Amador County – Trying to maintain existing roads without having to expand Main Street and other downtown roads, the Ione City Council voted 4-1 to lower road “levels of service” on Tuesday, for the city’s draft general plan. Consultant Daniel Hamilton and City Planner Christopher Jordan recommended 2 “parkway options” to the council. One would be to adopt a standard grade level of “C” for the city-wide parkway levels of service, while accepting a 6-lane highway facility as part of the bypass through and around town, if the computer model shows such a need. The city council chose a second recommendation, which was to change the Level of Service of the parkways to a “D” grade for the bypass, “to ensure nothing larger than 4-lane” roads is needed in the city, but also to “require dedication for 6 lanes just in case.” Hamilton and Jordan also recommended that the council provide policy direction to the “General Plan team” to “lower the level of service threshold for select roadways.” Jordan said citywide level of service “E” could be used if the circulation analysis indicates that level “D” would not be sufficient. They also recommended Preston, Main, Church and Ione Streets all have their “levels of service” designated as the lowest grade of “F.” Parkways would all be designated with level of service “D.” Hamilton said a policy of level of service “D” designation used city-wide would require a 4-lane roadway over the bridge over Sutter Creek and through downtown. Staff also recommended that the reduced level of service standards include adding more creek crossings. The council asked how the recommendations were arrived at, and Jordan said there was and “internal staff dialogue.” The city voted 4-1 to accept the level “F” designations. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said it was essential because there is no room to expand make Preston, Main, Church or Ione streets without destroying buildings. City Manager Kim Kerr said parking could be removed from Main Street for widening, but that was a different issue. Hamilton said level of service “F” “means the city is not requiring (expansion) or mandating it for developments.” Councilman Jim Ulm voted against the staff direction, saying that Fairway Drive had originally been marked to extend by bridge over Sutter Creek, as part of the development agreement. But when the property changed hands, the city allowed the requirement to slip away. The council approved the parkway option of level of service “D,” with a 4-lane maximum, but a 6-lane option, “just in case.” They also added language that would “explore the possibilities of future bridge crossings. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Amador County Regional Planning Committee heard from regional financial czars last week, on November 6th. Larry Busby of the Central Sierra Economic Development District told the committee to dig up its 10-year-old economic strategies and plans for implementation, because they are still legitimate, still relevant. Busby and Ron Mittlebrunn, of the Amador Economic Development Corporation, both said economic development is not going to happen without housing for the people, and jobs will come from attracting industries. Both also said those old strategic plans are cookbooks for financial success. Busby said “try not to put all of your eggs in one basket, (because) if it fails, then you don’t have anything.” Mittlebrunn said he has worked to try to attract industries, which he has taken properly zoned areas that are sometimes nothing more than dirt and weeds. He said “they don’t like that – they literally run away.” But Martell commercial sites, with prebuilt roads, curbs, gutters, and building sites plotted out and ready to go, are attractive to businesses. Mittlebrunn said that Amador County has the attractive quality of life and two business parks, and he wondered if the county had 40,000 or 50,000 dollars to advertise those qualities. He said tourism is a very big part of economic development, when the “knowledge workers,” the high-pay workers and their families come and see the county. Those are the types of workers and jobs he said he tries to attract to Amador, but have proven “elusive.” Statistics show 16 percent of the Amador workforce commutes out of the county to work, and he believes most are going to those “knowledge worker” jobs. But Amador has grown. He said the Amador County Gross Domestic Product total 793 Million Dollars in 1997 and it grew by 48 percent in 8 years, to 1.5 Billion Dollars in 2005. Mittlebrun said there has been 41 Million Dollars worth of business expansions throughout the county, adding to the property value, while there have been 385 jobs created in the county since September of 1990. Story By Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

By Jim Reece - Owners of nearly 70 parcels filed protests against the “Open High Country” designation of land East of Dew Drop, with many stating their opposition in 5-minute addresses to the Amador County supervisors and planning commissioners Wednesday in Jackson. 66 people or families representing 67 properties filed opposing comments against the designation, which would change the Land Use designation from Open Recreation to Open High Country, which in part would require special use permits for year-round residency East of Dew Drop. Among reasons given were that medical or police assistance were not readily available in the area. One parcel owner said that he and his wife both had suffered strokes, adding, “we were on vacation, nowhere near a hospital.” Local land owner Ciro Toma spoke on behalf of Plasses Meadow Group LLC, whose owners plan an 80.55-acre campground with a bar, restaurant and propane, gasoline and diesel sales. Toma said that supervisors must “think that owners are naïve if you think they are going to live up there in January or February, then call up and have the roads plowed to get the kids to school.” Toma said “if someone want to go up there and be a hermit, let them go up there and be a hermit.” He noted that there is a couple that lives Upcountry, East of Dew Drop, year-round. They can be seen riding snowmobiles in the winter. He said owners “just feel that the use permit should be treated the same as everywhere else in the county.” Toma said the property was originally purchase in 1853, with the purchase subject to recognition as owned territory. District 2 planning commissioner Dave Wardall asked what they did for use permits back then? Supervisor Louis Boitano said “the county did not come into existence until 1854.” Supervisors were to take further public input in the final day of the serial meeting, Thursday.

By Jim Reece -

Members of the Amador Water Agency board of directors and staff joined board members of the Lake Camanche Village Owners Association in dedication of the new Well Number 14 at the end of Village Drive Wednesday. AWA Board Chairman John Swift and District 1 Board Member Madonna Wiebold attended the dedication of the well, which produces 340 gallons a minute. AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said the well will improve water reliability and delivery capacity in the Lake Camanche Village system by 40 percent. Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said the well was drilled to about 200 feet and has its pump at about 180 feet. The well has mechanisms for injecting chlorine treatment if needed and attachments for sampling and testing. The well pumps to a pipe that can feed the Camanche system directly or pump to the old 120,000-gallon redwood storage tank on a nearby hill, next to Well Number 9, across a field from the new Well Number 14. Mancebo said the land for the new Well 14 was given by developers and the well and well house. The water’s purity helped state health regional director Joe Spanos approve Well Number 14 for new water customer hook-ups, about 20 per year. Mancebo said the approval was not huge but would be a good economic stimulus. Ken Hazelet, president of the Lake Camanche Village Owners Association thanked the agency, AWA staff and board members. Also attending were LCV Owners Association Board members, Vice President Brad Pinnell, Secretary Scott Tippin and Angela Centini-Field.

By Jim Reece -

With a 5-0 vote Monday in a special meeting, the Plymouth City Council passed another milestone in its trek toward a new water supply. City Manager Dixon Flynn said it was a huge project for the city of Plymouth and “I don’t envy the people sitting on the city council. This isn’t easy.” Flynn gave an overview of the project, which in its vote Monday, the city council sent out to bid. In 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversaw Plymouth’s attempt to build a water reservoir on its sewer spray property. And when the numbers came out, the USDA urged the city to scrap the reservoir and instead encouraged the city to entertain a water pipeline. That year, the pipeline was estimated to cost 9 million dollars. Now it is estimated at 12 million, of which 9 million would be the rough cost of construction. Flynn said that could possibly drop and save money for the city and partners, the Amador Water Agency. In July of 2008, Flynn said the city passed Amendment 2, what should have allowed the AWA to go out and seek bids on the pipeline. But another hindrance, 2 easements, stalled the project and were cleared up. AWA was looking for an August or early September return of bids. But after another meeting, the USDA and AWA said Plymouth “needed to have a firm financial plan in place.” With Monday’s vote, the city council authorized staff to notice a water a sewer rate hike public hearing, which allowed AWA to go out to seek bids and kept the USDA happy in financing loans that lie ahead for Plymouth, if, after bids come in, the pipeline remains feasible, Flynn said. Since the OK of the red tape, Flynn said that due to the holidays, the council would meet at a regular meeting November 13th, then adjourn that meeting to November 17th, the set date for the public hearing on rates. In the mean time, Flynn will discuss funding offers from housing and commercial developers, toward mitigation fees for the pipeline. Flynn said they expected bids back by October 23rd and a construction start date of Dec. 31, with water to flow in the new pipeline by January 2010, or, “the project could be done by early fall of next year.”

Amador County – Dozens attended a ceremony Wednesday breaking ground of the Plymouth-Amador Water Agency potable water pipeline, bringing a boom of water to Pokerville. AWA said the “project will provide a reliable treated water supply to the city which has been under a water moratorium for approximately 20 years.” The pipeline will deliver treated water for all of Plymouth's existing customers, plus enough for construction of roughly 500 more homes. AWA said the treated water will augment the city of Plymouth’s “limited allotment of Cosumnes River water delivered by an historic ditch system, and water supplied by the city’s aging wells.” Plymouth will deliver the treated water to its customers through its existing city water distribution system. The Plymouth Pipeline will extend from the Tanner Water Treatment plant in Sutter Creek to the City of Plymouth water storage tank on Fiddletown Road. The 8.5-mile pipeline will include 7.3 miles of new 12-inch pipe and a little over a mile of existing pipe. The project uses some existing Water Agency facilities and provides for improved water service to existing Water Agency customers in and around Sutter Creek, Amador City and Drytown. ln addition to providing Plymouth with drinking water, the project will provide ancillary hookups to the cities of Drytown, Amador City and Sutter Creek. A segment of new water main in Amador City will replace aging pipe dating back to the 1950s. The addition of nearly 20 new fire hydrants will improve fire protection for Amador City and Drytown as well as ranch properties along the pipeline alignment. A project biologist and an archeologist will be on site to monitor environmental protection measures included in the Mitigation and Monitoring Plan. Trees on the construction route have been surveyed and if trees meeting certain criteria are removed, they will be replaced per the Mitigation and Monitoring Plan. A new pedestrian bridge will carry the pipeline where the route crosses Sutter Creek. The 8-foot wide, 80-foot long bridge will connect parking lots along Eureka Street and opposite the creek, the parking lots of the Sutter Creek Auditorium and the Community Center. The new system includes a bypass at the Plymouth water main so that maintenance on Plymouth’s water storage tank can be performed without interrupting city water service. Plymouth was lead agency for the project’s design and environmental review. AWA is lead agency for construction, maintenance and operation up to Plymouth’s existing treatment plant. Construction began in January and is expected to be completed by fall. 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 panel decided to have the planning commission take a closer study of the City Spheres of Influence and land designations in those spheres. County Planner Susan Grijalva said cities were worried about the designation of lands in their spheres of influence. She said the county can mimic the cities’ general plan designations; designate areas as Agriculture General; create an “Urban Reserve” or similar designation; or do something else. Some designations, she said, like AG, could preserve buffers around cities to curb development. Grijalva said dropping commercial areas in residential areas “isn’t playing nice.” District 1 Supervisor Richard Escamilla said he thought they should leave it alone and make decisions case-by-case. Supervisor Chair Richard Forster said he thought keeping development closer to infrastructure and city centers would keep other unincorporated areas from getting developed. Grijalva said Roseanne Chamberlain, director of the Local Agency Formation Commission, said she would not change any current Spheres of Influence unless requested to do so by cities. Escamilla said any city will take development if it can get it, and urged to keep designations as they were and handle them individually. County Counsel Martha J. Shaver said making no change may have the effect of having the incompatible designations that cities have problems with. The panel decided to send the issue to the Amador County Planning Commission, to discuss at its next meeting, 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 18th. The panel and Forster directed staff to invite cities to the planning commission meeting, to be able to answer questions about their spheres of influence. The planning department e-mailed invitations to the cities and by Thursday, Jackson City Planner Susan Peters had responded, saying she would attend. Forster adjourned the serial meeting to November 19th, from noon to 4 p.m., noting that they had about 40 minutes of work left and then they would take more public input to close out the next meeting. Story by Jim Reece

The City of Jackson has reached a milestone in the update of its General Plan. After a decade of environmental impact reports, public input, planning commission review, a major multi-agency cooperative effort, and some legal roadblocks, the city’s Circulation Element and Land Use Element were finally adopted. At the city council’s meeting Monday night, council members heard from city staff on the few remaining issues left over from the council’s October 27th meeting, where a public hearing was conducted and several issues still needed clarification. Monday, the city’s planner, Susan Peters, clarified those issues to the satisfaction of the council, including some confusion over map overlays on private property. Peters reported that she worked closely with one concerned property owner to clarify and resolve that matter. Together, both documents will help to direct the continued growth of Jackson and both are considered “working documents” that can be updated as needed. The Circulation Element, which was last updated in 1999, is responsible for developing “a comprehensive circulation plan for all travel modes within the Jackson area, and to provide a strategy for financing preferred transportation improvements.” The Draft Land Use Element, which was last updated in 1981, serves to “establish a framework to direct the physical development of the City and to form the organization of the City’s environment.” Once the lengthy resolution had been adopted 4 to 0 Monday, with newly appointed member Pat Crew abstaining due to lack of experience on the issue, Mayor Pryor Escamilla appropriately declared, “Hallelujah!” Story by Jen Wilson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

By Jim Reece -

A serial meeting on the Land Use element of the General Plan drew comments from land owners and supervisors Tuesday and Wednesday in the supervisors’ chambers in Jackson. County Planner Susan Grijalva and her staff introduced some parcels considered for land use re-designation. One was turning the Martel area into a “Regional Service Center.” Another would re-designate portions of Camanche North Shore, Camanche Village, Buckhorn and Pine Grove as “Service Centers” or “Town Centers.” Another would prepare Camanche Village for an 18-unit-per acre housing density. Supervisor Louis Boitano asked whether River Pines was considered as a Town Center. Grijalva said it was proposed but through public input, it was eliminated, though it could still be considered. Another area was Sunset Acres, zoned R-3, which would be changed to high density for affordable housing in Martel. Grijalva said four General Plan applications were received, for Pioneer’s old cedar mill property; the Pine Grove & Tabeaud Road area; the Garbarini Ranch; and the Gold Rush properties. She said using some elements will have an effect on other designations made. Grijalva said “What we develop has to support what we go forward with in our land use plan.” Supervisor Ted Novelli asked why Town Center designation was not given to Red Corral or Pioneer, which remained commercial. Novelli said: “Wouldn’t you consider those town centers right now?” Grijalva said Red Corral has limited septic systems, but on Pioneer, she said she was “kind of surprised.” Novelli said if they were able to bring in a sewer plant, they would be able to change that designation. Grijalva said she thought Supervisors were beginning to see the issues and decision they must face. Novelli said he asked about Red Corral because it has two major highways passing through. Grijalva said that circulation would have to be studied there. Supervisor Brian Oneto said he had talked to a number of people who were “not real happy with the vision statement.” Oneto said he thought the board should finish the vision statement first, “or we’re back to square one.” Grijalva said that was part of the process: “You’ve got to keep circling back and confirming that you’re on the right track.” But if changes are made, they must revisit the vision statement with the maps. Supervisor Richard Forster said that as six meetings had been used to craft the vision statement, it should be left alone as the rest of the process is undertaken.

By Alex Lane -

One Lockwood area resident is voicing her opposition to Measure M, the ½ cent Sales tax proposal supporting local firefighters that is set for the November ballot. “While Jackson, Sutter Creek, District Supervisor Ted Novelli and others are painting a rosy picture of having paid firefighters, it…leaves Lockwood Fire Protection District out in the cold,” said resident Jackie Vaughn, who also made it clear that she is “merely a private citizen who happens to be a former (AFPA) Board Director.” Lockwood, with a population of 1,100 and a fire incident percentage of 3.231, is a 22-square mile area considered by CALFIRE and other firefighting representatives as a “high fire density zone.” Vaughn is objecting to what she sees as an unfair disbursement of funds and representation under the Measure M guidelines. “Lockwood is the only true volunteer fire department,” she said. According to the disbursement formula, Lockwood would receive just over 3 percent of the funds based upon incidents and population. But Vaughn argues that this disbursement in disproportionate, and that the Measure does not consider that Lockwood has no revenue stream. While “other volunteers receive a ‘pay-per-call’ stipend…Lockwood volunteers receive nothing,” she said. Sutter Creek Fire Chief Butch Martin, a strong supporter of Measure M, says “I know the economy’s not good right now, but we wouldn’t be asking for it if we didn’t need it.” Last year, fire department calls went from 525 to 630, more than a 100-call increase, adding, “I hope it doesn’t do it again this year.” 85 percent of those were medical calls. Five years ago, with a staff of 35 firefighters, Martin was “on top of the world” and never thought about consolidation. Now, they are down to 17 volunteers and he believes consolidation under this Measure is the answer. Measure M is back on the ballot after failing to get the support needed the last time it was up for public vote. At that time, the vote in favor was 63 or 64 percent, just shy of the 66.66 percent-plus-one vote needed to pass. Vaughn believes that no matter the benefits, disbursement needs a reevaluation. In her words: “The AFPA needs to go back to the drawing board and make it equitable to all.”