Our perseverance has paid off! On 9/26/17 the Board of Supervisors (BOS) unanimously voted to include $250,000 for community planning as part of the 2017/18 budget.

It's been a while since the Shingle Springs Community Alliance (SSCA) core members organized meetings for residents and other interested parties to come together and choose potential designs for new commercial development in Shingle Springs. The latest discussions with County staff were in 2014, and we anticipate continuing from where we left off, which was step 4 of 7 in the Community Planning Guide that can be viewed by clicking here.

As we regroup to move forward, please know that this will be a community-driven process and there will be several opportunities for you to engage along the way.

Remember, County staff works at the direction of the BOS. Therefore, the SSCA core group will contact Supervisors Frentzen and Ranalli to ensure that they will agendize an item to direct County staff to work with the community to create a draft Shingle Springs Community Plan.

A planning team will be formed to work with County staff to create the draft Community Plan, using the materials that were gathered at community meetings in 2013 (you can view those meetings and materials by clicking here). This step will likely take months and months of work, depending on how many team members and staff are working on the draft. Due to limited staff resources, a County-funded consultant may be brought in to supplement County staff.

The draft Community Plan will be presented to the community for feedback and could be sent back to the planning team for edits. Once the plan is finalized by the community and County, it may be adopted by the BOS as part of the General Plan.

If you have skills in community planning or creating design standards and would like to help draft the Shingle Springs Community Plan, please reply to this email and let us know. The more that the community can complete on its own, the better the process will go when interfacing with County staff.

Keep an eye on your email and be ready to respond. The planning team may reach out to the community for additional information or hold an informational meeting during the process, and your input is important.

Thank you for staying engaged and involved in local issues. Together, we can accomplish a plan to protect our quality of life for generations to come.

Dear Shingle Springs residents and rural lifestyle supporters,

Please contact the Board of Supervisors (BOS) and state that you expect them to follow through on their Board action from the June 20, 2017 BOS meeting to fund Community Plans if additional fund balance was found during the budget process.

A motion was made by Supervisor Ranalli, seconded by Supervisor Frentzen to consider Community Planning as a priority in the amount of $150,000 if fund balance comes in higher than staff anticipates.

Yes: 5 - Veerkamp, Frentzen, Ranalli, Novasel and Hidahl

The Chief Administrative Officer's (CAO) September 13, 2017 letter states that "El Dorado County ended FY 2016-17 with approximately $12.8 million dollars more than anticipated in General Fund operating fund balance."

Shingle Springs residents worked diligently in 2013 and 2014 toward the goal of a Community Plan to provide clarity for residents, business owners, and developers on the future of Shingle Springs. Those efforts were made in good faith working with County staff and Supervisors, and with the promise by the Community and Economic Development Advisory Committee to make Community Plans a priority as part of the "LUPPU and Beyond" efforts. Much of the community's efforts were documented and can be found here: http://www.shinglespringscommunityplan.org

Additionally, Supervisor Ranalli made the following statement regarding the Shingle Springs Community Plan and we anticipate him to fulfill his campaign promise for full support:

"Your community visioning and implementation plan and funding is the process by which Shingle Springs can articulate their sense of place and how it differs from Cameron Park. I wholeheartedly support this effort and enthusiastically embrace the rail town history carrying forward into the plan and up to and including architectural and form base design standards as Shingle Springs evolves. As your Supervisor, I will prioritize and sponsor the items for Board of Supervisor’s agenda and I will, in cooperation with the community, see it through to adoption and implementation."

Tuesday, September 19, 2017, 9:00 a.m.

Building A Hearing Room

330 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA

To: <bosone@edcgov.us>, <bostwo@edcgov.us>, <bosthree@edcgov.us>, <bosfour@edcgov.us>, <bosfive@edcgov.us>, <edc.cob@edcgov.us>, <roger.trout@edcgov.us>

Subject: 9-19-17 BOS Agenda, File #17-0406, Item #19

Dear Supervisors,

I request that you follow through on your Board action of June 20, 2017 and fund Community Planning as part of the 2017-18 budget. I further request that you support the community of Shingle Springs in its Community Planning efforts. In 2013 and 2014, many hours of volunteer time was spent in good faith working with County staff, but the community effort was placed on hold until the County made funding available. Now is the time to pick up where we left off and work with the Shingle Springs community to protect OUR quality of life in Shingle Springs with a Community Plan.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Town]

FYI - Forwarded from Rural Communities United (RCU)

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: A picture's worth a thousand words!

From: Rural Communities United <contactrcu@gmail.com>

Dear RCU Friends and Supporters-

A big  'thank you!' to those who participated in the August matching-donation campaign. We raised a whopping $12K in that effort with your help, but we are not there yet, and too many people are still unaware of why we are here. 

The map below shows in green the vast extent of parcels proposed for rezone under the 2015 Zoning Ordinance Update (ZOU). While some changes were innocuous, many were not, and the majority of landowners were never informed. Help spread the word of our efforts to overturn these changes and require the County to provide full disclosure to all residents and landowners impacted. 

Be sure to attend our Music on the River fundraising event, Sept 17th at Camp Lotus, and bring a friend! (see website for details)

Ellen Van Dyke for RCU

Map Linked here - green shows over 37,000 of the County's 108,000 parcels proposed for rezone

August 31, 2017

Dear Shingle Spring residents, supporters and those new to our cause,

If you are not aware, our county rezoned 37,000 parcels without direct notification to most property owners or adjacent property owners. 

Massive changes to the Zoning Ordinance have been misrepresented to the public as ‘implementation' of our General Plan. Furthermore, the County does not acknowledge current Highway 50 traffic conditions. Gridlock, stop-and-go traffic (Level of service ‘F') exists now yet many more parcels are already approved and not yet built. Stop and go traffic on Highway 50 and adjacent feeder roads will only get worse. 

In response, Rural Communities United (RCU) filed a lawsuit against El Dorado County to protect parcel owners and our rural quality of life.

Here is an update from RCU: 

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: August update from RCU

Dear RCU friends and supporters,

We have great news to share ... the June deadline for record certification was met, the documents filed, and we are officially heading into the courtroom.  We are well on our way to restoring policies and zoning that were intended to protect our quality of life here in El Dorado County!

We also need to share details for our upcoming Music on the River event, Sept 17th at Camp Lotus, featuring the group 'Late for Dinner'. A few details:

Lastly, we have just a handful of days left in August to take advantage of a supporter's generous offer to match up to $5,000 in donations. Please tell your friends and neighbors that this is a BIG DEAL for our county, and help us to not waste this opportunity!

Hope to see you in September for our event on the river - bring a friend!

Ellen Van Dyke for RCU

www.RuralCommunitiesUnited.org 

Shingle Spring Residents,

It's been rumored the passage of Measure E has had an affect on the progress of San Stino's, Mill Creek. Measure E requires the developer to fund the roadway infrastructure required to support a development. In this case, the developer is rumored to not have the funds to proceed due the requirements of Measure E. Currently the development has been placed "On Hold" with the county. The lawsuit challenging Measure E was filed by the same folks that helped lead the campaign against it.

The following is Save Our County's post regarding the Measure E lawsuit.

Frank Verdin, No San Stino on behalf of the

Shingle Springs Community Alliance, No San Stino's Mill Creek, and Stop Tilden Park

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: [New post] Measure E in Court on July 20

From: Save Our County <donotreply@wordpress.com>

Date: Sat, July 15, 2017 8:25 am

Measure E in Court on July 20

Measure E will have its day in court on Thursday, July 20, at 1:30 pm, in the El Dorado Superior Court Department 9, 3321 Cameron Park Dr, Cameron Park, CA 95682. The public is welcome to attend.

Measure E became part of the El Dorado County general plan on July 29, 2016. On the same day the Alliance for Responsible Planning (EDCARP) filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate in order to invalidate the voter approved Measure E.

At the August 30, 2016 Board of Supervisors meeting, County Counsel Mike Ciccozzi explained that it is the Board’s duty to interpret its general plan. Here is his explanation: https://youtu.be/3jgLllGiiFY Despite the explanation that it was their charge to interpret the general plan, including Measure E, Supervisors Novasel, Ranalli, and Veerkamp voted against providing staff with an interpretation of Measure E and how to implement it.

During Open Forum of the June 27, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, Planning Commissioner Jon Vegna explained to the Board that their lack of providing an interpretation of Measure E has left the staff, planning commissioners, project proponents, and residents without clarity as to how to implement Measure E. Here is his testimony: https://youtu.be/OeoXGben_ZY

Since Supervisor Ranalli said at the August 30, 2016 meeting - let the courts decide Measure E, we are left to assume they are ignoring the Measure until this case is decided. Measure E has been part of the general plan for almost a year now. Supervisors Novasel, Ranalli, and Veerkamp have been shirking away from their duty to interpret the El Dorado County general plan for a year. The court will not do their job for them. The only thing before the Court is whether or not the Measure is valid, implementing it will still be the responsibility of the Board. Unfortunately the Board is taking the “just sue us” stand, so contributing to the Save Our County Legal Fund would be very much appreciated.

Dear Shingle Springs residents and rural lifestyle supporters,

Here's a quick status of San Stino's Mill Creek project:

The project has been placed on hold since the passage of Measure E and the county is waiting on the developer on how to proceed with processing it.  Rumor has it that Measure E has had an impact on the development due to the already strained road infrastructure surrounding the project.

It is good to hear that all of our efforts to pass Measure E are affecting development projects as intended.  It will be up to each community to hold the Board of Supervisors accountable to ensure that Measure E is enforced on projects throughout the county.

Thank you for your time, energy, and donations to pass Measure E!

Frank Verdin, No San Stino, on behalf of the

Shingle Springs Community Alliance, No San Stino's Mill Creek, and Stop Tilden Park

  Keeping Shingle Springs Rural

Dear Shingle Springs residents and rural lifestyle supporters,

On Tuesday, June 20, at 2:00 pm, the Board of Supervisors will review and make decisions on the proposed 2017/18 budget.

The Community and Economic Development Advisory Committee (CEDAC) submitted a letter to the Supervisors requesting both fiscal and staff support to implement Community Plans.  That letter is available here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6SYfsvp_87XbkF0LWJJdVVBQ0U/view?usp=sharing

Shingle Springs residents and businesses worked toward creating a Community Plan in 2013/14 and are ready to complete that process with the County's support.  As such, the Shingle Springs Community Alliance sent a letter to support CEDAC's request.  That letter is below for your reference.

Feel free to send in your own letter of support or attend the meeting, if you are available.  

The agenda item and attachments for the budget are available here:  http://eldorado.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?m=l&id=/matter.aspx?key=22345

Thank you!

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: 2017/18 Fiscal Budget, CEDAC recommendations for Community

Plans

From: "Lori at Shingle Springs Community Alliance"

<info@shinglespringscommunityalliance.com>

Date: Fri, June 16, 2017 12:14 pm

To: john.hidahl@edcgov.us, "Shiva Frentzen" <shiva.frentzen@edcgov.us>,

brian.veerkamp@edcgov.us, Michael.ranalli@edcgov.us,

sue.novasel@edcgov.us

Cc: "Clerk of the Board" <edc.cob@edcgov.us>, don.ashton@edcgov.us,

shawne.corley@edcgov.us, "Creighton Avila" <creighton.avila@edcgov.us>,

tiffany.schmid@edcgov.us, "Anne Novotny" <anne.novotny@edcgov.us>,

cynthia.freeland@edcgov.us

Dear Supervisors,

The Shingle Springs Community Alliance core group supports CEDAC's request for fiscal and staff support for the development of Community Plans.  Shingle Springs residents made great strides in 2013 and 2014 toward implementing a Community Plan, and are ready to complete that process with the County's guidance and support, as is suggested in the Community Plan Guide dated November 2014.

Based on discussions with former Long Range Planning Director Dave Defanti and former Principal Planner Shawna Purvines, the Shingle Springs Community Plan will focus on creating design standards for multi-family and commercial development within the commercial core along Mother Lode Drive.  This is an excellent opportunity to pursue economic development in that area by creating a unifying theme for new development centered around the train depot.

We ask that you adopt CEDAC's recommendations as part of the 2017/18 budget.  

As stated at the September 11, 2013 meeting in Shingle Springs,

"The Shingle Springs Community Identity and Community Plan Will:

Respect the rural lifestyle of the current residents while allowing for economic expansion that builds upon the rural character and contributes to the economic health of Shingle Springs.

The Shingle Springs community envisions itself as a peaceful country community with ranches and homes on acreage."

Thank you,

Lori Parlin on behalf of the

Shingle Springs Community Alliance

  Keeping Shingle Springs Rural

FYI - Forwarded from El Dorado Council.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSUIT OVER

TRIBAL GAS STATION SETTLED

    On May 23, 2017, El Dorado Council, Inc., filed a Settlement with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Tribe regarding the environmental review of the Express Fuels gas station project on Shingle Springs Drive. The environmental review for the gas station project is different than other projects in the county because the gas station is on tribal trust land of which the county has no land use authority other than the driveway encroachments, and water/sewer easements. Additionally, the environmental review was piecemealed when El Dorado County approved the project by only analyzing the traffic impacts from the gas station and not the entire, built-out project on the 34.63-acre site.

    Due to the limited scope of the environmental review, the Tribe and El Dorado Council worked diligently within the Settlement to create mitigations that would reduce the impacts of the gas station project, and more. Two of the more significant settlement points were the gun range and the potential for an unfair business advantage. The gun range has been a contentious issue between the neighbors and the Tribe since it opened in 2015. As part of the settlement, the Tribe agrees to study and perform feasible mitigations to bring the gun range within the bounds of the County's noise ordinance. Mitigations could include enclosing the gun range to create an indoor range or installing a sound wall around the outdoor gun range. Bringing the gun range into compliance with the County's noise ordinance is a first step in building a better relationship between the Tribe and its neighbors.

    To address the concerns about unfair business competition, the Tribe has agreed to charge non-Indian customers approximately the same taxes as other businesses in the County. This arrangement will prevent the Tribe from using their tax structure to unfairly compete with local businesses and is aligned with the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that the Tribe has with the County of El Dorado.

    Other settlement points include public safety measures, monitoring the underground storage tanks, inspecting the storm water drainage system, collaborating on the landscape plan to reduce noise and lighting from the project, consideration of a green-energy solar farm, and a full Environmental Impact Report if and when the Tribe moves forward on developing the remainder of the 34.63-acre parcel. It is the intent of the Settlement Agreement to move forward and for the residents, businesses, and Tribe to work collaboratively with respect to land use and other environmental issues of mutual interest.

    Questions or Comments may be sent to eldocouncil@gmail.com

Dear Shingle Springs residents and rural lifestyle supporters,

Supervisor Shiva Frentzen represents El Dorado County District 2, which includes parts of Shingle Springs.   As such, Shingle Springs residents are encouraged to attend this meeting to hear Supervisor Frentzen's update about the County and to ask questions.

Here is the information from the County's Press Release:

WHAT: El Dorado County Supervisor Shiva Frentzen Town Hall Meeting

WHEN: Thursday, May 25th, 2017 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

WHERE: Cameron Park Community Services District 2502 Country Club Drive Cameron Park

District 2 Supervisor Shiva Frentzen announced she will hold a Town Hall meeting in Cameron Park to provide an update on County issues and a proposed expansion of El Dorado Transit services. The meeting will be held Thursday, May 25th from 6:30 pm-8:00 pm at the Cameron Park Community Services District.

“Town Hall meetings are a valuable way to communicate to the residents in my district about the important matters occurring in the places they live, work and play,” said Frentzen. “I know Board of Supervisor meetings aren’t convenient, or even possible, for everyone to attend, so it’s important that I take the information on the road and hear from community members outside Board Chambers.”

In addition to the proposed expansion of transit services, Supervisor Frentzen will provide an update on the County’s 2017-18 budget and road maintenance.