kim Kerr will draft a letter to the director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and send a copy to Senator Dave Cox. Mayor Lee Ard said he was blindsided by news broken by TSPN last week, initiated by Supervisor Richard Forster. Ard wondered why Forster would break the news of a possible closure at the supervisors’ meeting last week, instead of taking the issue to the City Council. Ard said he has been explaining the issue since appearing on TSPN last week. Forster spoke as a member of the public to the Council, and he said he raised the issue last Tuesday during a supervisors’ public comment period “because people need to be excited about it.” He said he is employed by CDCR, but if he loses his job, he has another job, while “most people don’t.” He said “if you have people chewing on your ear, I hope you listen to them.” Forster said Ione is a “company town” because of Preston, where three generations of some families have worked, and many of his friends work. Gary Thomas spoke as a public member, saying Preston has a big history in town and serves a great purpose and he urged writing the support letter. Kerr presented a breakdown of Preston employees by zip code, noting that 101 of the 329 employees, just over 19 percent, lived in the Ione zip code. Vice Mayor Skip Schaufel said he was “dumbfounded that we have to talk about this. We have got to not allow this to happen.” He urged people to send e-mails and letters in support of keeping open Preston. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham agreed, thanking Kerr for the “hard data,” adding that “we need to make a hard stand” against a Preston closure. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - The Sutter Creek City Council sped through a series of brief but important agenda items during their meeting Tuesday evening. The first of these was a resolution of support for the recently closed auto dealerships Prospect Motors, Amador Motors and Amador Toyota. Sutter Creek is the final in a string of local council’s to issue formal proclamations of support for the mammoth business, which shut down shortly before Christmas. The proclamation read that the “City of Sutter Creek…urges General motors to take action to restore the dealerships to operation; and urges our state and federal elected officials to ensure the financial bailouts intended to help the national economy will also benefit our local businesses and communities.” The council approved the resolution unanimously. Next on the agenda was the election of a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore. Vice Mayor Bill Hepworth promptly proposed that Gary Wooten continue as Mayor, which was approved unanimously. Wooten jokingly promised that this “will be my last year as mayor.” Wooten immediately recommended Hepworth to continue as Vice Mayor and the council retained its current makeup. Another big topic of discussion was the appointment of Planning Commissioners. Newly elected and reelected council members Wooten, Murphy and Anderson appointed three members to serve on the City Planning Commission. Each appointed commissioner “works at the pleasure of the council member,” said Wooten. Crosby said that “commissioners review things to the nth detail, so I think we’ll be in good shape,” referring the Gold Rush Ranch and Golf Resort project. As a show of thanks, Hepworth offered to pick up dinner for each planning commissioner and their spouse when the Gold Rush project is finally completed. Wooten said, “the new word is transparency and they do a good job of it.” Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).