Amador County – The Plymouth City Council voted 4-1 Thursday to join Sutter Creek, Jackson and Ione city councils in opposing East Bay Municipal Utility District’s plan to expand Pardee Reservoir. Plymouth Councilman Mike O’Meara voted against the resolution, saying he thought it was “a little early to be doing something like this.” Katherine Evatt of Foothill Conservancy and Jackson City Councilman Keith Sweet urged opposition to the 2040 Water Supply Management Program. Evatt said the Pardee expansion plan was too detailed to simply be a part of a general water document. She noted that it was a “preferred project” for East Bay. Tom Francis, author of East Bay MUD’s plan, said: “It is a preferred portfolio, not a preferred project.” He said once East Bay settles on a project, it would then be required to do environmental studies. Francis said “we are doing the EIR based on how the conceptual ideas might work.” He used a 1988 study that looked at raising the dam at Pardee by 33 feet. Sweet pointed out a map from East Bay MUD that showed the flooding that would occur on the Mokelumne River if the dam were built up at Pardee. Evatt said there was “no certainty” to build all of the projects in the 2040 Plan. Using other dam-building data, she estimated that creating a 165,000 acre-foot expansion at Pardee would cost more than a billion dollars. Francis said East Bay MUD has “rights to the dammed water, just as much as you have rights to river water.” He said “I think over time, you will see more access to our properties” for recreation. Councilwoman Pat Fordyce criticized East Bay’s meeting at the AWA office in Sutter Creek, where “some people had to watch through the windows.” Those included Supervisors John Plasse and Brian Oneto and Chairman Ted Novelli. Francis said he scheduled the meeting and acknowledged error, saying: “I think we did a bad job getting out talking to people.” O’Meara said “East Bay MUD treated us pretty crappy, pardon my French,” but he said “I don’t feel comfortable taking something off the plate.” Councilwoman Pat Shackleton said they had sent enough water to the East Bay and she would support the resolution, but might support something later. She wanted to send a clear message. Mayor Jon Colburn was “not happy with the presentation” and said East Bay acts “with no regard to impacts” on Amador’s economy. Greg Baldwin motioned to add to the resolution that the council’s objection to the Pardee expansion included the “flooding of historic mine shafts, resulting in possible contamination by hazardous waste materials from mining operations.” 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 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.

Amador County - The Amador County Board of Supervisors is inviting the public to attend a reception in honor of Congressman Dan Lungren. On Wednesday, April 8 at 4pm, the Board will present Lungren with a Resolution recognizing his role in securing a federal grant in the amount of $180,500 for the Pine Grove Corridor Project and for his continued support to County priorities. The allocated funding results from an earmark Lungren included in the recent Federal Stimulus Bill. The reception will take place in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at 810 Court Street in Jackson. TSPN will also be airing an exclusive ½ hour interview with Lungren soon to follow that date. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Also at Thursday’s special meeting in Evalynn Bishop Hall, there will be a workshop on the Ione Community Preservation Project. The project includes a “Main Street Program,” a “Redevelopment Plan,” an Economic Study and a “Main Street Façade Program.” The meeting will discuss $285,000 dollars in funding that the city found from two Community Development Block Grants that were funded in the 1980s but are currently inactive. City Manager Kim Kerr in a staff report said the $284,775 is from the two CDBG grants that closed in December 1990. Kerr and City Attorney Kristen Castanos in researching the funds, found that “when there is no open CDBG grant the funds are considered miscellaneous revenue and (are) not subject to the requirements of … the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 … and can be used as the city sees fit.” Kerr recommended putting $100,000 dollars into the Main Street Program over the next 3 years, for a matching funds Façade Program, which would match up to $2,500. She also recommended $120,000 for the Redevelopment Plan study; $60,000 for the Economic Study; and $4,775 to set up the Main Street Program. Kerr recommended “that the City have a separate non-profit organization operate the Main Street program and have a public-private partnership relationship with the non-profit…. The working title is the Ione Community Preservation Project which will involve economic development, education, and cultural events.” Staff had discussed the non-profit with various community members, including, Marie Nutting of Preston Castle Foundation; Regia Sargent of Ione Picnic Association; Maureen Funk of Amador Council of Tourism; local Realtor Sally Bligh; City Treasurer Sharon Long; and Councilwoman Andrea Bonham, co-owner of Clark’s Corner. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County’s General Plan Update meeting this week touched on the Spheres Of Influence of the five municipalities in the county, with discussion Tuesday and Wednesday highlighting the importance of the issue. Amador County Planner Susan Grijalva said all five cities are expected to submit requests for Sphere Of Influence amendments, and all five are working on revising or implementing their General Plan. Amador County Transportation Commission’s Charles Field said “we don’t control those spheres, the city doesn’t control those spheres, LAFCO does.” Supervisor John Plasse said the county does “control the land.” Grijalva said cities will “General Plan” the land use in areas not in their spheres, but cities do not control sphere land. But “it does give indication for annexation of those areas.” Drawing-board housing and commercial developments abound throughout Amador County, with all pending those individual General Plan Updates, as well as the county General Plan Update. Barbara Sinnott of the School Facilities Task Force said “it’s always complicated when you add layers” to government. She said ACTC’s U-Plan looks like an urban planning model. Sinnott said “it looks like there is never going to be a junior high or high school built in the Upcountry.” She said sewer is now the driving force in everything. She said “elementary school enrollment Upcountry is plummeting,” and with septic system constraints, she did “not see a sewer system being built up there.” Sinnott said it was believed to be practical to build west of Highway 49, but she thought it would be “impractical to think the county will grow that way.” Supervisor Ted Novelli said “25 years ago, Pine Grove and Pioneer primary schools shared a principal, and I think they are doing it again.” Tim Smith, researcher for Howard Properties, said he thought since the Spheres Of Influence were used as a negative, to deny development, it should also be used as a positive, to help approve projects. Field said ACTC’s U-Plan software predicted that Amador County’s total population would be 51,000 people by the year 2025. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The grassroots group, No Casino In Plymouth announced it was pleased with federal level developments that could impact proposed Indian gaming in Amador County. Elida Malick, a founding member of No Casino In Plymouth, and a former city councilwoman for Plymouth, said the Matthew “Franklin-led Ione Band” was not restored according to the Department of the Interior Solicitor General. Malick also said the recent Supreme Court ruling that the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act, in effect, was a decision that the “Secretary of Interior does not have the authority to take land into trust.” Malick said: “No Casino In Plymouth is encouraged by the action of the Solicitor and the Court as both present significant problems for the Franklin-led Ione Band in their attempt to build a casino in Plymouth.” On January 16th, lead Interior Department attorney David Bernhardt reversed the “2006 restored lands opinion,” for the Ione Band. In a memo to Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development George Skibine, Solicitor Bernhardt said after review of the opinion, he concluded it was wrong and no longer represented the legal position of the Office of the Solicitor. The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision followed on February 24th, saying that the Secretary of the Interior does not have authority to take land into trust for tribes not under federal jurisdiction in 1934. Malick said: “Exactly what these actions mean for the proposed casino in Plymouth is not entirely clear but” the “reversal of the restored lands opinion means the Franklin-led Ione Band is not restored and the lands in Plymouth are not restored lands and are not eligible for a casino.” She thanked the community for 6 years of support and said “No Casino In Plymouth is “proceeding with caution.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The Amador County Democratic Central Committee unanimously endorsed a resolution at its monthly meeting declaring support for the Employee Free Choice Act, currently being debated before Congress. The resolution will go before the State Democratic Party Convention in April to be approved for state party support. "In this time of financial upheaval for so many Americans, it just makes sense to take down the walls that prevent so many workers from being able to enjoy the benefits of union membership and make a decent living," said Randy Bayne, Chair of the Amador Democratic Party. The Employee Free Choice Act contains three proposals designed to “level the playing field for employees and employers.” These include strengthening penalties against companies that illegally coerce or intimidate employees in an effort to prevent them from forming a union; using a neutral third party to settle a contract; and letting employees decide how to express their choice to organize. "This resolution says that we support a sensible approach to allowing workers to join a union by putting that choice in to the hands of workers, where it belongs,” said Bayne. Amador County will have seven people at the State Democratic Convention. In addition to Bayne, Vice-Chair Caryl Callsen, Secretary Sally Trestrail, Judy Hotchkiss, Kathy Trenam, Marcie Bayne and Democratic Club of Amador County President Liz McCulloch are all delegates. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Design proposals for the ambitious Sutter Hill Transit Center were a hot topic during Wednesday’s Amador County Transportation Commission meeting. The commission, which consists of a cross-section of Supervisors, transportation officials and city council members, heard a progress report by representatives of the Dokken Engineering Firm. The center in question is a proposed travel hub on a 4.4-acre parcel on the north side of Valley View Drive in Sutter Hill. Construction is likely to occur shortly as ACTC enters Phase 3 of the project, possibly as soon as June. According to ACTC Executive Director Charles Field, the “project continues to be substantially ahead of schedule and under budget.” Project Management Consultant Matt Boyer said the project’s eight different funding sources constitute “the most complicated grant funding I’ve yet encountered.” These include four federal grants, Prop 1B money, and state transit assistance funds apportioned by ACTC, providing match dollars on the other grants. ANOVA Architect Mike Kozlowski gave a detailed report on his design of the building. Referencing enlarged concept drawings, he emphasized the spacious interior and the “great opportunity” to design a modern exterior that aesthetically blends with more traditional architecture in Sutter Creek. Solar panels will be added to the rooftop as an energy-saving measure. There was some discussion over aesthetics versus more cost-effective paneling. Supervisor Richard Forster said he is “willing to compromise on aesthetics if it means saving $10,000 to $15,000 a year.” Funds generated by solar energy could reduce ARTS and ACTC’s operating costs by more than $10,000 a year, or a quarter of its operating budget. Commission members also questioned a first-year operation and maintenance cost estimate of $76,696. ACTC Director Charles Field said these costs are justified and less than 10 percent of ACTC’s annual operating budget. The commission also approved two resolutions giving authorization to pursue further grant funding and work with the county for federal earmark funds to widen the area on Valley View Drive. When completed, the Sutter Hill Transit Center is expected to house the Amador County Transportation Commission Department. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Bank repossessions continue to drive the suffering housing market in the Sacramento region. According to researchers at MDA Dataquick, a market tracking company, purchases of cheap repossessed homes resulted in the most sales since January of 2006. 2,806 new and existing homes closed escrow in January in Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties- a gain of 928 over the same time last year. Analysts say the steadily rising home sales are the result of drastically lower home prices in the region’s hardest hit areas for foreclosures. The deals have attracted large numbers of area and outside investors who account now for about one of every four sales in Sacramento County, according to DataQuick. Amador County reported 13 sales in January and saw median prices dip to $190,000. That is down 24.5 percent from the same month in 2008. Prices peaked at $425,000 in the county in 2006. Neighboring El Dorado County's 109 January sales showed a median price of $339,500. That is down 16.7 percent from the same time last year. The county's 2006 peak was $531,250. Sacramento County's 1,903 sales accounted for 68 percent of the region's total. The county's median price - where half cost more and half less - fell 34.8 percent from the same time last year. The new median is down by more than half from a 2005 high of $387,000. 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 on Thursday hosts a special meeting and workshop to address its expected growth and planning issues, with presentations by four city staffers. City Manager Dixon Flynn will review the city’s strategic plan and city objectives, while Consultant Richard Prima and City Planner Darcy Goulart will speak about growth management. Goulart will also give an update on the city’s General Plan update and its related Environmental Impact Report. Finance Director Jeff Gardner talk about budget amendments for fiscal year 2008-2009. The council last week heard a presentation from Goulart on city design guidelines, and received a report from City Planner Paula Daneluk detailing some of the draft amendments to the city’s zoning code. Daneluk said planning staff has been working with the planning commission and city council since last year on the downtown area design guidelines. She said “over a 2-month period, each section of the draft design guidelines was workshopped with the planning commission.” At the time, the commission discussed extending the “downtown corridor” of guidelines eastward across Highway 49, and last Thursday, the council discussed that as well. Mayor Jon Colburn asked if there was “any drawback” for having the same design guidelines that apply to downtown also apply to commercial development. Flynn said he did not see a problem in doing so. Prima said if the guidelines were applied to all commercial buildings in the city, the ordinance would require some wording changes. Colburn suggested moving the boundary to align with the city boundary line. Flynn asked if they wanted to include the Fiddletown Road area. Councilman Greg Baldwin said they should include that, at least until they can add a “Scenic Corridor” to the design guidelines and zoning. Goulart asked if they council wanted the same standards all around the city and Flynn said the council wanted the same look all around the city. The council sent the guidelines back to the planning commission for the changes to the boundary and to apply the downtown look to commercial and new development. The city council special workshop meeting is 5 p.m. Thursday and precedes the Planning Commission’s meeting at 7 p.m., during which the commission will discuss the city General Plan update. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.