Tom
Monday, 16 August 2010 06:22
Nov. Ballot Includes Plymouth TOT Measure, 20 Candidates for 10 Seats
Amador County – The Amador County Election Department released the ballot contents for the November 2nd general election last week, which included 20 candidates for a combined 10 seats in 4 jurisdictional races. The election department also listed 2 city-wide measures for Plymouth, which will decide “Measure O” (whether or not to raise the city Transient Occupancy Tax by 4 percent), and “Measure P,” which is a non-binding advisory to allow voters to say how they want the funding to be used. Plymouth’s Measure O asks: “Shall City of Plymouth ordinance number 2010-02 increasing the transient occupancy tax to 10 percent of the rent charged by hotel operators within the city limits, with tax revenue to be used for general municipal purposes, be approved?” Measure P asks Plymouth voters if 2 percent of the revenue from the increase in the (tax) should “be used for streets, parking and landscaping, and the remaining 2 percent for tourism including promotions, events, signage, advertising and other related expenses.” Election supervisor Debbie Smith on Thursday released the “randomized alphabet drawing,” which determined the order that the names will be listed on the ballot in each race. Secretary of State Debra Bowen made the drawing August 12th, a day after declaration extension periods closed. Ione City Council has 6 candidates for 3 council seats. Using the randomized alphabet drawing, the order from 1st to 6th on the ballot is Lloyd Oneto, Daniel Epperson, Ron Smylie, Jerry Sherman, Lee Ard and James Ulm. The top 3 finishers in vote counts win the open seats. The ballot order for Plymouth City Council candidates is Sandy Kyle, Sean McGinnis, and Peter Amoruso, who will vie for 2 vacant seats. Sutter Creek City Council also has 2 seats up for election, and candidates in the order that they will be listed on the ballots are Linda Rianda, Bart Weatherly, Jim Swift and Ed Arata. The Amador Water Agency board of directors has 3 seats up for grabs, with 2 vying for District 1, and will be listed on the ballot in order as Bill Condrashoff and Paul Molinelli, Sr. District 4’s order on the ballot will be Robert Manassero, followed by Debbie Dunn; and in District 5, the random draw order is Arthur Toy, Dale Turner, and John J. Asmus. Of the 20 candidates, 10 submitted candidate statements which will be contained on the ballots. Those submitting the statements were Arata, Asmus, Condrashoff, Dunn, Manassero, Molinelli, Rianda, Toy, Turner and Weatherly. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 16 August 2010 06:20
AFPD's Breazeal Awarded CESA Gold Award
Amador County - Cathy Koos Breazeal, Executive Director of the Amador Fire Safe Council, was honored last week with a Gold Award from the California Emergency Services Association (CESA) for her outstanding efforts in emergency management in Amador County. Lynne Olson, the County Emergency Services Coordinator and CESA member, nominated Cathy for this award. Cathy was selected for her award by the CESA State Board for her exemplary work in Amador County in the area of emergency preparedness including her work on the Amador Fire Safe Council (specifically the River Pines project completed June 2010), organizing and managing the Amador Animal Disaster and Evacuation Group, and her dedication to volunteerism with various groups impacting Amador County emergency management. The Gold Award is presented for exceptional efforts in the field of emergency management. It can be issued for preparedness efforts or for response to a specific event. Nominations come from the chapters and awards may be for both public and private sector nominees. Each year, CESA recognizes selected individuals and groups who have distinguished themselves while improving their community’s emergency preparedness. Cathy will attend the CESA banquet held in Monterey, California on September 16 to receive her award, which will be presented by Lynne Olson. A separate recognition will be held locally at the Amador Fire Safe Council meeting on August 18, 3 p.m., at the GSA building. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Fire
Monday, 16 August 2010 06:17
NYF Holds 1st Annual Mini-Triathlon
Amador County - Fifteen competitors ranging in age from 21-67 put their endurance to the test during New York Fitness’ (NYF) first annual mini-triathlon held August 7th and 8th on the grounds of the business. The competition began with an 8.3 mile virtual tour on the Expresso stationary bikes, followed by a looped 3.2 mile run, then commenced with a .42 mile swim equivalent to 30 lengths of the 25 yard lap pool. Many athletes were challenged with one segment or another of the mini triathlon, however men’s overall winner, Jim Brown, of Pioneer and women’s overall leader, Ellen Devlin, of Beaverton, Oregon showed true athleticism and strength in all 3 events. Brown completed the tri in a stellar 1:02:06 clinching the men’s 36-55 age division. Just 3 minutes off that pace was NYF’s own, Mike Nesler, recording a personal best time of 1:04:55. Devlin took the women’s 36-55 age category with a remarkable 1:15:38 . On her heels was 21-35 age division leader, Kerry Maxedon of Pine Grove with a 1:17:30. Based on positive feedback and enthusiasm, NYF plans to host a second annual mini triathlon in summer 2011! Readers can visit New York Fitness on Facebook to view photos of the event. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Thursday, 12 August 2010 06:08
State Budget Delays Impact Caltrans Transpo Funding
Sacramento - Caltrans on Wednesday released a White Paper that highlights the negative economic impacts the budget delay is having on transportation projects statewide.
The effects of the delayed budget are being felt as the California Transportation Commission meets yesterday and today. Funding for transportation projects worth over $2.1 billion that are contingent on the approval of the state budget may either be deferred or delayed. These include projects funded by Proposition 1B, the transportation bond approved by state voters in 2006. In addition, the department cannot award over $900 million in new contracts to construction firms, and payments to contractors on $9.5 billion of current construction may be delayed in the coming months due to the lack of available cash. TSPN will have more details in an upcoming news broadcast. A TSPN TV Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 12 August 2010 06:12
Plymouth to Revisit Fast Food Traffic Fee Issue
Amador County – The Plymouth City Council could reconsider traffic fees for fast food restaurants today (Thursday, August 12th) at its regular meeting. The agenda includes a discussion of the Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee program and the council’s concern over what it considers to be excessive fees. Charles Field, executive director of the Amador County Transportation Commission, said in an August 4th letter that the fee program oversight committee (which includes Plymouth Councilman Jon Colburn) discussed and acknowledged Plymouth’s concerns at a July 22nd meeting. The committee requested by a vote that “Plymouth support the 3-tiered fee for restaurants and approve the amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding pending completion of the new countywide traffic model and a new nexus program.” Colburn abstained from the committee vote. Field said he believed the “oversight committee was empathetic to the city’s concerns that this amendment to the MOU is not a perfect solution that satisfies all concerns and that they are committed to amending the whole (Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee) nexus plan and fee structure within the next 6 months to 1-and-a-half years.” He said he thought Colburn agreed with his belief, and he offered to attend this week’s meeting to answer questions and give information “about how the (fee) program has been a success” for Plymouth, and to tell about “growing pains” ACTC member entities “will have to go through in order to keep this program a success.” The 3-tiered impact fee program includes a $48,000 fee per 1,000 square feet for a “fast food drive-through restaurant on a state highway.” The second tier is an $18,000 fee per 1,000 square feet for a “fast food drive-through restaurant within a shopping center or community” where a “fast food restaurant is not immediately adjacent to a state highway.” The 3rd tier fee is $7,000 per 1,000 square feet for a “quality sit-down restaurant drinking establishment.” The council could consider a resolution that would amend a 2006 MOU with ACTC, created “for the purpose of collecting fees from new development to off-set the impacts” of “new development upon the regional traffic system.” The council will also consider a request from ACTC to reallocate $325,000 left over from the Mission Boulevard extension project in Jackson. Field said Dokken Engineering and the fee program oversight committee recommend a “mid-year fund allocation revision” to place the $325,000 in the Prospect Drive relocation project in Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 12 August 2010 06:15
JRC to Consider Downtown Parking Modifications
Amador County – The Jackson Revitalization Committee tonight will consider a proposal to modify downtown parking elements, including the elimination of some meters and parking enforcement. The objective, as stated in a city memo, is to “implement parking modifications in Historic Downtown Jackson to improve customer service, provide easier in/out access of parking spaces and reduce the current speed limit for safer pedestrian movement.” The three proposed phases of the project include removing and storing meter tops of all Main Street meters, capping existing poles and leaving remaining meters in tact on areas of North Main Street, implementing diagonal parking with Amador County Transportation Commission recommended traffic patterns, creating planter boxes between parking curbs and sidewalk, periodically building steps from the street to the sidewalk, remove meter posts, reducing speed limits to 15 mph, and increasing parking violations from $11 to $30. Other options include reducing enforcement hours from 20 hours a week to 15 hours a week and augmenting those hours by implementing a “Neighborhood Watch” program. Fiscal impact studies will be conducted during different phases of the project. Other parking spaces, including those at Mel and Faye’s restaurant and next to El Dorado Savings Bank, will also be evaluated. The city currently has 154 metered parking spots within the boundaries of the study. Parking meter revenue between January 1, 2007 and December 27, 2007 was approximately $17,067 and $7,355 after distributions, compared to $46,445 between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007. Parking revenues are divided up into different city funds, including jailhouse construction, courthouse construction, equipment assessment, the State of California and the City of Jackson Enterprise Fund. “By far, the Police Department receives more complaints regarding parking enforcement issues over any other police enforcement program,” says Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison. “Many visitors state they will ‘never shop in Jackson again’ after having received a parking citation. This is reflected by walk-in lobby complaints and many more complaints received via U.S. mail.” In addition, many downtown merchants are frustrated by the need to continuously move their vehicle to avoid a fine when parking in downtown metered spots. “It is expected that making these highly visible changes will improve public relations and affirm that the Economic Development Committee is serious (this time) about making significant changes,” says the memo. The Jackson Revitalization Committee meeting takes place Thursday, August 12 at 6 p.m. in Jackson City Hall. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 12 August 2010 06:17
Walgreens in Sutter Creek to Open Aug. 25
Amador County – The new Walgreens store in Sutter Creek is expected to open on August 25, according to city officials. This announcement, along with news that a Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market store is proposed for the same complex, was made during the Sutter Creek City Council meeting last week. Both stores will sit within the Sutter Creek Crossroads complex at the corner of Highway 49 and Ridge Road. Construction on Walgreens began last June after the Petrovich Development Company received final approval to go forward with the project. Shortly before that time, the Amador County Transportation Commission (ACTC) board of directors approved an agreement between Sutter Creek and the Petrovich Development Company that paved the way for project construction. The agreement allowed Petrovich to pay a Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee of $1,200 to ACTC. Sutter Creek Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe said at the time that the total reduction of fees was $88,000 dollars. The agreement includes rights-of-way, frontage improvements and fee credits. The right-of-way is required for the highway and intersection expansions which were determined to be needed by a Traffic Impact Study. The center’s construction came in stops and starts over the course of the next year, culminating in a flurry of construction activity last month that looked to have put the finishing touches on the parking lot and the Walgreens building. Rabe said he expects the store to bring additional funding to the cash-strapped city, although how much is yet to be determined. News of the proposed Fresh and Easy store opening came two weeks after the El Segundo-based grocery chain said it plans to open 9 California stores in September. The company expects to hire more than 180 employees for these new stores. Fresh and Easy stores are known to be environmentally friendly and typically use 30 percent less energy than a typical supermarket. They feature wholesome, fresh prepared meals, meats and produce. The city last week agreed to amend an agreement with Petrovich Development that will pave the way for construction of the Fresh and Easy store during phase 1 of the company’s project, and to postpone an asphalt overlay on Bowers Drive. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 12 August 2010 06:19
3 More File, November Election Races Set
Amador County – 3 candidates took advantage of the extended filing period that ended Wednesday, setting the races for the November 2nd election. One candidate each filed for vacancies on the Plymouth City Council, Amador Water Agency board of directors, and Sutter Creek City Council, after incumbents failed to file for re-election to those bodies last week. John Asmus filed Wednesday to run for an Amador Water Agency director’s position in District 5, setting a 3-way race with candidates Art Toy and Dale Turner, after Director Terence Moore retired after 3 terms. Plymouth City Council’s 2 vacancies will now be contested after Peter Amoruso filed Wednesday. Amoruso will face planning commissioners Sandy Kyle and Sean McGinness in the 3-way race for seats vacated by Councilman Mike O’Meara and Mayor Pat Fordyce, who chose not to run again. Sutter Creek City Council received a 4th candidate to run for 2 open seats when James Swift filed the race Wednesday. Swift will join Councilwoman Linda Rianda, Ed Arata, and Bart Weatherly in the race. Other contested seats include a 6-way race for 2 seats on the Ione City Council. Candidates are incumbents Councilman Lee Ard and Councilman James Ulm and challengers Daniel Epperson, Lloyd Oneto, Jerry Sherman and Ron Smylie. The Amador Water Agency board has 2 other races. District 1’s race includes incumbent President Bill Condrashoff and challenger Paul Molinelli Senior. AWA District 4’s race features incumbent Vice President Debbie Dunn against challenger Robert Manassero. Debbie Smith of the election office said the Amador County Unified School District will not be on the ballot, as 2 seats in Jackson have only 2 candidates (Lynnette Lipp and Pat Miller), and 2 seats in Ione have only 1 candidate (Rose Andrews-Oneto). The seats will be appointed without an election, per district rules. Jackson City Council will also not be on the ballot, as Mayor Connie Gonsalves and Councilman Pat Crew filed unopposed. Councilmen Tim Knox and Michael Vasquez were also unopposed in Amador City, which must decide whether to place the race on the ballot. Volcano Community Services District Director Meg Gottstein filed for reelection, while the VCSD still has 1 open position. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 12 August 2010 06:30
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 8-12-10
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