Calaveras Land Use

Murphys man granted slack on restrictive policy

 Policy 07-242 has been an irritant to developers, builders and some business interests since it was approved in 2007. The policy was intended to temporarily rein in rural sprawl by preventing the creation of small lots in the county’s far-flung ranch lands and forests while county officials revised the General Plan that guides where and how growth can happen.

County code revised to simplify definition of ‘family’

The changes were largely meant to bring Calaveras County’s zoning code into compliance with state law. Among other things, the changes make it easier to find a place to open a shelter for homeless people and eliminate the power of county code enforcers to discriminate against nontraditional families.

Supes to consider land for modern animal shelter

Posted: Monday, December 15, 2014 /Calaveras Enterprise/ Dana Nichols

Now that Calaveras County has a modern jail and courthouse to serve humans, officials are preparing to add a third modern building next door for animals.

Oak tree ordinance returns to Angels Camp City Council

After years of research and revisions, Angels Camp now has rules in place to protect trees within the city limits.

FEMA officials relent, agree to correct maps

Regional decision still needs national approval

In other business Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors:

• Voted unanimously in closed session to appoint Megan Stedtfeld as Calaveras County Counsel. Board Chairwoman Ponte announced the decision at the start of the meeting’s public session. Stedtfeld will begin her new role on Dec. 27. County Administrative Officer Shirley Ryan said that supervisors did not discuss compensation during the closed-door meeting when they appointed Stedtfeld. However, the base salary for county counsel is currently $143,020. Stedtfeld has been serving as interim county counsel since the retirement of previous County Counsel Janis Elliott in June.

• Voted unanimously to correct a clerical error in an ordinance adopted in 2013 that would have resulted in an incorrect pay raise for the supervisors this coming Jan. 1. Supervisors are supposed to get the same cost-of-living adjustment as other county employees on Jan. 1, a 4 percent boost. But staff recently discovered that the 2013 ordinance incorrectly said 2.5 percent.

• Voted unanimously to sell a quarter-acre lot at 3637 Signal Hill Trail in Copperopolis for $2,212.04 in delinquent taxes and penalties to Habitat for Humanity. Under California law, nonprofit entities that provide housing can purchase properties that might otherwise go to auction for delinquent taxes. Habitat for Humanity is a sweat-equity program under which low-income families contribute labor and receive assistance to build homes.

• Voted unanimously to allow the Sheriff’s Office to spend up to $126,750 in the current fiscal year to buy food for inmates at the jail. Capt. Ed Ballard reported that so far this year, the jail had served 46,155 meals at an average cost of $1.35 per meal.

“They are eating a lot of peanut butter sandwiches,” Ballard said.