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Wednesday, 14 April 2010 05:52
Amador County News TSPN TV with Christian Toma 4-14-10
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Monday, 12 April 2010 18:00
Plymouth Fire Staffing Awaits AFPD Agreement
Amador County – The Plymouth City Council discussed its soon-to-expire agreement with the Amador Fire Protection District Thursday, while wondering about the city’s future of development. City Manager Dixon Flynn said the city had been waiting to see what AFPD’s board would do with its Measure M funding. The issue was decided last week, when AFPD’s board approved hiring of battalion chiefs in Plymouth and Upcountry battalions. AFPD Chief Jim McCart told Plymouth City Council Thursday: “We can’t hire for Battalion 20 until we have a contract.” Flynn said the city attorney drafted terms and conditions for a new contract, and “we kind of caught them by surprise.” McCart said the city’s draft agreement “was given to us yesterday.” It appeared to be “cut and pasted,” with sections missing and numbered wrongly. McCart said Plymouth paid $28,000 for personnel last year, and the draft plan had a 3-person, 24/7 staff, costing $700,000 “just for personnel.” Flynn said draft included a general city fire service plan, but the city does not have revenue to pay for it. The city fire committee, made up of Mayor Patricia Fordyce, Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin and Flynn, will discuss the contract with AFPD. Fordyce said AFPD is “asking for a 10-year commitment,” but “we are going to have development, so we might want to look at this a little bit differently.” Councilman Mike O’Meara agreed. McCart said the agreement is for 10 years, and there is no opt-out after 5 years. Fordyce asked about a provision that the contract terminates in 30 days if land in the city is “taken into federal trust for a casino.” She said it was wrong to have the contract contingent on something decided by the federal government. She thought AFPD should base such a contingency on actions by the city council, such as the Municipal Services Agreement the council signed with the Ione Band of Miwok Indians. She said the federal government or the county could allow the casino and “we wouldn’t be responsible.” McCart said: “The purpose is political, I think.” He said “impacts will be created on and off the casino grounds, so we have to address that.” The current contract expires June 1st. Councilman Jon Colburn said “we can’t afford to pay more than we’re paying.” Mayor Pat Fordyce said: “What about 5 years from now, if the contract lasts that long?” Fordyce said if an agreement can’t be reached, they would likely have to extend the existing contract. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 12 April 2010 18:00
AWA Resumes Tanner Pond Cover Replacement Project
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors voted 5-0 last week to resume a project to replace a floating cover over the “clearwell” at the Tanner water plant on Ridge Road. Staff requested that the board direct them to proceed with the project as previously approved. The board in March requested staff analysis of impacts that could come from delaying the repair of the cover, in an effort to save money on the $111,000 project. The agency received a letter of rebuke from the California Department of Public Health, warning of possible increased requirements if the project did not commence as planned. Joseph Spano of the Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management in a letter April 7th said the Health Department had leaned that AWA “may postpone the replacing of the deteriorated floating cover on the Tanner clearwell until fall of this year.” Spano said the “department strongly opposes this plan and recommends that AWA” replace the cover as originally planned. The letter notified the board that if the project did not commence, AWA would be required to do daily chlorine reporting and daily inspections of the cover; and the state would do weekly analyses for coliform bacteria density. Spano also threatened that if the project was not resumed as planned, AWA would be required to “thoroughly review” its July 2000 Tanner “Clearwell Floating Cover Operation and Maintenance Plan.” The AWA board voted 5-0 to approve staff recommendations, without debate, or a staff presentation. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said the board directed staff to look at a possible delay until fall to ease cashflow issues, and see if any adverse costs would occur. Staff found cost impacts via the contract, and “simultaneously” got the letter from the DHS saying that its requirements that would also add to costs. The report by John Griffin said AWA’s board awarded a contract March 3rd to Layfield Environmental Services, which ordered the new cover and received approval from Public Health for its replacement plan, which included a May 14th completion date. March 25th, the board asked staff to “investigate potential cost implications” of delaying the project until the fall. The board faced paying $50 a day to Layfield for a contract suspension that was not the “fault of the contractor.” In 3 months it would cost $4,500, and 6 months cost $9,000. AWA could also face delay and “extended overhead claims.” After a 60-day suspension, the “contractor has the option of terminating the project,” which would cost the agency to rebid. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 12 April 2010 18:00
California Agriculture Water Summit Looks At State’s Water Needs
Amador County - A recent California Agriculture Water Summit raised many issues related to California agriculture’s short, intermediate and long-term water needs, but finding solutions for those needs in an ongoing process. Last November, 60 representatives from over 23 Counties throughout California met in Sacramento to voice their concerns and bring solutions to the table. “The goals of this summit were to provide a grassroots forum to discuss issues related to California agriculture’s…water needs, to explore solutions to unify California agriculture, and to strengthen efforts to protect and enhance the future of California agriculture’s water supply,” said Russell van Loben Sels, President of the Sacramento County Farm Bureau, a non-profit association supported by the dues of its 3,000 members. Loben Sels and his group presented information about the Delta, considered to be a key water source for farm lands across the state. The group identified a list of six “key elements needed to develop solutions for improved California agriculture water supply reliability,” said Loben Sels. These are storage, conveyance, alternative supplies, groundwater and watershed management, balancing the economy and science, and public education and unified messaging. “Water conveyance was the top one as far as urgency,” said Charlotte Mitchell, Executive Director of the Sacramento County Farm Bureau. “How do we get water moving south so those farmers can get water while at the same time preserving the Delta? That is an ongoing question,” she said. When determining solutions, participants were asked to consider what the shared purpose is, what input is needed to fully design the change and how decisions should be recommended. Ideas were generated and are still being discussed in ongoing forums and workshops. Although no long-term solutions were agreed upon, Loben Sels said “we all left with a better understanding of the problems, needs, and concerns of other regions and a basis for future interaction to develop positions and programs to enhance and improve the water supply for California agriculture.” Mitchell will appear on TSPN on May 4th to further discuss the issue of Delta water conveyance and the results of the Summit. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 12 April 2010 18:00
Christine Pelosi to Speak At Next Democratic Club Meeting
Amador County – Christine Pelosi, a daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is scheduled to speak at an upcoming meeting of the Amador Democratic Central Committee. Pelosi will discuss her new book, “Campaign Boot Camp: Basic Training for Future Leaders,” based in part on her work as an attorney and activist for the Democratic Party. The book spans a period from 2006 to 2008 in which Pelosi followed different Congressional candidates in their quest to unseat incumbents. She directs the AFSCME PEOPLE/New House PAC Congressional Candidates Boot Camp and has helped 23 Democratic challengers get elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Her other experience includes service as Deputy City Attorney and Assistant District Attorney for the City of San Francisco; Executive Director and Platform Chair of the California Democratic Party; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Special Counsel in the Clinton/Gore Administration; and Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative John F. Tierney. She is also a superdelegate for the Democratic Party and was one of the few votes that helped Barack Obama secure the democratic nomination on June 3, 2008. The Amador event takes place at 6 p.m. on April 23 in Thomi’s Banquet Room, 627 South Highway 49 in Jackson. For more information, call the Democratic Central Committee at 257-1397. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 12 April 2010 18:00
Spring Frosts Concern Amador Grape Growers
Amador County - The unusual rash of wet and cold weather this spring is concerning many Amador vintners and grape growers who say frost could damage their young and fragile grape crop. In recent weeks, temperatures have dipped lower than average and snow has reached lower elevations. Across the Shenandoah Valley, buds are blooming on grape vines that will eventually become Merlot, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and any number of other wine varieties. Frost damage at this time of year generally begins to occur at 31 degrees after half an hour. Over the last couple weeks, temperatures have dipped a couple times into the 30s and lower. Scott Oneto, University of California Cooperative Extension Amador Farm Advisor, told the Sacramento bee that frost damage should remain at a minimum in Amador County vineyards. He said the past weeks have been troublesome, but “those growers with wind machines have been well-protected.” A number of growers have said they are putting out giant wind fans to help circulate the air across the plants. Oneto said growers have different ways to help prevent damage, including ground covers, chemicals and keep soil disking to a minimum. Paul Sobon of Sobon winery says this is a fragile time for the plants when buds can turn black from the frost. He said his crop is ranging from 25 to 50 percent of normal. Sobon said the risk of frost damage will continue until about the second week of May for wine fields in the Mother Lode area. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010 06:10
Ramona Longero - Foothill Charter School 4-13-10
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Monday, 12 April 2010 18:00
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 4-13-10
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Monday, 12 April 2010 18:00
Plymouth Fire Staffing Awaits AFPD Agreement
Amador County – The Plymouth City Council discussed its soon-to-expire agreement with the Amador Fire Protection District Thursday, while wondering about the city’s future of development. City Manager Dixon Flynn said the city had been waiting to see what AFPD’s board would do with its Measure M funding. The issue was decided last week, when AFPD’s board approved hiring of battalion chiefs in Plymouth and Upcountry battalions. AFPD Chief Jim McCart told Plymouth City Council Thursday: “We can’t hire for Battalion 20 until we have a contract.” Flynn said the city attorney drafted terms and conditions for a new contract, and “we kind of caught them by surprise.” McCart said the city’s draft agreement “was given to us yesterday.” It appeared to be “cut and pasted,” with sections missing and numbered wrongly. McCart said Plymouth paid $28,000 for personnel last year, and the draft plan had a 3-person, 24/7 staff, costing $700,000 “just for personnel.” Flynn said draft included a general city fire service plan, but the city does not have revenue to pay for it. The city fire committee, made up of Mayor Patricia Fordyce, Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin and Flynn, will discuss the contract with AFPD. Fordyce said AFPD is “asking for a 10-year commitment,” but “we are going to have development, so we might want to look at this a little bit differently.” Councilman Mike O’Meara agreed. McCart said the agreement is for 10 years, and there is no opt-out after 5 years. Fordyce asked about a provision that the contract terminates in 30 days if land in the city is “taken into federal trust for a casino.” She said it was wrong to have the contract contingent on something decided by the federal government. She thought AFPD should base such a contingency on actions by the city council, such as the Municipal Services Agreement the council signed with the Ione Band of Miwok Indians. She said the federal government or the county could allow the casino and “we wouldn’t be responsible.” McCart said: “The purpose is political, I think.” He said “impacts will be created on and off the casino grounds, so we have to address that.” The current contract expires June 1st. Councilman Jon Colburn said “we can’t afford to pay more than we’re paying.” Mayor Pat Fordyce said: “What about 5 years from now, if the contract lasts that long?” Fordyce said if an agreement can’t be reached, they would likely have to extend the existing contract. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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