Climate change was the chief topic of discussion at the Amador County Administrative Committee meeting Monday morning, though not in the agendized presentations.

Scheduled for appearances before the committee were Jerry Scott of Amador County Citizens Against Global Warming, Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s Climate Smart program coordinator and someone from Mother Lode Energy Watch. All were cancelled by board of supervisors Chairman Richard Forster, who said the full board had already dealt with the issue, having voted 3-2 against adopting a "Cool Counties" declaration.

"We agree with a lot of things being done," Forster said in explaining the cancellations. "We're working with (the Amador County Transportation Commission) on the bicycle path program and I could list many other examples. We've already taken the pledge."

County Planning Director Susan Grijalva was in attendance at the committee meeting to discuss impending issues related to the general plan update. Grijalva's presentation to the committee reinforced Forster's statement. "We are well on our way to doing all the things that will satisfy the new requirements," Grijalva said of Assembly Bill 32, California's landmark Global Warming Solutions Act.

The county is also deeply involved in the lengthy and complicated process of updating its general plan, a process that is about to get lengthier and even more complicated. Grijalva submitted copies of letters from the governor's office and the attorney general's office, advising her planning department of major changes in the method of creation of a general plan for the county.

Since Gov. Schwarzenegger signed AB 32 in September 2006, many forces have been at work drafting the regulations aimed at achieving the carbon emissions reduction goals of that bill. One notable result of the new, more stringent regulations is an upswing in the number of lawsuits on both sides of the controversy. The state of California is simultaneously suing and being sued over matters related to global warming and AB 32.

At the heart of the issue is the California Environmental Quality Act, which empowers the state in many ways. The attorney general's office sent Grijalva a 20-page document that "provides information that may be helpful to local agencies in carrying out their duties under CEQA as they relate to global warming," which the document calls "one of the most serious environmental effects facing the state today."

The state is imposing numerous changes in procedures at the county level. According to Grijalva, the changes are being sold to the county by a suggestion that inclusion of the new guidelines in its general plan will prevent many problems and difficulties in the future.

Forster and fellow committee member, District 3 Supervisor Ted Novelli, asked Grijalva about costs associated with compliance with the impending changes, citing a figure of $38,700. Grijalva and County Administrative Officer Terri Daly pointed out that there will be costs associated with the changes, but they will be included in next year's budget for general plan update work.

In another matter, the committee approved drafting a letter of support for the Calaveras County Probation Department, which is working with the counties of Calaveras and Tuolumne on construction of a new bi-county juvenile hall. County Probation Chief Mark Bonini recommended cooperation with these neighboring counties, citing a near certainty that the future need for such a convenient facility will justify Amador County's interest.