City council seats two new planning commissioners

The Angels Camp City Council elected two new members to the Planning Commission Tuesday night, dismissing nine-year commissioner and chair Gary Croletto and three-year commissioner Kristi Reeseman.

“I think it’s time for new blood,” said Councilmember Stuart Raggio before nominating two freshman applicants, Scott Behiel and Patsy Gonzalez.

Behiel previously served on City Council and Calaveras Council of Goverments and cited communication and business-friendliness as items he hoped to improve upon.

Gonzalez holds a certificate in land use and environmental planning from UC Davis and previously worked as a staff geologist and environmental planner for Condor Earth Technologies in Sonora.

As for the working with the general plan, she said, “I’m a firm believer in the heart of the law, not the letter of the law.”

Councilmembers Wes Kulm and Stuart Raggio and Mayor Elaine Morris voted in favor of Behiel and Gonzalez; Vice Mayor Jack Lynch opposed; and Councilmember Bert Sobon was absent.

In other news, the Planning Commission scored a major goal with the $715,000 Transportation Enhancement Project, adding sidewalks along Highway 49, most notably between Bret Harte High and Mark Twain Elementary schools. Hanham said this “gap closure” will allow for pedestrian safety.

“It took more than eight years to get to this point,” he said of the Caltrans cooperative agreement.

Construction will begin this fall, and Hanham estimated completion in two or three months.

As part of the Destination Angels Camp’s featured business program, about 20 Foothill Village residents and Administrator Debbie Ponte – also District 4 Supervisor – visited the council.

Ponte said the senior living community opened its doors Nov. 19, 2001, and it will soon offer three levels of care: independent living, assisted living with constant care and, coming within the next 30 days, a memory care unit.

When it was first built, she said the idea of a senior living community was met with reluctance in the city. But she believes Foothill’s residents have proven themselves over the years.

“We are no boneyard in your backyard,” she said to the applause of the seniors. “We are vibrant citizens.”

Ponte said the community has 72 residents and is operating at 92 percent capacity. The average age of residents is 88, with the oldest being 99 – turning the big 100 Oct. 31 – and the youngest, 62.

She emphasized that Foothill is not only good for senior citizens, but also for creating jobs in the area. With 68 employees, Ponte said it is one of the top 10 private employers in the county, with $1.2 million of the $3.1 million budget going to personnel compensation and benefits. In addition to full time employees, the staff is aided by junior and senior high school students.

Ponte added that $1 million a year is circulated back into the city, with Foothill’s folks shopping at the grocery stores and attending local events.

Another thriving business, Calaveras Visitors Bureau, presented the council with information on its successes and needs, mostly the beautification and repairs to its downtown center. For more information about the bureau, check out gocalaveras.com or visit its office at 1192 S. Main St., Angels Camp.

In addition to the bureau’s presentation, the council participated in a code enforcement workshop.

“Going forward, I think the piece that’s missing is getting more out into the community,” said Steve Flaigg, code enforcement officer and building instructor.

He added that his operation is “more complaint driven than freely enforced.”

Code compliance, said City Administrator Michael McHatten, is the goal of any city.

“I’ve seen communities become divided over enforcement issues – neighbor against neighbor,” he said.

In this way, Flaigg echoed the sentiment of newly installed Planning Commissioner Gonzalez, saying his focus was the “heart of the law.”

Contact Alicia Castro at alicia@calaverasenterprise.com.