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Ione City Council Talks Traffic & Pond Sludge |
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Friday, 20 July 2007 |
 The Ione City Council discussed the Amador County Transportation
Commission’s proposed local traffic mitigation fee on residential, commercial
and industrial development. The City has the authority to update these fees under Government
code in order to mitigate the impact of new development on local roadways.
The ACTC completed the
study on behalf of each of the cities and the county. According to ACTC
Executive Director Charles Field ACTC, although not required to do so, the agency is completing
the study to honor a commitment. Field explained that the cities and county “adopted the
regional fees in a cooperate effort for us 2 and 3 year ago, and at that time
they asked ‘well what about our local roads?’ and instead of saying ‘that’s up to you’
,we said ‘if you adopt the regional (fee) we’ll help you with your local
(fee).” Field said that the Cities and County adopted the fee and that
it has been working very well ever since. He said completing the Nexus study was honoring the commitment that
ACTC had made to each of the cities and County, however he did say once
they present the study to the entities that is where ACTC’s involvement ends and the rest is up
to them.
 The City Council reviewed the portion of the
study pertaining to the City that proposed that the fee be increased from the current $827 per single
family dwelling unit to $3,074. That is the equivalent of $370.40 per
end trip. The Council
after reviewing the information wanted to hold off and wait until new City
Manager Kim Kerr, could compile a staff report on the matter. However
since they did notice for a public hearing they did receive public input and
one citizen suggested that the City update their general plan before they
pursue the fee. Also to appear on the agenda was the adoption of a resolution for the award of sludge
removal and dewatering, transportation and disposal services for Ione’s pond
number 1.
 The meetings discussion focused on this item as Ione residents
have bitter memories of when
the City drained pond number 7. When that pond was drained it disturbed
neighboring properties causing many upset residents. Bob Goodwin of Lee and Row
Inc., the city’s hired engineer for the pond #1 project explained that this
situation is different because pond #1 is lined. The discussion then centered
around environmental concerns
and the concern that dewatering the pond could impact surrounding neighbors.
Citizens wanted to know what the city will be doing to ensure there would be no
negative impacts on the community surrounding. Goodwin and Chief Operator Julio
Guerra spoke about the current situation and addressed the hydrology questions.
After a lengthy discussion the city decided to move forward with de-sledging
pond #1.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 03 August 2007 )
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