Amador County – The Amador County General Plan update panel discussed agricultural interests last week, including the agricultural economic value of $32 million dollars for Amador County in 2008, but also the specter of a potential cut in fund for the Williamson Act. Jeffrey Gibson, president of the Amador County Wine Grape Growers’ Association, said “we need a statement that the county supports the Williamson Act.” He said it was “Number 1 on our list, and we believe you should include that.” Gibson said “we are going to reaffirm and strengthen the right to farm,” so they can spray their fields without being sued by new neighbors. Supervisor Richard Forster said “when you say ‘as a matter of right,’ it means you have to let me do everything I want,” and he said the General Plan needs a glossary of terms. Supervisor Brian Oneto said he agreed with that idea. Gibson said it was like an old farmer once told him about good farming: “You need to take care of the dirt.” Gibson said he did not understand verbiage making ag uses “scaled to fit.” He said “to me, that means ‘We’ll approve it if we like it’.” Forster said the “state may get rid of the Williamson Act,” which focuses on ag lands. Gibson said he knows “the county is going to suffer because of the dysfunctional Legislature,” which “takes all the money that it can.” He said he and the Grape Growers’ Association are “asking the board to say we support and are going to argue for its extension.” In a letter to the board, Gibson said “agricultural endeavors (excluding wineries) contribute $30 million to $40 million dollars to the Amador County economy annually and enhance tourism and recreational related businesses.” He said a “significant portions of this gross income create jobs and are used to purchase goods and services within the county. Amador County Agricultural Commissioner Mike Boitano said the 2008 Amador County Crop report shows the county grape value was about $15 million dollars in 2008. Boitano said his crop report grape “figures are just the production end of it, the grapes themselves,” and they do “not consider wine or juice sales.” The report found that overall total agriculture production in 2008 in Amador was about $32 million dollars. The 2008 Amador crop report, covering the last calendar year sales, should be available online next week. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Chaw’se Indian Grinding Rock State Park in Amador County is among hundreds of state parks considered for closure as one solution to the state’s deepening budget crisis. State park officials last week predicted that Schwarzenegger's plan would take more than $213 million away from state parks over the next two fiscal years. 80 percent, or 220 of 279 parks would be shut down as early as this fall. In our region, this includes Sutter’s Fort, Indian Grinding Rock, Columbia State Park and Calaveras Big Trees Park. Last year, Schwarzenegger proposed a smaller plan to close 48 parks, but the idea was dropped during budget negotiations. “Chaw’se brings in so many children from school districts throughout the state to see these Indian artifacts. This would be a shock to these learning institutions,” said Supervisor Ted Novelli. Chaw'se is nestled in a little valley eight miles east of Jackson. The park is named after a great outcropping of marbelized limestone with over 1,185 mortar holes - the largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America. “I would consider its closure an awful shame,” said one Jackson resident who has volunteered at the park for many years. Novelli said the money saved through these proposed closures is a fraction of the $24.6 billion debt the state has incurred. Novelli wondered aloud about the repercussions, asking: “If people are out of work and out of a job, where will they bring their families if the parks are all closed?” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Longtime law enforcement official John D’Agostini has made it all but official that he’ll be running for El Dorado Sheriff in the 2010 election. D’Agostini, a resident of El Dorado County, has served in Amador County for 15 years, as a former Amador County Sheriff’s sergeant and in his current role as 2nd in command for the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team. He’ll be up against three other strong candidates: Stan Perez, a former chief of the CHP’s valley division; Bob Luca, an El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office Investigator; and Larry Hennick, a retired 32-year veteran of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department. Incumbent Sheriff Jeff Neves has not decided whether he will seek re-election. D’Agostini told TSPN he intends to “return to a type of community-oriented policing,” but that term “has been used for years to the point that people barely understand what it means.” Instead, he said he’ll base his campaign on a 3-prong policy he calls “total policing.” That stands for total enforcement, total care and total professionalism. After years of first-hand experience with the regions growing drug-related issues, he feels “drugs are directly or indirectly the cause of most crime in this area.” Other issues high on his agenda include combating domestic violence and vandalism in the county’s west-end that could be signs of an increasing gang presence. When asked to comment on whether he feels he’ll be a more effective Sheriff than Neves, D’Agostini said it’s simply a matter of having different leadership styles. “I’ll bring a different culture and personality to the position that I personally feel will be more effective. (Neves) has started some good programs, and I will build on those.” D’Agostini said he will formally announce his candidacy at his family’s ranch in Mt. Aukum on June 13. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County supervisors and planning commissioners last week discussed parts of the economic development element, touching on agriculture and other aspects. Jim Conklin, executive director of the Amador County Business Council, said the “more business-friendly that you can make the county within legal limit,” the more of a major benefit it will be to the county. He said he would “like to see improved communications infrastructure built so people can live here and work here.” And he urged a “relook at the economic development delivery process arm.” He said the Small Business Administration is that delivery structure, with loans of $75,000 dollars – “a really woefully inadequate amount.” He thought Amador “needs to send a professional business message to companies thinking of locating” here. Olive farmer Susan Bragstadd asked about “land use and conservations elements of the General Plan,” referred to in one portion of the economic. County Planner Susan Grijalva said the elements were not written, and the only things written were plans and policies. Conklin believed the “Land Use Element should compliment the Economic Development Element.” Art Marinaccio, of Amador Citizens For Responsible Government, said “ag is everywhere a cow used to be at one time,” and pointed to a Foothill Conservancy call to replace each acre of grazing land that is developed with 4 acres of grazing land to be set aside. Discussion continues at the next meeting, to be announced. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency at the end of April sought a water and wastewater sub-element in the Amador County General Plan. And last week, an AWA board member offered her board president and vice president to work on that element. District 4 AWA board member Debbie Dunn made the offer during the county general plan panel’s Wednesday discussion of the “Economic Development Element.” General Manager Jim Abercrombie said Dunn was not appointed by the board to deliver an address or message to the General Plan panel. He said the discussion at a previous AWA board meeting centered on Board President Terence Moore (District 5) and Vice President Bill Condrashoff (District 1) volunteering to go through the Calaveras County general plan’s new “water element.” Abercrombie said he thought the things Dunn said to the board, though not authorized by the board, were things the board would offer and support. In an April 28th letter to Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli, Abercrombie said “the AWA board discussed and specifically supported the inclusion of adding a sub-element to the general plan’s economic element that addresses both water and wastewater issues.” The letter requested that the county “prepare this sub-element during the general plan update,” and “requested that the county respond back in writing to this request.” Dunn in a letter to the county panel last week said “as discussed by the board at the Amador Water Agency, our president, vice president and staff will create this sub-element by extrapolating the existing goals and policies on water and wastewater scattered throughout the current revision of the update.” County Planner Susan Grijalva said the joint panel of Amador County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission “will decide if it’s going to be included, and if it is, what policies it will have,” she said. Grijalva said the AWA president and vice president will see if those documents contain “anything the want to incorporate into the Amador sub-element. They will “then turn it over to the county to be reviewed.” Dunn said the Amador County Joint Water Committee, including Amador Supervisors Novelli and John Plasse and AWA board executives Moore and Condrashoff, will review the sub-element June 29th, then take a recommendation to the Amador joint panel at its next meeting, 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, July 8th. Grijalva said “from there, we’re starting the environmental review process.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Even though Indian gaming revenues declined in the Sacramento region in 2008, casino representatives are looking to the future with optimism. According to figures released Wednesday by the National Indian Gaming Commission, tribal gambling revenue nationwide hit $26.7 billion in 2008, but tough economic times have slowed the number of visitor’s to gaming facilities. Sacramento region operations saw revenues of $7.363 billion in 2008, down from a high of $7.8 billion in 2007. Jackson Rancheria CEO Rich Hoffman told TSPN that “the consumer confidence trend continues to become more optimistic.” Keeping abreast of the economic trends at the Rancheria is a good indicator as to how the county as a whole will fare. With approximately 1,700 employees, the Jackson Rancheria is the largest employer in Amador County. The casino is also one of the county’s largest contributors to charity, shelling out hundreds of thousands each year to programs throughout the community. One such program is a promotion of struggling downtown Jackson through print advertising in the Jackson Rancheria Casino Hotel & Conference Center’s monthly magazine, Arrow. Many county events are sponsored by the Rancheria, and many private businesses continue to thrive because of its support. Despite a struggling economy and the recent passing of Rancheria founder and pioneering leader Margaret Dalton, Hoffman says he is looking forward to a bright future. “We continue to appreciate the good will our guests have shown to us,” he said, adding: “We’ve faired better because of that.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Members of the Jackson Revitalization Committee and Jackson businesses attended a “Shop Jackson” workshop Wednesday, the “kickoff” of a partnership between the city, local businesses and the Jackson Rancheria. About 60 people attended, and heard about the promotion for businesses around Jackson, in print advertising in the Jackson Rancheria Casino Hotel & Conference Center’s monthly magazine. Mayor Connie Gonsalves said $45 dollars buys a 2-quarter membership, which includes a listing in Arrow Magazine, sent monthly to 100,000 members of the Rancheria’s Dreamcatcher’s Club. Robert Mees, lead volunteer of the program, said listings could include special offers and Dreamcatcher’s Club members-only discounts. Mees said the initial campaign runs from August 1st through January 31st, 2010, in two 3-month blocks. All businesses inside Jackson city limits eligible, and Mees said it is an effective way to develop an ongoing relationship with the Rancheria and the Dreamcatcher’s Club. Gonsalves said the club has 500,000 active, card-carrying members. 300,000 of the club members visit the Rancheria each month. Among the membership are 26,000 local club members from Amador and Calaveras counties. Business owners lauded the campaign, including Janie Williams of the Kitchen Store, who called it “genius.” Gonsalves said it was the idea of Councilman Wayne Garibaldi, also a Jackson Revitalization Committee member. Garibaldi said a lot of people talked about ideas to bring people to town in value-conscious times. President of Bank of Amador, Garibaldi said he took a banker’s approach to the idea of the Dreamcatcher’s Club, with all its members passing through town to the Rancheria. He took the idea of a partnership to Jackson Casino CEO Rich Hoffman, also a JRC member, and the rest is history in the making. Hoffman said “our hope is to use a cooperative approach and cause some excitement and some cross pollination,” to help local businesses. He said tourist spot benefit from the added traffic was “gravy” on the top. The Arrow Magazine will publish 6 maps of Jackson businesses, with a short listing of the special offers for Dreamcatcher’s members. District 1 Supervisor John Plasse, a JRC member, and Councilman Pat Crew said it was a very positive approach to helping city business. Plasse called it “solution-oriented,” and Crew, owner of Jackson Tire Service, said the 26,000 club members from Amador and Calaveras were “the guys I’m looking for. I can’t reach them for $45 dollars.” The JRC next meets 6 p.m. June 11th at the Jackson Civic Center. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Ione City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to select the Costa Mesa firm PERC to operate the city’s wastewater treatment plant and department. The vote authorized City Manager Kim Kerr to enter negotiations with PERC, find a contract agreement with the company, and bring it back to the city council for approval. A representative from the company offered to adjust its bid to the lowest one received, among the 4 finalists in the sewer department sweepstakes. That lowered the bid to $397,000 dollars for 1 year’s operation costs. Kerr said that was a base rate, a maximum cost bid, on which to negotiate and set the costs for the contract. Kerr said the bids were adjusted slightly to clarify which contain certain costs, with the company bids led by Southwest Water of Los Angeles bidding $397,000 dollars. Severn Trent of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was second at $418,954; and Veolia Water Company of Pleasant Hill was third at $420,756. PERC was higher that Southwest, but lowered its offer by $12,000 dollars, in the offer by its representative. Councilman Jim Ulm said he knows the bidding process he has used for years, and this was doing it differently, adding that “If I was a contractor, I would walk out.” He also said he did not like the fact that the council would choose a company but not get the final number. Mayor Lee Ard said the “costs are not to exceed” the bids, and it was the “time now to select the lowest bid.” Vice Mayor Skip Schaufel moved that the council approve negotiation with Southwest, but the motion died for lack of a second. Councilman David Plank then motioned to select PERC for negotiations. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham seconded the motion and said the “biggest thing” for her was the “transfer of risk,” offered by 2 of the 4 bidders, including PERC. Plank said he looked at all companies and tried not to look at only the dollar amount. He “found PERC had the best track record with no related fines.” Ard said they were all excellent firms, but PERC was the only one that could build a sewer plant. It also had good California experience. Schaufel said he hoped “if PERC was selected that it can create better than a 90-minute response time.” Ard, Bonham and Plank voted to select PERC for negotiations with Kerr, with Schaufel and Ulm voting no. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County General Plan Update panel on Wednesday debated whether to require a fiscal impact analysis, or only to say it “may be required.” Jackson activist Kathy Allen said it should be required of “nationally owned chains.” Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli asked her if a car dealership, specifically GMC, wanted to locate here, “would you object to their being here?” Allen said: “No, I would object to them not doing a fiscal impact study.” And she said “manufacturing is pure profit,” but retail is a different story. Supervisor Richard Forster said a local tire store owner told him he was not worried about national tire chains coming to the area, saying he supports the community and the community supports his business. Forster said: “If mom & pop (stores) are doing their job right, when the big-box store comes, they will survive.” Art Marinaccio of Amador Citizens For Responsible Government, said Allen’s words “constitute an illegal restraint of trade.” He said cases upheld up in court showed areas aimed to “protect our mom & pop” stores, but the wording must be “very specific” what they want to protect. Commissioner Ray Ryan said a blanket requirement for all national chains was flawed, because if companies cannot deliver, customers will not frequent those businesses. Allen said she wanted to protect local businesses, and Ryan said they “don’t want to put up a road block,” because then businesses would set up shop across the county line. Commissioner Dave Wardall said certain building products are “$45 dollars a foot in Amador County and $10 dollars a foot in Bakersfield.” Similarly, people travel to the Sacramento area for cheaper prices. Wardall said we “need big box stores, or you are going to lose sales tax to Folsom.” Commissioner Andy Byrne said if they require a fiscal impact report, “supervisors can always waive it.” He said the planning commission, including each individual commissioner, asked for a fiscal impact study of the Home Depot that was working to locate in Jackson. Forster said language saying the fiscal study “may be required” would “allow the commission to seek that.” Supervisor John Plasse said the word “may” was not the key word, rather “require” was the key, and he supported the combination. Supervisor Louis Boitano said it was “probably the way to go.” The joint panel reconvenes July 8th to consider including a water sub-element in the economic element. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Amador County's biggest union of employees, the Service Employees International Union, voted Tuesday to avoid a layoff with a shortening of the work week. “Our main union, SEIU, voted to have furloughs instead of layoffs,” said Terri Daly, Amador County Chief Administrative Officer. She said staff and employee representatives have tentatively agreed on a 4-day, 9-hour-a-day work week. 22 positions in varying departments of local government were considered for elimination. “This was definitely a pro decision for members to support one another and save those workers from losing their jobs, or possibly ending up on the streets,” said Mike Fouch, Worksite Organizer for SEIU Local 1021. He said “it’s a shame the county did not step up and this decision was forced onto the backs of our workers.” The decision came after a series of 3 SEIU membership meetings Tuesday between SEIU members and Amador County officials. Fouch said negotiations stem back to last year. At that time, the Board of Supervisors discussed a similar option but chose not to pursue it. This latest agreement is only the first step in a two-step process. In Phase 2, the parties involved will negotiate the specifics of language changes in the contract, and then it must be taken back to SEIU members for additional votes. Fouch said the county “wants this effective July 1st, and we have a lot of work to do between now and then.” SEIU represents approximately 56,000 employees in Northern California in city, state and school positions. SEIU Local 1021 represents 230 employees in Amador County. Story by Alex Lane, Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.