Amador County- 10th District Assemblymember and Amador County Representative Alyson Huber is staying busy with a number of upcoming events aimed at enriching connections with her constituents. On April 30th, from 6:30-7:30 in the Rancho Cordova Town Hall and again on May 7th from 6:30 to 7:30 in the Elk Grove Town Hall, Huber will conduct “introductory” workshops to address the concerns of residents. This comes after a successful town hall in Amador County earlier last month. Huber is also inviting residents to join her at an open house of the District Office this Sunday, May 3rd. The office will be open while the Lodi Street Faire is in progress from 8am to 4pm. District staff will be on hand to answer questions and show the resources the office offers. Finally Huber is set to host an event designed to help farmers comply with regulations regarding their workers and operations. This Farm and Ranch Compliance Informational Panel will be held Wednesday, May 6th at 6 pm in Lodi High School. The event will bring together representatives from OSHA, State Compensation Insurance Fund, and San Joaquin County Agriculture Department to discuss the rules and regulations governing farm and ranch operations. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A joint meeting of the Ione City Council and the Ione Planning Commission next week will offer the public a chance to see the elements of the city’s Draft General Plan Update. The council and commission meet 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ione City Hall. City Manager Kim Kerr said city staff will take the public through 5 elements of the draft General Plan. Kerr said residents are encouraged to attend and comment on draft policies related to “housing needs, plans for open space, economic development, conservation, community character, noise, and public health & safety.” The meeting is a public workshop. A second joint workshop will be held May 19th, Kerr said, and it will “address land use and circulation issues in the community.” Once initial public comments have been gathered and the council and commission have given direction on the draft General Plan, a draft Environmental Impact Report analyzing the impacts of the General Plan Update will be released and available for public comment. The draft General Plan and related materials are posted for public review on the Ione General Plan Update website, at www.ionegeneralplan.com. Kerr said Tuesday’s “meeting is an important opportunity for residents to share their views and give insight on how to maintain Ione’s quality of life while planning for the future.” Staff has called the Ione General Plan Update “a blueprint for guiding and developing” Ione’s future. Kerr said city residents’ “participation and contribution to our meetings will be essential as we strive to preserve our history and create a viable and flourishing community that current and future generations will be glad to call home.” See more information about the Ione General Plan Update online at www.ionegeneralplan.com. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - In all the reports about swine flu, little is mentioned about the swine themselves and the effect such an outbreak could have on public gatherings that feature swine. Concern have arisen amongst Amador County residents as to whether a possible swine flu outbreak in California will change plans for the Amador County Fair this July. “At this time, we have every intention to continue with our fair as planned,” said Troy Bowers, CEO of the Amador County Fair, adding: “We are joined at the hip and receiving daily updates from the California Food and Agriculture Department.” To date, there are no known cases of swine flu in California pigs. The CDFA is closely monitoring the situation and evaluating the health of California’s swine herd. Preliminary investigations of swine flu cases in Southern California indicate that the virus was not obtained through direct contact with pigs. “It is important to understand that there are no reports of swine flu in pigs in California, or the United States, at this time,” said California State Veterinarian Dr. Richard Breitmeyer. According to a statement released by the CDFA, its top priority is to test any pigs that are linked to a human swine flu case or are showing signs of a respiratory disease. “In comparison to many states, California is a relatively small pork producer with fewer than 100,000 animals, ranking 28th in the country,” says the release. At the same time that a global outbreak has been deemed “imminent” by the World Health Organization, the Division of Fairs and Expositions is currently working with CDFA Animal Health officials to reduce apprehension related to swine health by focusing on communication and outreach. Bowers said he is not concerned, and he’s confident that all departments are taking the appropriate measures to monitor the situation. Bowers said, “the CDFA is very active in ensuring that California Fairs remain safe and humane for both the animals and the people.” He said the Amador County Fair has a Quality Assurance Program to teach kids bio-security measures like washing your hands after handling livestock and monitoring swine for flu-like symptoms. In Bower’s memory, he can only recall one previous time when animal sickness became an issue, during the hoof and mouth scare that originated in Britain in 2001. Swine influenza viruses were first isolated in the United States in 1930. Since that time, “they have become an economically important cause of respiratory disease in pigs throughout the world, and a human public health risk.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to defer its upcoming July equalization pay raise for one year. The vote amended a county ordinance passed in 2005 that went into effect in 2006, in tying supervisors’ salaries to that of county judges. That is an annual raise that increases supervisors’ salaries up to equal 40 percent of the salaries of Amador County Superior Court Judges. The 5 percent raise would have taken effect July 1st, but the amendment changed the ordinance to take effect July 1st, 2010. Chairman Ted Novelli said the ordinance remains the same except for the date. This year, the hike would have been a 5 percent raise to make current salaries equal 40 percent of judge salaries. The ordinance says that each July 1st, supervisors shall receive “an amount equal to 40 percent of the Amador County superior court judge’s monthly pay.” It says “Such salary shall be prorated for the first and last month of his or her term. Each year thereafter, the board of supervisors’ annual rate of compensation shall be adjusted on July 1st … to an amount that is 40 percent of the Amador County superior court judge’s salary in effect on July 1st of the same year.” Next July, the supervisors’ salaries will be raised by the ordinance to again equal 40 percent of judges’ salaries. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A lengthy debate over a request to install public bathrooms at Pioneer Park became the prevailing agenda topic at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. Tracey Towner-Yep, Executive Director of the Amador County Recreation Agency, requested permission to fund the project through Quimby fees, which are paid by developers to help offset the density impacts of development by setting aside land, donating conservation easements, or paying fees for park improvements. The presentation quickly shifted into a debate over the future costs of maintaining a facility in a public area that would be subject to vandalism. “Let’s find a way to present a plan to prevent vandalism,” said Chairman and Supervisor Ted Novelli. He recalled many times in the past when he had to go to public recreation areas and assess the damage from vandals. Past vandalism has ranged from graffiti to the destruction of water fountains with baseball bats. “Since ACRA’s been in charge, we have stopped some vandalism and the rates have gone down,” said Towner-Yep. The Supervisors suggested different options, such as the rental of Port-O-Potties, or a gate system around the field. Towner-Yep shot these suggestions down one at a time, saying a permanent bathroom structure was the “best option” available. Novelli said the costs to clean up public restrooms is taxpayer money. “Let’s make it clear: I’m not saying I don’t want restrooms at Pioneer Park, I want to hear how we’ll secure restrooms in Pioneer Park,” said Novelli. Debbie Dunn, a member of the ACRA board, said the County has time and again failed to follow through with this project. Prop. 12 and Prop. 40 monies were approved in the past but the opportunities to authorize construction of the project passed, she said. Now the Quimby funds were lying in wait. “I’m all for solving problems, but I thought this decision had already been made twice,” Dunn said. In the end, the Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Richard Forster to approve implementation of the project using Prop. 40 funds. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday accepted the Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee annual report and also agreed to shift the next project from Argonaut Lane in Jackson to Bowers Drive in Sutter Creek. Amador County Transportation Commission Executive Director Charles Field presented the 2007-2008 annual report and gave an overview of the 2008-2009 recommendations for programming and funding, which supervisors approved in a 5-0 vote. Field said the Mission Boulevard project in Jackson received an $800,000 dollar matching grant, and ACTC is “still in negotiations with St. Sava” Mission. Recommendations included $250,000 dollars more for that project, bringing total financing to $1 Million dollars. Field said part of the funding will come from “supplemental building fees.” Supervisor Brian Oneto asked what that entailed. Field said members pay into the Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee Program, “which is very constricted on how they can spend the money in the county.” Supplemental fees, or extra building fees, can be used in areas to fund area projects. Such would be the case, he said, for the Ione Bypass, estimated at $50 Million dollars. Field said the recommendation included shifting funding from the Argonaut Lane project in Jackson to the Bowers Drive project in Sutter Creek, for next year. He said Argonaut Lane is partly through development, but it will require acquisition of a home and another piece of property. The homeowner was prepared to fight, when the project stalled and the contractor terminated the contract, leading to the next most feasible project, at Bowers Drive. Field said “with this board’s support, we will go for federal funding” next year, as they did with Mission Boulevard. “The oversight committee recommended Argonaut Lane stay on hold and those funds go to Bowers,” he said. Supervisor Richard Forster, an ACTC member for the supervisors, said it’s really difficult to spread funding on projects “when you have a small pot of money.” The fee recommendations included $211,000 dollars toward the Sutter Creek project, at Bowers, Highway 104 and Prospect Drive. Field said because of the economy, he recommends “no change to traffic mitigation fees at this time.” He also said the oversight committee “recommended that the Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee Program remain under the auspices of the interagency Memorandum of Understanding for the time being with additional language to be drafted for a revision to the MOU that would allow the ACTC to take action on mid-year revisions. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council heard a report on its General Plan Update fiscal impact study on Tuesday, hearing that much of its spending is below average. Consultant Tom Trzcinski presented the study to the council and took questions. He said “I’ve never seen such a low service level of police,” noting that the city has 7/10ths of a “full time equivalent” police officer. City Finance Manager Jeff Gardner said that used to be one full officer. The contracted policing is done by the Amador County Sheriff’s Office and paid for by state grants. Plymouth and Amador City combine services and used to share 1 full-time officer each, policing areas inside and between both jurisdictions. Gardner said since then, it has fallen to 1-and-a-half full time equivalency officers, split between Plymouth and Amador City. City Manager Dixon Flynn said the city is “looking at the economics over time, not just an arbitrary number,” in its policing. Flynn said Citrus Heights began its own police department after contracting the work to the county sheriff, because “it costs you money when you take people to county jail, and it’s a lot of money.” Trzcinski said future policing “is the largest cost assumption in the study.” It assumed a cost of $214 per person or $535 per residential unit per year for police in new developments, assuming the need for 1.5 full-time officers per 1,000 people. Trzcinski said the city spends about $110,000 dollars per year on street work, also relatively low. The study said future service assumptions estimated $75,000 dollars spent annually per linear mile of new streets, annexed from the county. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - In a presentation before the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Amador County Health Officer Dr. Bob Hartmann outlined what actions the county is taking to prepare for a possible swine flu pandemic. The deadly airborne flu virus that originated in Mexico and has killed as many as 149 people in the Mexico City area has now been detected in at least 13 people in California. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday declared a “state of emergency,” allowing the state to deploy additional resources to the Department of Public Health. “In Amador County, we have had no symptoms of this, but we are monitoring the situation closely,” said Hartmann. “It is the Public Health Department’s responsibility to act aggressively in response to this,” he added. He said Health Department staff has been working overtime, and he personally attended 10-12 meetings the day before to address concerns. The majority of the local response is focused on monitoring. He said the Health Department is keeping close track of people who have either returned from Mexico, admitted to the hospital, or those who have been known to be in contact. The latter category is of less concern because there have been no local cases reported. Local health officials are also monitoring the school absentee rates and have contact on a daily basis with monitors at Mule Creek State Prison. “It’s hard to tell how this virus will spread…but it will increase, and increase quite dramatically,” Hartmann said. He said that as far as what the public can do, “people need to avoid the four letter word: fear.” Supervisor Ted Novelli asked if there were any vaccines available. Hartmann said that even if they approved the production of a vaccine within the next week, “we’d be looking at August until the end of October” before the vaccine was approved. Hartmann said the County has requested its allotment of Tamiflu, the most effective product found so far in combating the drug. For more information on the swine flu and its symptoms, go to the Amador County Public Health website. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a letter opposing the East Bay Municipal Utility District plan to expand Pardee Reservoir. The board also opposed another plan that would build a dam downstream from Pardee, if it would have the same adverse affects on the Mokelumne River as a Pardee expansion. The letter, to be signed by Chairman Ted Novelli, also will encourage and express support of the Oakland-based utility’s Integrated Regional Conjunctive Use Plan. Supervisors also requested that a statement by East Bay MUD Vice Chairman John Coleman be included in the Draft Program Environmental Impact Report of the utility’s Water Supply Management Plan 2040. Supervisor John Plasse motioned that the letter should encourage that the EIR include Coleman’s statement that East Bay MUD would “not go forward with expansion of Pardee without local support.” Amador Water Agency General Manager Jim Abercrombie asked for clarification of the letter, which opposes expanding Pardee, or any expansion having the same effect. He said they also supported the IRCUP and its related expansions at Lower Bear Reservoir, Pardee Reservoir and Duck Creek. Supervisor Brian Oneto said he supported IRCUP and wanted to work with East Bay MUD on future projects to increase Amador’s water supply. Supervisor Richard Forster said “I hope they learned something from this, that you better bring all the partners in and have them sitting at the table.” Supervisor Louis Boitano said “I definitely want to sit at that Thanksgiving table with East Bay MUD, but I don’t want to be the turkey.” Plasse said East Bay MUD claimed that Pardee was not a part of its “Safe Harbor” plan, which would seek permission for incidental “taking,” or killing, of endangered or protected wildlife. Plasse said the language included expansion of dams, an obvious reference to Pardee. He said it was evidence of “the way they once again show little or no concern for the effects of their projects on Amador County.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Sutter Creek Planning Commission and the county’s resident traffic czar agreed on the basic gist of Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort’s new traffic impact study. That is, if a “fair share” percentage is paid by developers for traffic impacts, how will it guarantee mitigation measures are made? The answer was not so easy. Amador County Transportation Commission Executive Director Charles Field said “it’s good to hear the planning commission comments: The things you are uncomfortable with, the ACTC staff is uncomfortable with.” He said solutions to and resolutions of problems need to be discussed and if the commission is “going to certify (Gold Rush) with this many mitigations not determined,” if might be a problem to the city. He said if all the developer does is pay “their fees and then they have paid their fair share, at that point the mitigation measure responsibility shifts to the city.” Field said other issues were the things not included in the study, such as Allen Ranch Road, which “has the purpose to serve the development,” but is not in the Environmental Impact Report. “We think it’s a good idea to plan for that use,” Field said, and “bring Allen Ranch Road into the EIR.” Field also mentioned the developer’s promised school site, which is “not in the EIR, but it’s in that area, and how is it going to be affected?” And he said the mixed-use public property in Gold Rush, for the fire station and other amenities, might need to get an entrance allowance from Caltrans on Highway 104. Field said Sutter Creek Planning Commission should not approve the Final EIR until they have certified the development agreement and conditions of approval. But he said “Gold Rush has sat with us a few times and I do believe they are willing to work on this.” Sutter Commission Chairman Robin Peters said the comment period on the new traffic study remains open until 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 5th. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.