Amador County – When the dust settles on federal stimulus funding numbers for California, the Amador Water Agency should expect to be in a stiff competition for water and wastewater project funding. AWA Financial Services Manager Michael Lee attended the California economic stimulus workshop January 22nd in Sacramento and heard some rough numbers. He said at the time it looked like California would get 10 percent of the $800 billion economic stimulus package, or $80 billion. Roughly 1 percent of that would toward state-wide water and wastewater projects. Lee said that could be $500 million to $800 million, but that number might increase. He will report to the AWA board of directors at its next meeting, February 12th, when they will discuss projects they are targeting to be ready for stimulus funding consideration. He said the USDA, the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Department of Public Health will have state offices that could dispense the funding. “With water and wastewater, you have to compete for it,” Lee said. “It’s based on what the projects are putting forth, the severity.” He said if projects are helping small communities that are failing, they have a better chance. He said “it would be a lot better if we were just given our fair share of the pie, but we are asking for a fairly good chunk of the pie for a county our size.” Amador will compete with the state, including counties the size of San Francisco. Lee said the AWA has “5 good priority projects that we think can be moved forward to constructability fairly quickly.” Those are the Gravity Supply Line to serve the Central Amador Water Project; and improvement of the Lake Camanche Water System with a new tank, well and piping. Another is improvement to the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant backwash and byproducts systems. Also, a project on the list would work on a leach field at Gala Manor. A fifth priority project would be to place a small diameter pipeline in the Amador Canal. Lee said the priority projects would have to be ready to construct this summer. Story Jim Reece

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors holds a special meeting Wednesday morning at the agency office on Ridge Road, with a Water Rights Workshop as the headline item, and three topics of litigation to be discussed in closed session. Cris Thompson, executive clerk of the AWA board, announced the special meeting last Friday. Board President Terence Moore, District 4, has referred to the Water Rights Workshop in past meetings, urging the four new board members to attend as he said it would bring a better understanding to many upcoming issues. AWA Attorney Steve Kronick will host the workshop, and give an “update on the history of the Amador Water Agency's water rights for the Amador Water System and the Central Amador Water Project system. The special meeting of the AWA board includes 3 items to be discussed in closed session. One includes a conference with agency Attorney Kronick on pending litigation regarding Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s “Application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a Pumped Storage Project. The board will also confer with Kronick on pending litigation regarding the AWA’s Mokelumne River Water and Power Authority Water Right Applications before the State Water Resources Control Board. A third closed-session item regards potential initiation of litigation for 1 case. The meeting is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the AWA office, 12800 Ridge Road, Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece

Amador City – The Amador County Transportation Commission sat two new board members last week and turned down backing a new recreation sign until they get more information. Sutter Creek Councilman Pat Crosby and Ione Councilman David Plank both attended their first meeting, with other board members, Supervisor Richard Forster, Supervisor and ACTC board Chairman Louis Boitano, Plymouth City Councilman Greg Baldwin and Caltrans District 10 appointee, Dave Richards. Patrick Ireland, Amador Regional Transit Authority director, reported on Amador County Recreation Agency’s effort to place an informational sign near the former Safeway site in Jackson. Part of the project would be seeking CALTRANS approval. ACRA asked for ACTC funding, which was deferred because too many questions were unanswered. Crosby asked if the sign, with a 4-foot snowboarder on top, was going to advertise only Kirkwood Mountain Ski Resort, urging that it would be good for promoting other recreation in the county. Jackson Councilman Keith Sweet said he heard a presentation by ACRA Director Tracy Towner-Yep, and the sign will change seasonally. Sweet said the snowboarder on top of the sign is designed to rotate, spinning on a little motor. But because of its motor, the sign violates the Jackson city sign ordinance, and is why the Jackson Council took no action, pending variances. The board approved the purchase of an extension bus, “not to exceed $80,000.” Ireland said ARTS needs the bus because they will have 8 buses on the road simultaneously now, and the extra will be needed to give relief to the other buses. Forster asked if the bus would meet air quality standards and Boitano asked if it was another gasoline-powered bus, and Ireland said yes to both. ACTC Director Charles Field invited Crosby and Plank to a new board members’ staff workshop, to help them get up to speed on the ACTC board’s work and business. The two new board members will be able to ask as many questions as they would like, Field said. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County - Fears that an estimated 20 million mostly poor and elderly households are not ready to join the rest of the nation in converting their older televisions to digital have raised local concern. If not properly informed or assisted, Amador County’s proportionately large senior population could be left in the dark on February 17, the date conversion will take place nationwide. Owners of older television sets receiving over-the-air signals are required to buy a converter box or subscribe to cable or satellite TV. The California Department of Aging says older residents may be less familiar with or have restricted access to technology; or have physical or transportation-related barriers. Waiting lists for assistance programs sponsored by the federal government will keep many who apply now from receiving converter boxes before the deadline. Many who received $40 federal coupons to defray the cost of a new box have let their coupons expire. A December report by the Nielsen Company lists the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto market as the ninth least-ready market in the nation out of 56 metered markets, with 9.65 percent of households "completely unready" for the conversion. Anticipating these problems, a Democrat-backed bill extending the transition date to June 12 is being prepared for consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce committee. However, Democrats cancelled a meeting Wednesday, citing opposition from Republicans. Committee chairman Henry Waxman of California said that “without a short one-time extension, millions of households will lose all television reception.” Waxman’s spokesperson said he is willing to work with Republicans, who argue the delay will cause more confusion. Local providers are offering a range of solutions. Those who choose cable or satellite TV service for the first time can keep their old TV’s and avoid buying a converter. Comcast representatives said there was a strong statewide response to its offer of one free year of basic cable when you sign up for one additional service. If you are still not ready for the transition, contact your local cable or satellite provider for more information. Story by Alex Lane

Amador County – The Ione City Council heard a report on its financial outlook regarding Retired Employee Health Benefits last week, learning it was liable for 779,000 dollars. Geoffry Kischuk of the Government Accounting Standards Board, reported his analysis and said the amount was relatively low. He said it was good for the city to start the study process of its Retiree Health Benefits liability, noting that the city must have a plan in place in two years. He said the city should plan to account for retirement health benefits while people are working, to accrue liability. The Government Accounting Standards Board, a non-profit organization based in Connecticut, allows up to a 30-year transition to “pay-as-you-go” and accumulate accrued liability. He said the city must reflect the new accounting standards by June 30, 2010. Kischuk said he made an actuarial model of the city to find its current liability on retiree health, using data from city employees to make assumptions. He said if city accruing benefits were due now, the city would be due to pay $779,000 dollars. Now it can be accrued over 30 years. Kischuk said the city had several options to plan for future retiree health benefits. The city could establish its own retirement trust, or invest in longer term assets, which can give advanced credit and make advanced payment numbers smaller. But, in long-term investing, funds are committed permanently. He said prefunding retirement health benefits has advantages, including improved bond ratings, making costs responsive to payroll, and reducing long-term cash expense due to higher investment income. City Manager Kim Kerr said a past city council established the current Retirement Health Benefits plan but did not realize the implications. The city is now paying $4,800 dollars a year. She recommended the city develop a committee to look at management options and she said there are ways to reduce costs. She said a committee could make an agreement between management and labor, to plan for retirement and also get employees to set aside their own money. Kerr said the city should “get the bargaining units involved because it is negotiable.” Story by Jim Reece. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The Amador County Technical Advisory Committee fielded complaints Wednesday pertaining to a permit for a Sunday School at the Mt. Zion Assembly of God. Pastor Blayne Corzine voiced his frustration over gaps in communication and the number of steps required to meet standards. According to Larry Petersen of the Planning Department, a new use permit is required in order to allow the existing trailer to be used as a Sunday School and classroom. In addition, a Sunday School is not considered a classroom and “Sunday School” must be added to the application. Corzine said that when the church acquired the trailer it was already setup as a business trailer for a construction site. He already had filed for a permit and did not understand why he needed to file a permit yet again. But Petersen said the current permit only allowed for storage and did not include some specifications needed to determine whether it was suitable as a meeting area. “Now I have to give an additional 300 to 500 dollars to use this trailer for these kids,” said Corzine, referring to filing fees. But the committee explained that when you change from a storage unit to a building with people, documentation is needed on file to ensure it meets all code requirements. “No one is saying it doesn’t meet those already, it’s just the process,” said Planning Director Susan Grijalva. Corzine said “The frustration comes when I talk to someone else in the building department and they told me completely different standards. I have to go back and answer to the Church board about this. I’m coming to the people that are supposed to help me and it seems like there hasn’t been one straight answer that I get.” Grijalva sympathized, saying “it looks like you got left holding the hot potato here.” The Planning Commission said these types of miscommunications were one of the main reasons why the Advisory Committee had been created. “Sometimes the public uses words that mean something different to us,” said Grijalva. Deputy CAO Kristen Bengyel said the land use and planning departments will also be offering a weekly drop in period to answer questions from the public in the near future. “We’ll take info, apply it to appropriate documents and streamline this process,” she said. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County- 10th District Assemblymember and Amador County Representative Alyson Huber is staying busy with a number of upcoming events aimed at enriching connections with her constituents. On April 30th, from 6:30-7:30 in the Rancho Cordova Town Hall and again on May 7th from 6:30 to 7:30 in the Elk Grove Town Hall, Huber will conduct “introductory” workshops to address the concerns of residents. This comes after a successful town hall in Amador County earlier last month. Huber is also inviting residents to join her at an open house of the District Office this Sunday, May 3rd. The office will be open while the Lodi Street Faire is in progress from 8am to 4pm. District staff will be on hand to answer questions and show the resources the office offers. Finally Huber is set to host an event designed to help farmers comply with regulations regarding their workers and operations. This Farm and Ranch Compliance Informational Panel will be held Wednesday, May 6th at 6 pm in Lodi High School. The event will bring together representatives from OSHA, State Compensation Insurance Fund, and San Joaquin County Agriculture Department to discuss the rules and regulations governing farm and ranch operations. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County –Plymouth City Council last week approved a resolution opposing expansion of Pardee Lake, with the bulk of the meeting going to the subject. The project is one of several identified in the Water Supply Management Plan 2040 under design by the East Bay Municipal Utility District. The plan’s author, Tom Francis presented it to the council and answered questions. Councilwoman Pat Fordyce asked for clarification on what raising a dam and what enlarging a lake would mean. Francis said there was a difference, noting that the 2040 plan included an element that looked at raising, or building up, the height of the dam at Lower Bear Reservoir by 33 feet. But he said East Bay MUD might be better served at Pardee by building a larger dam downstream from the existing dam and increasing the size of the reservoir. Fordyce asked: “Can you even build dams?” Francis said “you physically can, but you will probably hear tonight from some environmentalists that will say we will meet lots of issues” and roadblocks. He said East Bay MUD’s most work in the Foothills has been with the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority, but the agency has found that it needs “to reach out to the environmentalists too.” Francis said the comment period on the 2040 plan closes May 4th. The East Bay MUD board must answer comments in June, then it will look at the plan on July 14th and decide items to remove or keep. He said “ultimately, we are going to go forward with our water supply planning. We are a water agency.” City Manager Dixon Flynn asked what was in the equation for Plymouth, and will “Amador County get more water from this?” Francis said the county would get more water, but only through the Integrated Regional Conjunctive Use Project. Francis said agency studies of a new Pardee dam downstream would include “green energy” of hydro-generation, plus cold water pools beneficial to fish. He said injecting the aquifer, San Joaquin County desired solution to drought, would be done just as groundwater is extracted – through wells. “We won’t just be putting it everywhere,” Francis said. “We will have recharge well storage areas.” Fordyce said she could not believe that would work. The council adjourned the remaining agenda items to 5 p.m. today in City Hall. 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 last Friday individually said they opposed expansion of Pardee Reservoir, setting up a likely vote to formally oppose the program at its board meeting Tuesday. The program is part of the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s 2040 Water Supply Management Plan, which the Oakland utility presented in an informational workshop to Amador supervisor on Friday. After a 3-hour presentation, Amador Chairman Ted Novelli said the Integrated Regional Conjunctive Up Program “is a great thing,” but the 2040 plan as presented to the county, he could “not support it in any way, shape or form.” He also noted that East Bay MUD officials made no mention of Alpine County, where 5 rivers originate, and he said East Bay should “get to know Alpine County.” Supervisor Brian Oneto said he saw problems with the 2040 plan, but he “would like to see a better water supply for this county,” through the IRCUP. Supervisor Richard Forster said he “will support staying involved in IRCUP,” but not the projects, especially the “enlarging of Pardee.” He said if East Bay MUD sought to build a new Pardee Dam downstream from Pardee would have the “same impacts as raising Pardee Dam, I don’t think I could support that either.” Supervisor John Plasse agreed, and said “trust is an issue.” Plasse said he should “not support the current project as proposed,” but he believed in collaboration to find regional solutions, and East Bay MUD should “put local support in its EIR.” Forster said if more local involvement was sought by East Bay at the outset, maybe there would be less local opposition. And he asked if “we can get an assurance form the (East Bay) board that Amador and Calaveras have to have a buy-in for this program” to work. East Bay Board Vice Chairman John Coleman said “we are not going to come up here and enlarge Pardee ourselves. We need regional support.” He said they would not pursue raising Pardee dam “without the support and benefits that are derived from local support.” Supervisor Louis Boitano said: “How much water are we taking about for our cut in this partnership? It’s kind of important to make an informed decision.” East Bay MUD General Manager Dennis Diemer said the IRCUP would give Amador County 20,000 acre-feet of water “from Lower Bear reservoir, Pardee or a combination.” Amador Supervisors on Tuesday will consider a resolution to oppose the 2040 plan but to support the Integrated Regional Conjunctive Use Project “Plus” program. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Sutter Creek City Council on Monday tabled changes to an agreement with the Amador Water Agency on wastewater capacity expansion, pending review by staff. City Manager Rob Duke talked about the history of the agreement, which came about when increased solids and greases in the wastewater stream combined to cause a lack in capacity. He said was determined that the causes for the lack were equally due to new customers in AWA’s Martell Service Area 4 and also due to Sutter Creek. Upgrades in Sutter Creek’s aeration system led to a $1.5 million dollar project, which the city and the agency agreed to split, at a cost of $750,000 dollars each, and increase the wastewater capacity for each by 60,000 gallons per day. Duke said the expansion is not yet done and has not been approved, but the result will be “found capacity,” which Sutter Creek will be sharing with the AWA. A letter from AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie, with the AWA board’s signed agreement, asked the city or consultant Bob Reed to tally the cost per “Equivalent Dwelling Unit” to upgrade the sewer system from secondary to tertiary level treatment. Duke said the “AWA heard rumors that if Gold Rush (Ranch & Golf Resort) was approved,” it will require upgrading of the city plant to tertiary level. Duke said if Gold Rush is approved, “it doesn’t change anything about what we need to do to go to tertiary” treatment level. In public comment, Planning Commissioner Mike Kirkley said “it seems like they are getting a hell of a deal for 60,000 gallons a day capacity, and they could turn around and sell it for $1.5 Million Dollars.” Kirkley said the AWA board also indicated that Sutter Creek “can only charge them what it costs because of an old agreement” between the two. Bart Weatherly asked what the AWA would have to pay for tertiary level treatment. Duke said the city did “not know yet, because we have not chosen the technology yet.” City Attorney Dennis Crabb said he had a couple of questions about the contract on some procedural items, and Mayor Gary Wooten tabled the item to have it brought back to the next meeting, after review by staff. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.