A PUBLIC HEARING for the Engineering and Traffic Survey performed in and around Sierra City has been set for March 4th at 1:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers at the Courthouse in Downieville.
An engineering and traffic survey (E&TS) is a study of a roadway’s traffic conditions and prevailing speeds. E&TSs are used to determine speed limits for streets that don’t have a prima facie speed limit. E&TS includes the average speed of vehicles traveling on the roadway, the condition of the roadway, including roadside conditions, the history of collisions on the roadway, the type of land adjacent to the roadway, such as residential or commercial areas, and the safety of people walking or biking on the roadway.
The hearing was set during the Boards’ regular meeting on February 4th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey recapped that the initial traffic study Caltrans performed recommended an increase in speed limits in and around Sierra City. They thought there was an option to pass an ordinance to keep the speed limits in place, but Caltrans stated ordinances do not apply to state highways. County Counsel Rhetta Van Ploeg discovered the City of Malibu put in a proposed ordinance specific to this code. She tried to contact them and hadn’t heard back as of this meeting. Board Chair Lee Adams stated he received emails from concerned residents and felt Sierra City had some real mitigating issues. He suggested asking Caltrans to attend the hearing and reach out to California legislators to come and look at this highway. Sheriff Mike Fisher and Davey attended a recent consultation with Caltrans where they relayed concerns. Fisher stated engineers were indifferent to the concerns and said they would not attend the hearing. He said they made it clear they are following the parameters of the study and take the emotions out of it.
Adams stated this could happen to any of our communities, adding the Sierraville survey is currently out and in the final stages. The 35-mph zone may go to a 45 or 50.
Davey said the best way to control speed is engineering and would push for high visibility sidewalks if they can’t get the speed limit reversed. It was stated CHP had a greater stake and influence on the traffic results. It was agreed upon by consensus to contact CHP, Caltrans and California Legislators to attend the hearing.
SIERRA COUNTY SHERIFF Mike Fisher updated the Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting February 4th in Downieville on apex predator issues. An apex predator is a predator at the top of the food chain. He was happy to report on no bear issues. On mountain lion issues: In Downieville, Fisher reported they were still picking up lions on upper Main Street through cameras, but haven’t had any issues. In Sierra City, they have not had any recent reports, and in Loyalton he issued a declaration because of the time of day the lion had been seen. Fisher was working with a trapper out of Susanville and had one trap set. He hoped the wet weather would drive the lions away. Fisher stated the one good thing coming from these issues, is the open communication with Fish and Wildlife.
THE ESCAPED DEBRIS BURN at the Sierra City Transfer Station on January 22nd brought about discussion during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, February 4th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey explained their standard of practice when burning is to push the embers into a pile to let them smolder to further reduce the debris. As the result of a prolonged dry period and excessive winds, embers were blown into the duff that started the fire which grew to two acres. He stated his department is ending the practice of pushing embers into a pile and will now spread them out to a large area and fully extinguish. This will create additional charcoal and increase the amount of burning needed. Davey acknowledged there was a lot of public disdain and took responsibility for it, adding this was a mistake. He said they should have pushed the pile out and extinguished it due to the long dry period. He added the department is looking into other options like a curtain burner and grinders which are very expensive and would likely create an increase of fees. Davey stated they have this issue at all five transfer sites. Three are on public land and two are on private land.
Supervisor Lila Heuer liked the idea of paying more attention to the transfer site burning and asked about hauling it out. Davey said they could haul it, but it is an expensive endeavor that would be about $5-$6 per yard. He stated over the last 15 years, the volumes of green waste have significantly increased and become difficult to manage, adding it’s a countywide issue.
Supervisor Terry LeBlanc thought there was a curtain burner at the mill they might be able to use. Supervisor Paul Roen stated the curtain burner belonged to CTL and has been removed. Roen felt burning the piles was by far the best way to get rid of the debris, adding they just need to pay more attention to it. He said SPI would only take a portion of the debris. Fire Chief Scott Hall for Sierra City Fire Department said he’s lived in the county for about 10-15 years and has been involved with at least five fires in the area. He stated the fire department isn’t aware when they are burning at the transfer sites and felt they should be notified so they can go inspect it and be the final say when they burn. He stated this affects a lot of people, adding they were really lucky with this last fire. Division Chief for Yuba Ranger District, Dave Paulson said his district has a curtain burner and felt there may be an opportunity to enter into an agreement since they already have an MOU (memorandum of understanding). He has been with the district for five years and has gone to four transfer site fires. He felt they needed to have more diligence and attention to it and some form of accountability like a patrol log with notifications to the fire department and Forest Service. Paulson sympathized and stated getting material out of the woods is extremely expensive and difficult. He encouraged them to look for grants and bring the issue to the Fire Safe Council.
Board Chair Lee Adams gave sincere appreciation to local fire agencies and Forest Service for their efforts in putting the fire out. He stated this should be a wake-up call that it can’t be business as usual. Supervisor Sharon Dryden wanted to look at options but didn’t want to discourage homeowners from bringing their green waste by increasing fees. The Road and Solid Waste Committee will meet with other agencies including Fire Safe, Forest Service and fire departments to further vet the issue.
Nichole Johnson, Editor
Sierra Booster Newspaper
[email protected]
(530) 277-0891
An engineering and traffic survey (E&TS) is a study of a roadway’s traffic conditions and prevailing speeds. E&TSs are used to determine speed limits for streets that don’t have a prima facie speed limit. E&TS includes the average speed of vehicles traveling on the roadway, the condition of the roadway, including roadside conditions, the history of collisions on the roadway, the type of land adjacent to the roadway, such as residential or commercial areas, and the safety of people walking or biking on the roadway.
The hearing was set during the Boards’ regular meeting on February 4th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey recapped that the initial traffic study Caltrans performed recommended an increase in speed limits in and around Sierra City. They thought there was an option to pass an ordinance to keep the speed limits in place, but Caltrans stated ordinances do not apply to state highways. County Counsel Rhetta Van Ploeg discovered the City of Malibu put in a proposed ordinance specific to this code. She tried to contact them and hadn’t heard back as of this meeting. Board Chair Lee Adams stated he received emails from concerned residents and felt Sierra City had some real mitigating issues. He suggested asking Caltrans to attend the hearing and reach out to California legislators to come and look at this highway. Sheriff Mike Fisher and Davey attended a recent consultation with Caltrans where they relayed concerns. Fisher stated engineers were indifferent to the concerns and said they would not attend the hearing. He said they made it clear they are following the parameters of the study and take the emotions out of it.
Adams stated this could happen to any of our communities, adding the Sierraville survey is currently out and in the final stages. The 35-mph zone may go to a 45 or 50.
Davey said the best way to control speed is engineering and would push for high visibility sidewalks if they can’t get the speed limit reversed. It was stated CHP had a greater stake and influence on the traffic results. It was agreed upon by consensus to contact CHP, Caltrans and California Legislators to attend the hearing.
SIERRA COUNTY SHERIFF Mike Fisher updated the Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting February 4th in Downieville on apex predator issues. An apex predator is a predator at the top of the food chain. He was happy to report on no bear issues. On mountain lion issues: In Downieville, Fisher reported they were still picking up lions on upper Main Street through cameras, but haven’t had any issues. In Sierra City, they have not had any recent reports, and in Loyalton he issued a declaration because of the time of day the lion had been seen. Fisher was working with a trapper out of Susanville and had one trap set. He hoped the wet weather would drive the lions away. Fisher stated the one good thing coming from these issues, is the open communication with Fish and Wildlife.
THE ESCAPED DEBRIS BURN at the Sierra City Transfer Station on January 22nd brought about discussion during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, February 4th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey explained their standard of practice when burning is to push the embers into a pile to let them smolder to further reduce the debris. As the result of a prolonged dry period and excessive winds, embers were blown into the duff that started the fire which grew to two acres. He stated his department is ending the practice of pushing embers into a pile and will now spread them out to a large area and fully extinguish. This will create additional charcoal and increase the amount of burning needed. Davey acknowledged there was a lot of public disdain and took responsibility for it, adding this was a mistake. He said they should have pushed the pile out and extinguished it due to the long dry period. He added the department is looking into other options like a curtain burner and grinders which are very expensive and would likely create an increase of fees. Davey stated they have this issue at all five transfer sites. Three are on public land and two are on private land.
Supervisor Lila Heuer liked the idea of paying more attention to the transfer site burning and asked about hauling it out. Davey said they could haul it, but it is an expensive endeavor that would be about $5-$6 per yard. He stated over the last 15 years, the volumes of green waste have significantly increased and become difficult to manage, adding it’s a countywide issue.
Supervisor Terry LeBlanc thought there was a curtain burner at the mill they might be able to use. Supervisor Paul Roen stated the curtain burner belonged to CTL and has been removed. Roen felt burning the piles was by far the best way to get rid of the debris, adding they just need to pay more attention to it. He said SPI would only take a portion of the debris. Fire Chief Scott Hall for Sierra City Fire Department said he’s lived in the county for about 10-15 years and has been involved with at least five fires in the area. He stated the fire department isn’t aware when they are burning at the transfer sites and felt they should be notified so they can go inspect it and be the final say when they burn. He stated this affects a lot of people, adding they were really lucky with this last fire. Division Chief for Yuba Ranger District, Dave Paulson said his district has a curtain burner and felt there may be an opportunity to enter into an agreement since they already have an MOU (memorandum of understanding). He has been with the district for five years and has gone to four transfer site fires. He felt they needed to have more diligence and attention to it and some form of accountability like a patrol log with notifications to the fire department and Forest Service. Paulson sympathized and stated getting material out of the woods is extremely expensive and difficult. He encouraged them to look for grants and bring the issue to the Fire Safe Council.
Board Chair Lee Adams gave sincere appreciation to local fire agencies and Forest Service for their efforts in putting the fire out. He stated this should be a wake-up call that it can’t be business as usual. Supervisor Sharon Dryden wanted to look at options but didn’t want to discourage homeowners from bringing their green waste by increasing fees. The Road and Solid Waste Committee will meet with other agencies including Fire Safe, Forest Service and fire departments to further vet the issue.
Nichole Johnson, Editor
Sierra Booster Newspaper
[email protected]
(530) 277-0891
