Mariposa's original daily updated online newspaper
Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Highlights For October 3, 2007
Mariposa's original daily updated online newspaper
Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Highlights For October 3, 2007
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Supervisor Dianne Fritz while proclaiming the month of October, 2007 as "Domestic Violence Month" urged everyone to "Open your eyes, Listen and Report" if you suspect domestic violence, especially child abuse, taking place in your neighborhood. Supervisor Bob Pickard is going to draft a letter that the supervisors will sign requesting that the comment period on the Off Highway Vehicle Update in the national forest be extended so more comments can be taken from the public before a decision is made. Representatives from AT&T were on hand to accept a DSL Certificate of Appreciation for Providing Service to El Portal and Wawona. Mariposa County Building Director John Davis, gave a presentation on a new master grading fee schedule for Mariposa County to cover the cost of increasing overhead. Jerry Progner reported that last year the RCD lost $10,000 because the grading fees were too low. The suggestion was to raise the fees $50.00 and the board of supervisors agreed .The new fees will take effect November 2, 2007. Local resident Skip Skyrud, wanted to know who are the "Grading Police? Also a question was asked by Ruth Sellers about what is the process on getting a permit? Jerry Progner stated he does not know who the "Police" are. He takes the calls from citizens who see a possible infraction, but he said he needed to be paid money to do that. Rita Kidd said making the local residents who see a possible violation and call Jerry Progner, where he said "You pay me" is not right. She said the penalties should be high enough to cover all costs. Mr. Progner said that most complaints are "A frivolous land war" between neighbors. Rita Kidd also mentioned that the county has a policy of not enforcing violations and that the residents have to make a written complaint in order for anything to get done. No one from the county disputed what she said. On a Consent Agenda item, CAO Rick Benson, authorized the elimination of a full time Senior Office Assistant in the Economic Development Budget and replace that position with a 60% permanent part time Office Assistant II, to save an estimated $17,000 a year was passed by the board with Supervisor Janet Bibby voting no. After coming out of closed session at about 5:15 PM, CAO Rick Benson announced that a new Director of the Mariposa County Human Services Department had been selected. That person is James A. Rydingsword from Oregon. See the Press Release below. On the calendar was also a discussion by Planning Director Kris Schenk, regarding the use, density and operational requirements for Agritourism in Mariposa County, who was also looking for direction from the board Although not specifically about Coyote Springs, it was announced that Coyote Springs is the first business in Mariposa County to apply for Agritourism in the zoning of their ranch. This was the first time since the Ferguson Slide that the County Chambers had this many interested parties as it was wall to wall people. Mr. Schenk started out his presentation by noting where in the General Plan, Agritourism is mentioned and also in the Zoning codes. He noted that the language between the two is different and that the Board has to go through the process of correcting this and be in agreement with the General plan to eliminate confusion. Kris said that Agritourism has to be in conjuction with the land use and that Agritourism must be secondary to the primary use of the land being in agricuture, which is where a food or fibre product is produced, such as grapes, hay, olives, animals, pumpkins, herbs, vegetables and other like things. No Williamson Act ground may be put in Agritourism. He stated that Agritourism could be beneficial to to the Agriculture Exclusive (AE) farms. Certain terms such as 'guest ranch' and others are somewhat unclear and creates uncertainty which are the worst enemies he stated. |
Mr.Schenk said that if the proposed business does not fit the Agritourism model that then the land would have
to be rezoned Rural Economic Resort Commercial or have a conditional use permit that would require the Planning Commission to
get involved and a Environmental Review be done. Kris stated that what changes are made will apply to all future applicants. Also he mentioned what other things could be done on the land, such as concerts, overnight units, rodeos, facilities needed to support services such as concerts, alcohol and food services. He also would like it mentioned that mechanisms be in place for neighbor complaints and what happens when the land is sold. Kris mentioned that in the General Plan, 5 guest cabins are acceptable to the Agritourism designation, just like a Bed & Breakfast. He described it as a 'Mom & Pop' operation where the guest are fed by the owners. Also the State of California has a provision called 'Agri- Homestead' that allows up to 6 units. That term also means that the business is incidental to the farm production. Mariposa County has about 200,000 acres in A.E. land. Many residents of the county went up to the podium and expressed all the positive and first class things the co-owner of Coyote Springs, Theresa Castaldi is doing in Catheys Valley. Theresa Castaldi said that the county had already given her permission last year for her ranch under the term Agritourism, and she needs more than 5-6 units for the overnight stays. She told the board to please go forward and get this designation taken care of. She stated that her goal is to make Coyote Springs the best agricultural event in the state. Mariposa County resident Ken Pulvino stated that if the county is going to micro-manage these things that entrepreneurs will stay away from the county and that no farm in the 160 acre range can make money by farming. Kathleen Boze Agricultural Commissioner, said that she supports the Planning Director in that agriculture must be the primary use of the property and that Agritourism is a good way for the farmers to make supplemental money. Farm Bureau representative Kathy Pierce, said she supports what Theresa is doing but that her job is to protect ag land and that Coyote Springs should apply for a conditional use permit and is not in favor of rezoning the land. A representative for a team roping association in California that held an event at Coyote Springs earlier in the year said that the ranch is in a primary location for the team roping series. Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce President MaryAnn Huff stated that the language has to be defined. Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce Vice President Paul Hall said that he would like to see 120 cabins out at Coyote Springs. Theresa Castaldi also gave a letter to the Board asking them to approve 18 cabins at Coyote Springs and that she might seek a resort commercial designation for the land. Supervisor Janet Bibby responded that no action could be taken today on her request as it was not on the agenda. The last speaker of the day, Ruth Catalan advised
the Board that they have to be very careful that whatever they do will follow them. |
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The Board of Supervisors is pleased to announce the appointment of James A. Rydingsword as the Director of the Mariposa County Human Services Department. Mr. Rydingsword has an extensive background managing social services programs. Most recently he was the director of Senior Services for the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments in Albany, Oregon where he was responsible for delivering all Older Americans Act and Medicaid long-term care programs in three counties. He has also served as the Social Services Director in Contra Costa County as well as in Santa Barbara County. Mr. Rydingsword obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska and has a Masters degree in public administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. He has served as legislative Chair of the Oregon Association of Agencies on Aging and Disabilities, has been active with the California Welfare Directors Association, and sat on several other boards of directors. With over 100 employees, the Human Services Department is the largest
department in Mariposa County. The department manages assistance programs, provides for Child Protective Services, oversees
the In-Home Supportive Services program and the CalWORKS program. The department also delivers a wide range of behavioral
health and substance abuse services for the citizens of Mariposa County. |
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