Amador County – The Plymouth City Council earlier this month voted to have a specialist assess the city for the pros and cons of having a Redevelopment Plan, with staff answering some of the immediate concerns. City Attorney Steven Rudolph said it was likely too late to start the process this year, and the best idea for the city would be to get its information ready to start the process in the fall, to be ready for the next tax year. Rudolph and City Manager Dixon Flynn said the objective of the Redevelopment Plan is to identify and label an area, where special taxes can be directed at making improvements, including on city facilities and also public companies. Flynn said the roughly $100,000 dollar cost to implement the Redevelopment Plan could be reimbursed by the Redevelopment Agency, when taxes start flowing in. He said the agency is designed to operate with a deficit, and “the redevelopment Agency is always going to be in debt.” Rudolph said for financing, the agency can “look at the tax increment you will get in 10 years, then issue a bond that will be repaid in those 10 years.” And if it does not pay it off in that time, the “debt period is extended.” Councilwoman Pay Fordyce said she was worried about things going “cattywompus” and about being able to get money back into the city for problems. She said cities like Vallejo are going bankrupt and people are losing their jobs and missing house payments. Flynn said the Redevelopment Agency can go into “real debt,” and the federal government allows that to the tune of $5 Million Dollars in accumulated municipal debt. Rudoph recommended consultant Frank Spevack of Sacramento, who on the council’s direction will look at city documentation, assess the atmosphere. He will come and talk to the council on options, and by July, the council can have the information to decide whether or not to proceed. Councilman Mike O’Meara said it was a good idea. Fordyce wanted Spevack’s help too, saying wanted “to know what we are doing.” Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin asked if there were grants available to fund the project. Flynn said “a lot of people see the Redevelopment Agency as the cash cow already.” Pacific Municipal Consultants conducted a feasibility study and found that in 30 years, a redevelopment agency in Plymouth could generate $35 Million Dollars in funding. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

State - Record hot temperatures will continue in the forecast for two more days. Some areas in the southern Central Valley could hit 100. The heat wave is from a high pressure system lodged over the West. Highs have been above average since last Thursday and won't get back to near normal readings until Friday. Two records were broken Sunday. Modesto hit 93 degrees and Stockton hit 92. Sacramento Executive Airport recorded 89 degrees which tied the record for that day. Experts say to expect more record highs to be broken Monday throughout the valley. Expect highs to hit the low 90s which is close to many records. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A public workshop is planned for Tuesday to introduce the public to the Ione draft General Plan Update, Ione City Hall announced last week. City Manager Kim Kerr said “after nearly a year of public workshops, meetings, data gathering and writing,” the draft update will be presented at a joint city council and planning commission meeting Tuesday in city hall. Kerr said the meeting “is an opportunity for community members to learn about the contents (of) and provide their comments on the Draft General Plan.” She said city officials are “really looking forward to hearing what Ione residents and business owners have to say,” and “support from the community has been and will continue to be the key to Ione’s success.” Two follow-up meetings will be held “for staff to walk meeting participants through the details of each element of the Draft General Plan Update and to gather additional input.” Those meetings are set for May 5th and 19th. Once primary public comments are taken and the council and commission give direction on the draft plan, a Draft Environmental Impact Report analyzing impacts of the General Plan Update will be released. Kerr said Tuesday’s workshop is an “important opportunity for residents to share views and give insight on how to maintain Ione’s quality of life while planning” for the future. The Ione General Plan Update, spearheaded by city consultants, Pacific Municipal Consultants of Rancho Cordova, is meant to be “a blueprint for guiding and developing” Ione’s future. It addresses land use, circulation, housing, natural resources, open space, community character, economic development and safety. Kerr said public “participation and contribution” to the meetings “will be essential as (the city strives) to preserve (its) history and create a viable and flourishing community that current and future generations will be glad to call home.” The Ione General Plan Update workshop is 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ione City Hall. For information online, see www.ionegeneralplan.com. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – New home buying statistics from La-Jolla based researcher DataQuik give a promising outlook for the local housing market. Amador County home sales have risen, likely the result of a continued drop in median home prices. The median home price in Amador County is now $189,050, down from $ 196,500 in February. In the region as a whole, the median sales price for new and existing homes combined rose for the first time in more than a year to $165,000, up $5,000 from February's median. That’s the lowest since August 2005. Sacramento area homes saw the 12th consecutive month of gains in year-over-year sales. In the region, buyers closed 610 more escrows than in February in Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties, according to researcher MDA DataQuick . In Amador County, 29 homes closed escrow in March, five more than in February. Heavily discounted bank repos comprised the majority of sales, which reached levels not seen since late 2008. Special government financing requiring just 3.5 percent down payments and rebates through the recent stimulus bill for first-time home buyers have fueled the steady rise in home sales, said Dataquik. Lower interest rates of 5 percent or less are also a major contributor. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

State - The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated $298 million for 81 transportation projects Thursday, which includes $181 million from Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond, and $62 million in federal economic stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The remaining $55 million was allocated for pavement maintenance, bridge preservation, safety, and environmental enhancement projects. “These projects will create thousands of jobs and boost the economy while improving the state’s highway system,” said California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Director Will Kempton. The Recovery Act funding provides $49 million to advance a widening project on Interstate 215 in San Bernardino County. The additional $13 million will fund two highway improvement projects in Monterey and Fresno counties. The Proposition 1B allocation went to four projects in San Bernardino County. In addition to the allocations, the CTC voted to allow Caltrans to advance $261 million in Recovery Act funds to three Proposition 1B projects. The funds will go to projects on Interstate 405 at the Sepulveda Pass in Los Angeles County, State Route 905 in San Diego County, and the Caldecott Tunnel in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The San Diego County project was previously approved by the CTC, but was stalled due to the state’s difficulty in funding the project through its bond sales. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – After reaching a consensus on a designation called the “Special Planning Area-Interim,” the Amador County General Plan Update panel chose a new name for the designation last week. Planning Commission Chairwoman Denise Tober suggested the term “Restricted Planning Area,” and the panel of commissioners and Amador Supervisors chose it as a new, tentative designation, to replace SPA-I. “Restricted Planning Area” is tentative, like the entire General Plan Update, and still needs an EIR, analysis and review, said County Planner Susan Grijalva. Bill Bunce’, owner of Ranch Arroyo Seco requested panel review of the designation criteria to see what was acceptable to the county, what needed more change or what needed to be omitted. Last week’s meeting focused on that request, and Grijalva said the request would “not allow anything to happen without a General Plan amendment.” Besides changing the name from SPA-I to Restricted Planning Area, the board also agreed to change the language in the designation to make the criteria mandatory. Grijalva said the land has no proposed project. The panel discussed parts of the criteria, and Supervisor Richard Forster asked if they could encourage development at Arroyo Seco to “happen near Ione, where infrastructure is in place.” Commissioner Andy Byrne agreed, and he was worried about the Mineral Resource Zone, which the Rancho “wraps around.” Forster said future land development there was clear, and the more control they had, the better. Supervisor Louis Boitano said they could keep the current General Plan designation, and have 400 parcels of 40 acres each, “and you can’t do much mining on those.” Supervisor John Plasse asked if they should add criteria that it be economically viable for mining. Boitano said it would have to be because people are “not going to be mining on a 1-acre parcel.” Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli said draft criteria that required new plans to “demonstrate” adequate transportation systems or public utilities, seemed loose and vague. Novelli said they “could probably get 100 different definitions for (the word Demonstrate) here tonight.” Grijalva said there is some “prime” farmland on Rancho Arroyo Seco, and prime farmland is defined in the Williamson Act by production and dollar output levels. But she had “never heard of dry-land pasture being referred to as prime (farmland).” Staff will work on minor changes to the criteria for the panel’s later approval. It meets again in a week or 2, to revisit the “Economic Element” and the “Urban Reserve” land designation. No date has been set for the next meeting. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – On Tuesday, April 14th, the 31 participants of Sutter Amador Hospital’s Biggest Loser challenge celebrated a combined 203.5 pounds of weight loss in just 12 weeks. The competition, held from January 15 – April 9, was offered as part of the Live Well for Life program that is available to all Sutter Amador Hospital employees. The Biggest Loser title was awarded to Rene Darrow, a receptionist for Sutter Amador Women’s Services. Her 18 pound total weight loss equals 3% body fat and 4 inches off her waist. New York Fitness were on hand to present Rene with the grand prize of a one-year membership worth $576. Rene contributes her success to utilizing all resources provided. The Biggest Loser Competition was offered to all employees through the Live Well for Life program, a free benefit available to all SAH employees that provides those who enroll with access to a personal wellness coach and online resources. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe announced Thursday the conviction of a Pioneer man for sex with a teenage boy and possession of child pornography. Richard Phillip Davidson, 50, of Pioneer was convicted by a jury of his peers on six felony counts, including Furnishing Marijuana to a Minor, Oral Copulation with a Minor under 18, two counts of Sodomy of a Minor under 18, one count of attempted sodomy of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography. The April 14th conviction was the culmination of an investigation that began November 29, 2006, after a concerned citizen reported to the Sheriff’s Department that Davidson admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy he’d me online via “MySpace.” The concerned citizen said she overcame her initial hesitation after visiting Davidson’s page and discovering a possible relationship with yet another 16-year-old boy. Lieutenant Drew Stidger of the Sheriff’s Department followed up on the complaint with a search warrant for the Davidson residence. Inside he discovered a laptop containing a large number of pornographic images and videos on its hard drive. When questioned about the alleged relationship with a minor, Davidson admitted to engaging in sexual acts with the boy, but claimed he knew he was 18. The Jury took less than four hours to convict Davidson. Judge John P. Moran presided over the jury trial and remanded Davidson into custody pending sentencing on May 11, 2009. Davidson faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender. 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 seek reauthorization of federal funding for work on the Highway 104, Prospect Drive and Bowers Drive intersection. The board voted 5-0 to work with the county’s federal government relations specialist, David French of ENS Resources, on efforts to secure federal funding for regional transportation projects in Amador County. ACTC Executive Director Charles Field said supervisors would join a Sutter Creek City Council resolution supporting the project on Sutter Hill. To qualify for funding, the “project must be funded itself 80 percent” and be ready to commence work. There is an 80 percent local match in funds required by “the new 5-year Federal transportation funding authorization package,” for which Congressman Dan Lungren is accepting nominations. Field said the Sutter Hill project is expected to complete its design, National EPA environmental clearance, and acquire all rights-of-way using Regional Traffic Mitigation Fees by June or July. It also has a $730,000 dollar commitment in additional (mitigation funding) that should become available for the project in the next 5 years.” He said the project is timely because with its completion, the county “will get access to that intersection, where Walgreens is about to start” work. Supervisors asked about right-of-way acquisition costs. Field said “we own it already, except for a sliver from Ed Swift on Bowers Drive.” Field said ACTC has spoken with Swift, “he is a willing seller, and it’s manageable. (Swift) has offered a dedication free to the city of Sutter Creek, but we are not counting on that.” Supervisor Louis Boitano said a discussed new intersection would help with “internal circulation” in the area, and Supervisor Brian Oneto said “it would probably be prettier than it is there now.” Boitano said it would also be “greener because you don’t have to go as far to get your commodities.” Field still must approach other councils in the county for approval on the project. 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 last week heard staff reports on forming a Redevelopment Plan, then agreed to have a Sacramento-area expert do an assesment. City Attorney Steven Rudolph said the Redevelopment Plan would include designating a “project area,” identifying “what kind of blight conditions exist,” and doing an Environmental Impact Report, which is “usually about half the cost of putting the plan together.” He said if the plan “is going to displace folks living in affordable homes,” the city must create a “Project Area Committee.” The process allows taxes in the area to be put toward revitalization in those areas. Rudolph said estimates to prepare required reports to various agencies would cost about $70,000 dollars, “to go from now through the plan adoption process, not counting fees to various entities.” City Manager Dixon Flynn said in 20 years, the Redevelopment Plan process has gotten more complex, so the city “is not going to get this done this year.” Rudolph said the 13-month process should begin September 1st, to have the area ready for the effective cycle date August 20th, and the next tax year. Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin said that “practically,” the city is “looking at almost $100,000 dollars.” Rudolph said a feasibility study by Pacific Municipal Consultants said the 30-year life of the Redevelopment Agency in Plymouth would divert $35 Million Dollars to the agency. He said with the feasibility study, the council could issue a bond. Flynn said the agency is “improving the whole value of the community” and “making what people have more valuable.” And that first $100,000 dollars the city pays “can be charged to the Redevelopment Agency,” which he said “is always going to be in debt.” He suggested having expert, Frank Spevack, come and look at the community and the city’s documents so far, and then talk to the council about what they can do. He said by July they should know whether they want to move ahead. The council agreed to ask Spevack to come and assess the town and talk to the council. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.