Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last Thursday peered at the possibilities of protecting its “viewsheds.” The council resumed a public hearing on its General Plan Final Environmental Impact Report. Plymouth veterinarian Elida Malick said she would like to see a definition of ridgelines, and she also said that a revision of the “Growth Plan” in effect removed the voice of the public from the document. Stephan Horstschraer (Horsetrader), a development partner of Reeder Sutherland, said he agreed with Malick on the definition of ridgelines, and Councilman Mike O’Meara agreed those changes removed the people’s voices. City Planner Paula Daneluk said many of the changes were not yet in the document at the last meeting because of a literally last-minute comment letter from area attorney Tom Infusino. Daneluk said the Final EIR now has those changes, and they will be included in the next meeting’s packet. City Manager Dixon Flynn asked if they wanted a “strikethrough” version, showing edits, with a consensus wanting them. Mayor Jon Colburn said City Building Inspector Jeff Kelley advised that the city needs to include a viewshed study in the EIR. Daneluk said the viewshed study by Reeder Sutherland was done at “project level,” but the city may want to do them at “EIR level” for individual projects. She said she did “not think you are ready to a make citywide viewshed study.” Consultant Richard Prima said 2 parts to that are, where are you looking to, and where are you looking from. Flynn asked if there was a recommendation in the EIR for ridgelines. Daneluk said it was throughout the EIR, and a table listing changes was only meant as a guide to the current draft of the EIR. Daneluk said for the EIR, they could describe basics for the viewsheds, such as views from public roadways and downtown, and at the project level, they can get into more detail. O’Meara said at that level, “you would get down to line-of-sight” issues. Flynn asked if there would be consideration of the visual appearance of the town from anywhere in the area, such as driving through and looking at Plymouth. Daneluk said there are a lot of ways to protect ridgelines. Staff will make recommended changes and give the “strikethrough” edition of the EIR to the city council members by July 31st, giving the council and the public 2 weeks to read the document, before the General Plan EIR public hearing meeting resumes, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, August 13th at city hall. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Sutter Creek police confirmed for TSPN Monday that yet another robbery has taken place at the Sutter Creek Trading post on Old Highway 49. This is the second robbery in four days. The last incident occurred Thursday evening. The holdup took place at approximately 9:30 pm on Sunday night. Reports say the robber was wearing sunglasses and a hood to disguise him. He used a silver-plated revolver and demanded money from the store clerk. Similar to last Friday’s robbery, the suspect fled into the neighborhood behind the store. Sutter Creek Police made no comment as to whether they suspect the robberies are related. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Ione Planning Commission will take public comment today on the city’s draft General Plan and its Environmental Impact Report. The comment period on the draft EIR closes on July 27th, and the public has until then to comment on the documents. The meeting at 6 p.m. today gives a chance for the public to comment in person before the Ione Planning Commission. The Ione Planning Department announced the meeting Monday. On June 10th, the Ione City Council and staff released the draft Environmental Impact Report for the city’s draft General Plan. The public can comment on the DEIR by attending the Planning Commission meeting beginning at 6 p.m. today, that is Tuesday, July 14th, in the council chambers at City Hall. Material for the meeting is available at Ione City Hall and on the General Plan Web site, at www.ionegeneralplan. com. The draft EIR is required by state law and analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the General Plan. Once the document is certified, it will become the primary environmental document to evaluate planning and permitting actions associated with projects in the city. The public comment period closes 5 p.m. Monday, July 27th. Planning staff, Pacific Municipal Consulting, said this was “an important opportunity for residents to share their views and give insight on how to maintain Ione’s quality of life while planning for a thriving and enriching future.” There are additional ways for the public to provide the city with comments on the draft EIR. They can e-mail comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or post comments by U.S. mail to the City Planning Department, Ione City Hall, P.O. Box 398, Ione, CA 95640. The announcement reminded the public to include their name and contact information on any comments they provide, so that city staff may respond. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Planning Department will be holding a public workshop July 23 to review the county’s 2005 Housing Element Implementation and Action Plan. The Housing Element is one of the required elements of the county’s general plan. The planning department announced the workshop in an e-mail Monday, and said “unlike other mandatory general plan elements, the housing element must be updated approximately every five years.” As part of the update process, the Planning Department is inviting participation of the public and “stakeholders” to help review, analyze, and update the goals, policies, and implementation programs in the current Housing Element “for the purpose of recommending any changes or modifications that may be needed, or desired.” The e-mail was sent to the media and members of the public who may be affected by, or may be interested in, the process, and the planning department said “we welcome and encourage your participation in developing this update to the county’s Housing Element of its general plan.” The 2005 Housing Element can be obtained online at the county planning department’s webpage, under Current General Plan Documents. The department said to prepare for the workshop, participants should review Chapters 10 and 11 of the General Plan. Handouts will be made available at the workshop for public and attendee written comments. The 2009 Housing Element Program Implementation Workshop will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 23rd in the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers at the County Administration Center, 810 Court Street, in Jackson. See the General Plan Housing Element online at www.co.amador.ca.us/ depts/planning/. For more information, contact Cara Agustin, at the Planning Department at (209) 223-6380. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Former Amador Water Agency director Madonna Wiebold defended the work of agency staff and the past board last week, and said the current board is right in seeking staff verification of a Water Supply Assessment at the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort. Wiebold said the WSA was submitted to the county, lots of questions came about and it was available to every agency in Amador. She said a lot of people were crunching numbers, accuracy was considered and it was unanimously approved. Wiebold said it is not wrong to question it and ask AWA staff to verify. She said she thought the county could support the water needs of Gold Rush, and the city of Sutter Creek “has lots of control” over the project. Ken Berry of Jackson, who lost an appeal of the Wicklow Way Subdivision on a similar challenge to the WSA, said “no power on earth can stop you from considering the future” of the water agency. Berry said: “It will be a very, very cold day in the center of the earth before you can be sued for doing what you were elected to do.” Gold Rush water attorney Eric Robinson said “the question of peak flows has been addressed in voluminous studies,” which were “sent to the city of Sutter Creek, not to the water agency.” Robinson said engineers assessed all comments received on matters of peak flow and water efficiency and “found no merit to the challenges of citizen (Bill) Condrashoff,” who analyzed the Gold Rush study by the AWA before he was elected to the AWA board of directors. Robinson said existing demand on the Amador Water System is 6,300 acre feet of water, and the Gold Rush project ads 1,203 acre feet of demand. He said “there is about 1,300 acre feet of water demand that was assumed, with no basis of fact, in order to be conservative.” Robinson said the key factor for the state water board “is whether there is enough water for existing and proposed projects.” Sutter Creek Planning Commissioner Mike Kirkley said “if this is super-conservative, maybe we are splitting hairs?” He said he also mentioned a third-party review of the Gold Rush WSA, but he was told later that it wasn’t the intent of city management. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador Water Agency’s board of directors discussed the 2008 board’s approval of the Water Supply Assessment for Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort last week, looking at how the county would get a water reuse and recycling system. AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said the recycling and reuse system was something they would seek as part of a “conditional will-serve.” Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said AWA cannot supply will-serves “until there is a tentative map.” Mayor Pro Tempore Tim Murphy said he was not speaking for Sutter Creek but it was a subject that was currently in the hands of their Planning Commission, which meets at 6 p.m. to discuss Gold Rush. Murphy said the recycling and reuse system was likely a topic of the city council’s conditions of approval, to be negotiated with Gold Rush developers. Murphy said the Final Environmental Impact Report and conditions of approval are not yet approved by Sutter Creek. Abercrombie said a “raw water line” to serve Gold Rush Golf Course, will be in the conditions of approval. The Gold Rush plan also would seek a new source for water for the golf course, if a recycled water system is not put in place after 5 years. Condrashoff asked agency attorney Steve Kronick if the AWA can “say recycled water will be there?” Kronick said he would “have to examine that.” Condrashoff said he thought future participation fees could go up if they did not have a source of funding for the recycled water system. He also asked who would reuse systems, mentioned in the assessment. Abercrombie said he believed staffer John Griffin’s answer to Condrashoff’s analysis was accurate, and it was supported by County Planner Susan Grijalva. Director Debbie Dunn said she was “really impressed” by Condrashoff’s numbers, and asked if they could reopen the Water Supply Assessment as a board and restudy it, under state environmental law. Kronick said the issue and liabilities would have to be discussed in closed session. The board met in closed session on the matter and gave confidential staff direction. 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 Board discussed its Water Supply Assessment of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort last week, then made a confidential staff direction after a 1-and-a-half hour closed session discussion of the item. Board Chairman Terence Moore said Vice Chairman Bill Condrashoff requested the discussion of the assessment, which the previous board approved in January 2008. Moore said “it’s kind of disturbing to me that this has made it on the agenda.” He Condrashoff’s report being used to affect policy puts him “on the ragged edge of practicing engineering without a license.” Condrashoff said he reworked the analysis and found 42 cubic feet per second would be needed to meet peak flow, unlike AWA’s figure of 32 cubic feet per second. Condrashoff said “if we miss on this assessment,” can the AWA and Sutter Creek “be sued if the water supply falls short.” Moore said Condrashoff used a similar analysis to protest Jackson’s Wicklow Way Subdivision. AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said AWA spent “a good portion of 2008” accumulating volumes of information addressing Condrashoff’s analysis. Abercrombie said “staff believes Bill’s analysis of Wicklow and Gold Rush is incorrect.” Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said AWA’s assessment was conservative, using current water demand, and needs for Gold Rush, known planned projects, and even “unanticipated,” hypothetical projects. Mancebo said Condrashoff’s analysis does not consider commercial, industrial and business uses, which are less that residential. Director Debbie Dunn asked if they could change what was submitted in the board’s approval last January. Kronick said he wanted to address that in closed session. Gold Rush water attorney Eric Robinson, said AWA’s assessment was “hyper-conservative,” and “bulletproof, iron clad and highly defensible.” He said AWA revisiting the assessment is not allowed in Senate Bills 610 and 221. He said “it’s now up to the land use agency” – Sutter Creek City Council – “to determine what to do with those comments.” Sutter Creek Mayor Pro Tem Tim Murphy said the place to comment about this is at the planning commission level. Sutter Creek Planning Commission addresses Gold Rush at 6 p.m. today. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Small but mighty Amador County showed last week it has some of the best grapes and wine in the state – and arguably the United States. Amador County vintners brought home 55 medals from the 2009 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. The competition, known as the Grape and Gourmet event, was held last Thursday at the Sacramento Convention Center. The Competition is one of the oldest and most prestigiously judged competitions in the United States. It has been held for more than 150 years. Amador’s medals came among 600 participants and 2,623 wine entries in this year’s field. Kevin Clark, TSPN TV advertising executive, said “Amador County's grape growers and winemakers can be very proud!” Jeff Runquist Wines, located in Shenandoah Valley, took home the most prestigious award, winning “Best of Show” for all red wines in the state, with its 2007 Amador County Barbera, made with Cooper Vineyard Grapes. Runquist Wines also took 10 more medals, including “Best of Class” for its “Z” Zinfandel with grapes grown at Fox’s Massoni Ranch, also in Shenandoah Valley. Amador’s Vino Noceto and owners, Jim and Suzy Gullett, attended the event and their wines garnered 8 medals in the competition. The award for the best Sangiovese in California went to Obscurity Cellars and winemaker John Smith, with grapes grown at Murrill Vineyard in Sutter Creek. Smith also took “Best of California” for his Oakstone Winery Bordeaux. Clark said: “All in all it was a great year for Amador County’s grape growers and wineries.” This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A daylight armed robbery suspect who fled on foot eluded a police dragnet last Thursday afternoon in Sutter Creek. The suspect allegedly robbed the Sutter Creek Trading Post market, 121 Hanford Street, in downtown Sutter Creek and escaped with an undisclosed amount of money. Sutter Creek Police Chief Rob Duke said the robbery occurred at noon. Duke said an unknown male, described as white or a light-skinned Hispanic, and wearing a ski-mask, entered the Sutter Creek Trading Post brandishing a silver handgun and demanded the money from the cash register. The store owner complied and the suspect fled toward downtown Sutter Creek before turning into yards near the Hanford House Bed & Breakfast. Multiple agencies responded to help seal off the area within minutes of the initial report. The Amador County SWAT Team and K9 Team along with the Jackson Police Department K-9 Team conducted a thorough search of the surrounding residential area but the suspect was not found. Helping seal off the area were the Amador County Sheriff's Office, investigators from the Amador County District Attorney's Office, the ACCNET Team of investigators, California Highway Patrol, and police department personnel from Ione, Jackson and Sutter Creek. The investigation is continuing and Sutter Creek Police are searching for a white or Hispanic male with a thin build and brown hair who was wearing dark clothing, including a purple shirt. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Vicini family of Amador County last week announced the opening of their sons’ green material recycling operation on Willow Creek Road. The Vicini Brothers Green Waste Recycling Facility opened the first week of July. Kathy and Merv Vicini said their sons, Tony and Rick Vicini opened and will operate the facility. Last week, the brothers told about a posted “link to a slide show of our first days of the Vicini Brothers Green Material Recycling project.” Kathy Vicini, in a letter to District 1 Supervisor John Plasse, said the Vicinis wanted Plasse “to see the results of all (his) work and great support.” She said “not only is ACES (Waste Service of Pine Grove) hauling into the plant,” but the California Department of Transportation is “bringing their roadside brush trimmings to us now.” Vicini said “if things work out right, (CALTRANS) will be buying the brush back as chips for highway landscape mulch,” a “win-win” for the Vicinis and CALTRANS. She told Plasse that the Vicinis “truly appreciate” all that Plasse has done to help them with the venture. As part of the opening of the business, Vicini Brothers plans a demonstration 10 a.m. Tuesday at the facility. Kathy said “they are bringing in other equipment and they are going to show chipping and shredding and the making of green material.” She said the facility takes all manner of grown, green waste, and the public will be able to drop all yard waste, weeds and brush, for a load fee, which has not yet been set. Vicini said “We run it all through a mulching ‘beast’ – a chipper-grinder that chews up all of the material.” They take only green things, things that were grown, such as trees, brush, grass, and flowers. She said there will be a fee for dumping, then people “will be able to buy compost and mulch, when we get our supplies up.” They just opened the first week in July and were taking material loads from ACES, Waste Connections of Ione, and CALTRANS. The public is invited to the Vicini Brothers demonstration, 10 a.m. Tuesday (July 14th) at the facility, at 15850 Willow Creek Road, about half a mile off Highway 16, west of the Highway 124 intersection. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.