Thursday, 30 August 2007 00:27
Plymouth Says “No” To Regional CommitteePlymouth Says “No” To Regional Committee
Last week the Plymouth city council decided that joining
the proposed Amador Regional Planning Committee, a joint powers authority, was
not in the best interest of the city. The joint powers authority is proposed to
act as a forum for discussion over regional issues. The J-P-A membership consists of one elected official
from each participating city, a member of the Board of Supervisors and at least
one citizen at large.
City Planner Paula Daneluk said that a regional
committee such as this is common in other regions throughout the state. Vince
DiStigter, president of a recently formed group called Amador Citizens for
Responsible Government, approached the council telling them that similar
regional authorities have not always gone according to plan. He says, "The
Plymouth region is the City Council's responsibility and this committee would
allow someone from as far away as Pioneer or Ione to make decisions that will
affect the city." Paula Daneluk told the council that although it is
written in the MSA that no land use authority would be taken away from any
city, it is possible that the city could loose control over issues relating to
the city.. Colborn, of the
city council says. “I don't feel signing this would cause Plymouth to loose power but gain more input
in the region. The council voted "no" on the Mem-or-an-dum of
Understanding, to join the regional planning committee on a 04-1 vote, with Jon
Colburn being the only "yes" vote. The cities of Jackson, Sutter Creek, and Ione have already
joined the MOU.