Amador County - A 14-month streak of year-over-year gains in home sales ended in June, when the number of sales fell to fewer than in June of 2008. In total, homebuyers in the Sacramento closed deals on 3,758 existing and new homes in June, the most since last October, according to MDA Dataquick, a research and statistics company. The region’s monthly sales have yet to reach 4,000 this year. Dataquick credits a rise in median priced home sales and diminishing sales of lower priced bank repos. Amador County had 31 sales compared to 30 in May. The county’s median price, $210,000, was 18.9 percent below June 2008. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council directed staff Thursday to pull an inclusionary housing policy from its General Plan Housing Element. They also requested the plan include a glossary of terms. The council discussed the General Plan update and its Final Environmental Impact Report, including a public hearing, but took no formal action. The council gave planning staff directions on preparing the General Plan for the next council meeting, and also approved a contract extension for planner Paula Daneluk. Daneluk and planner Darcy Goulart spoke on the General Plan, answered questions and addressed issues brought up during public comment. Bob Reeder of Reeder Sutherland, developers of 2 housing projects in and around Plymouth said the General Plan required 20 percent of housing in any project to be inclusionary or subsidized housing. Reeder said “in a project like ours, that is completely unreasonable.” He asked that the inclusionary housing requirement be removed from the Housing Element. He said California Housing and Community Development in a letter said inclusionary housing is not required for a Housing Element, and is only voluntary. He said no change would mean his projects’ EIR and traffic studies would have to be redone. Reeder also asked that “buffers” required by the plan, between ag land and housing, be changed to “building setbacks”. He said “most people moving into an agricultural area probably want to view it.” He also urged the city to define loose terms in the plan, like ridgelines, viewsheds and buffers. He was worried that “ridgeline” policy might affect his project, which has homes on ridges, but his subdivision must be driven into in order to see the homes. Mayor Jon Colburn said he would not support the General Plan until the planning department sent letters to people who live in areas affected by the Land Use Element Map. Daneluk said they had been very open to area residents about that map, with public meetings, personal invitation letters and even telephone calls to get people to meetings. Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin, Councilman Michael O’Meara and Councilwoman Pat Shackleton disagreed. Baldwin pointed out that it was a consensus, and therefore a staff direction. Baldwin said “inclusionary needs to go away in the General Plan.” Shackleton said her brother-in-law was worried, but she thought the city General Plan might better protect land along city limits, and closely surrounding Plymouth. Colburn brought up the need for the glossary of terms, and all agreed it was a necessity. The council continued the public hearing to resume on July 9th at 6:30 p.m. 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 on Tuesday will discuss the default on a Mello Roos bond that affects the Castle Oaks Subdivision, and 99 of its parcels owned by JTS Communities Incorporated. JTS missed a $453,000 dollar tax payment on its Castle Oaks Community Facilities District Number 3 in April, and the city of Ione in May notified JTS and partners that a correction would be needed in 45 days. City Manager Kim Kerr reported in May to the Board that the delinquency had occurred, and on May 21st, Kerr mailed a letter on behalf of the city to Stone & Youngberg LLC of San Diego; S&Y Capital Group of Los Angeles; Tower Investments LLC of Woodland; and Jack Sweigart and Larry Carter of JTS, based in Sacramento. The letter told the “initial purchasers” that they were “delinquent in the payment of the second installment of Special Taxes” for this fiscal year, for the Edgebrook and Castle Oaks Phase 2 Improvement Area Number 3. 2006 bonds for CFD Number 3 totaled $10.8 million dollars. Kerr in the letter said if delinquent taxes “are not paid in full within 45 days, the initial purchasers will be required” to “tender bonds in the amount of such delinquency.” Kerr in a report to the Ione City Council dated last Thursday said if the special taxes are not paid by July 6th, “or Restricted Bonds are not tendered, then the city needs to cause the Trusted to cancel Restricted Bonds.” A summary from the county tax collector’s office said 99 parcels in CFD 3 were delinquent on payments. That included 96 parcels owned by JTS Communities, and 3 parcels listed as owned by Jack T. and Victoria Sweigart. The summary said a total of $906,000 dollars was due, and $453,000 dollars in payments were delinquent for the 99 parcels, or half of the total due for the fiscal year. Kerr said County Tax Collector Michael Ryan notified the city of the non-payment by JTS Communities and its partners. Kerr and staff contacted city attorney Brian Forbath and financial consultant Shayne Morgan about the default. Kerr said staff researched and her report listed information on foreclosure proceedings, “for the benefit of the owners of the bonds.” Staff is working to “determine whether other property owners have not paid their Community Facilities District Special Taxes as well and the procedures to resolve the delinquency for each area. Story by Jim Reece 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 the county business environment, while ironing out the Economic Development Element of the draft General Plan. Panelists asked questions of local activist Kathy Allen, whose group, Amador Citizens For Responsible Growth claimed a victory when Home Depot pulled the plug on its pursuit of locating a franchise in Jackson. Allen said the county should work on its economic attractors, and she urged protection of the county, because “we don’t want to set ourselves up to be a bedroom community.” She criticized Starbucks as being “not local,” with “low-paid” jobs “and all of the money goes to Seattle.” Allen said: “Let’s say somebody wants to open a nudie joint next to the Kennedy Mine? We really don’t want to attract that kind of business.” Jim Conklin of the Amador County Business Council said Amador does not want to restrict development near tourist attractions, and Allen said “yes we do.” She said she did not want Petcos built near mines and historic destinations, and “no tacky businesses” next to the Chaw’se Indian Grinding Rock State Park. She urged the county to not “repeat a bad model” by emulating Elk Grove. On the Home Depot, she said “we have a Lowes, a Meeks, a True Value. Did we really need a Home Depot? No.” The panel eventually agreed on verbiage to say “a fiscal impact study may be required.” Allen argued that they should “require nationally owned chains to do it.” Board of Supervisors Chairman Ted Novelli asked if she would also require that for car dealerships. Allen said “you can’t have a locally owned car dealership.” Novelli asked Allen how she felt about manufacturing. Allen said “bring it,” calling manufacturing “pure profit.” Art Marinaccio, of Amador Citizens For Responsible Government, said Allen’s suggestion was illegal and “you can’t just say” we “don’t like Petco.” He urged the panel to talk to the county attorney about what they can and cannot do about “big box” stores. Rebecca Brown of District 5 thanked the panel for its “hard work,” and said “we want our businesses to be county-friendly.” Brown said: “I’m really glad I’m not you,” having to make the hard decisions and take public comment in the face of economic hard times. She said the board has the ability to limit developments’ total square feet, and reduce traffic, runoff and other impacts. She said “a big box store is not the same as retail or large national chains.” Story by Jim Reece

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 Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission approved a “Sphere of Influence” revision for the city of Plymouth last week, and sent a Sutter Hill annexation request back for more planning. LAFCO Executive Officer Roseanne Chamberlain said the board approved amending the Plymouth sphere of influence “to conform its current sphere of influence to follow existing parcel lines.” Chamberlain said the change was made so that any parcel that was mostly inside the sphere of influence, that whole parcel was added to the sphere. And any parcel mostly outside the sphere was taken out. Chamberlain said the change added less than 100 acres to the city’s sphere of influence, which was last updated in 1976. The LAFCO board considered an annexation request by Sutter Creek to add 56.3 acres on Sutter Hill. Chamberlain said the board decided the “city needs to do some additional work on its Community Facilities District, to pay for a sewer line and road improvements.” LAFCO directors wanted Sutter Creek to do more work and come up with a plan for the CFD formation. Chamberlain said the “city had the intention to do a Community Facilities District, but they need to do the planning.” The reorganization would include annexation to Sutter Creek & Sutter Creek Fire Protection District and detachment from Amador Fire Protection District. The reorganization area is located near Ridge Road east of Highway 49; east of Sutter Hill Road, north and south of Eureka Road, and north and south of Ridge Road. The LAFCO board also approved a proposal by the Drytown County Water District for creating a sphere of influence including land within the existing boundary and current service area of the district. Chamberlain said the district has fewer than 100 connections. The new sphere of influence “includes everybody who’s already got a water connection.” LAFCO canceled its June meeting and the board next meets July 16th. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A 3-2 vote opening Q Ranch land use designation by 350 more housing units will not be an immediate impact, Ione officials noted Tuesday. Ione city council raised the limit of 500 units to 830 units, maximum. Q Ranch representative Kevin Walker said “when the application comes forward, you are all going to get another bite of the apple.” Councilman Jim Ulm voted no, concerned “very much” that Ione would lose agriculture land. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham was uncomfortable, wanted more discussion with the developer or owner, and also voted no. Councilman David Plank said he’d like more time in the future to absorb such a proposal, but joined Vice Mayor Skip Schaufel and Mayor Lee Ard to vote yes in the approval. The council also voted 4-1 to do an environmental study of a possible land swap between Q Ranch and Amador Ranch Associates. It would swap 16 acres north of Irish Hill Road with 44 acres south of Irish Hill Road, owned by Amador Ranch. Ulm said “some people live around there and do not know about it.” Jordan said approval “gives the opportunity to consider it in the future,” not approval, and allows the council to see the conceptual land use. City Attorney Kristen Castanos said “it relates to the scope of the Environmental Impact Report being prepared” and does not affect the General Plan. The council also approved staff changing the General Plan map to match the one proposed by Walker, with changes in “text for concurrency.” Bonham suggested and the council approved language preserving the viewshed on Highway 104, “so that when you drive into town, you would see agriculture, not houses.” City Manager Kim Kerr said “you are not giving any entitlements here,” and full public hearings would come with any applications. Castanos said the “text gives you parameters that the council is authorizing for that map:” If they draw specific lines, that fixes the zoning; but if parameters are simply defined, “you can move the lines without having to do a General Plan amendment.” Planning Commissioner David Jenkins said it “doesn’t circumvent CEQA” requirements. Ard said even with the designation, it was not a lock to get the property, and if Q Ranch doesn’t annex, “a lot of it is in the county so the city would have no say anyway.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Public meetings on the Amador County General Plan Update continue in another meeting scheduled for early June. The meeting will be held in the Board Chambers, at the County Administration Center, 810 Court Street, Jackson, CA, on Wednesday June 3, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. The series – called “The Path to 2030” – is a continuation of the comprehensive March/April meetings of the Amador County Joint Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. County Planner Susan Grijalva in the announcement said: “Because the General Plan is the basis for all regulations – such as zoning, subdivision improvements – and decisions made regarding the use of property and when considering development projects, it is vitally important to be informed of this Update.” Grijalva said maps that have been developed to this point may be viewed and printed from the County’s Website, www.co.amador.ca.us. She said the Update process is on-going and the public can “continue to monitor the Website and watch for notices of future public hearings,” because “changes to the proposed General Plan can, and will, be made up until the last meeting.” The Meetings will be held in the Board Chambers, 810 Court Street in Jackson. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A joint session of the Ione City Council and Planning Commission will host a public hearing Tuesday on the Ione draft General Plan and its “Land Use Element” and “Circulation Element.” The council and commission will call the meeting to order during the regular council meeting, at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. Staff encourages public comment and participation. Planning staff, Pacific Municipal Consulting said “all elements of the General Plan are policies that guide future development.” PMC’s Christopher Jordan and Daniel Hamilton will present both elements. Land Use focuses on “important issues related to the location of parks and recreation, housing developments,” use of downtown Ione and other land use topics. The Circulation Element “provides policies for transportation issues within the city, including vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian modes.” PMC said “once initial public comments have been gathered and the city council and planning commission have provided direction on the draft General Plan, a Draft Environmental Impact Report analyzing the impacts of the General Plan will also be released and available for public comment.” PMC said the public’s participation and contribution “will be essential.” Additional public meetings will be held, covering an array of topics related to the General Plan. The draft General Plan and related materials are available for public review at www.ionegeneralplan.com, and City Hall. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County Supervisors voted Tuesday to require a fiscal analysis of the Wicklow Way Subdivision. Supervisor Louis Boitano said he would like to see a more analysis on carbon emissions so that the county does not anger the state attorney general. Both were approved by the board. Susan Larson, Planning Manager of Lemke Construction, said the project would build about 100 homes a year and start with residents, but also include commercial construction, in the first or second year. The project proposes zoning change from Single Family Residential, to High Density Multiple Family Residential. The project would have between 29 and 38 acres of commercial property, and Larson confirmed that the size would be determined on discussions the developer is currently having with an interested company. Supervisor Richard Escamilla said he was not sure he supports “the whole project,” but down the road, Amador County does need homes, as there are still a lot of county employees that live out-of-county. Escamilla said “we are not a Big Boom county, but we do need smart growth.” Board Chairman Richard Forster asked if Lemke would be bonding its infrastructure work on things such as roads in the project. Larson said Lemke “will submit full performance and maintenance bonds” and allow supervisors to refer to their bond companies on past projects. Supervisor Ted Novelli said he would like to see an oversight committee formed to guarantee that jobs were kept local, and it would be “nice to see some of our contractors work on this project.” Supervisor Brian Oneto said he was “not against requiring a fiscal analysis,” but it was too early to do so and should be required later. Oneto said he didn’t “want to put too many costs…on the applicant.” The board approved the fiscal analysis 5-0. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.