**COMMUNITY AREA SURVEY MAILED OUT! ** Over 6,200 greater Valley Springs area residents, landowners, and businesses were mailed Valley Springs Community Plan info with a survey inside on May 15th, 2009. Complete & return surveys to CCOG a.s.a.p.!!! or fill a survey out online at www.calacog.org !!

**SCHEDULE FOR COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS** Valley Springs Area Community Plan "Kickoff" MAY 28th-JUNE 2nd !! The plan starts with YOU! 'Opening Community Meeting' Thursday May 28th, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; 'Community Design Workshop' Saturday May 30th, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; 'Presentation of Plan Concepts' Tuesday June 2nd, 6-8 p.m. All Events at Valley Springs Elementary School Multipurpose Room, 240 Pine Street. Food and Refreshments provided!

The design team will also host additional public drop-in hours to provide everyone an opportunity to provide input and ask questions. Times and locations are: Friday, May 29th 11 a.m. - noon and 3 - 4 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church; Sunday, May 31st 1 – 3 p.m. at the Valley Springs Elementary School multi-purpose room; Monday, June 1st 10 a.m. - noon at the Community United Methodist Church.

**MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! PLAN TO ATTEND!! TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!! **

Click the links below for a printable flyer and CCOG press release with more detailed information:

*Click here for Valley Springs Community Plan meetings flyer*

*Click here for May 13th CCOG press release about Valley Springs Community Plan workshops with more info*

**PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR NEW VALLEY SPRINGS AREA PLAN!!** The first Stakeholders Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting was held March 12th, 2009. Twenty committee members, 2 county supervisors, and 11 project partners and consultants met to discuss the community plan. Meeting notes are posted on the Calaveras COG website for the Valley Springs plan: *Click here for Valley Springs CBTP webpage*

A second well-attended SAC public meeting was held April 30th. Project consultants and partners reviewed flyers and survey mailers, described the upcoming schedule of events and goals, and listened to feedback from citizens. Promo and outreach ideas were plentiful, suggestions heard, and good questions were asked and answered, thanks to all who attended and participated!

The third SAC meeting was held Thursday May 14th at 6 p.m. for the purpose of enlisting help with promotional materials, and volunteering to assist at upcoming meetings. Attendees left with banner signs, posters, and flyers and are distributing throughout the area!

**CCOG has a new updated webpage dedicated to Rural Smart Growth: A Community-Based Plan for Valley Springs** Current and past meetings, minutes, photos, and project documents are posted. Visit the Calaveras Council of Governments website: *Click here for Valley Springs CBTP*

**COMMUNITY PLANNING FOR THE VALLEY SPRINGS AREA IS FUNDED!!** Jan.-Feb. 2009: Over $200,000 is funded from the Caltrans Transportation Planning Grant. The Calaveras Council of Governments (CCOG) contributed additional funds, and will administer “Rural Smart Growth: A Community-Based Plan for Valley Springs”. Project Coordinators are CCOG, Local Government Commission, Calaveras County CDA and Public Works, MyValleySprings.com, and Caltrans. Community design consultant EDAW has been selected, and a Stakeholders Advisory Committee has been formed to provide different perspectives on the project, provide guidance for outreach, help plan events, and help maximize community participation and involve under-served groups.

Click the links below for CCOG press release, media coverage & interviews about the Valley Springs plan and process, consultant EDAW, and author/ Conservation Subdivision planner Randall Arendt:

*Click here for ‘Reconciling rural charm, smart growth’ by Dana Nichols, Stockton Record (3-2-09)*

*Click here for ‘Planner reinventing tradition with an eye toward preservation’ by Dana Nichols, Stockton Record (3-2-09)*

*Click here for Valley Springs grant press release from CCOG, EDAW consultant named for community plan (2-11-09)*

**COSGROVE CREEK FLOOD MEETING AUDIO AND SLIDESHOW AVAILABLE** U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Calaveras County and CCWD have partnered to conduct a flood damage reduction study for Cosgrove Creek and are gathering information to define issues and concerns. A public meeting was heldJanuary 28th 2009; public comments were taken and topics discussed, including: the Corps planning process, Alternative Plans being considered, the NEPA/CEQA process, Timelines, FEMA Mapping, and Permitted Development to date. The Slideshow presentation and Streaming Audio from the meeting are posted on the Public Works website: *Click here for Cosgrove Creek info and meeting presentation*

**The Greater Valley Springs Advisory Group (GVSAG) holds public meetings the 4th Thursday of the month** 7-9 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church, 135 Laurel St. in Valley Springs. Speakers and topics focus on issues that affect community planning. Click logo to visit the www.GVSAG.org website and read draft Valley Springs Topic and Community Visions. Give feedback, come to meetings, learn, and PARTICIPATE in planning!! Click “Community Plan” tab above left for past meeting summaries.

**Q & A SESSION ON VALLEY SPRINGS COMMUNITY PLANNING GRANT** was held 11-20-08. Tim McSorley, Executive Director of CCOG, was the featured speaker at the Greater Valley Springs Advisory Group public meeting. McSorley spoke about connections between transportation, health, land use, recreation, education, and economics, and how "Smart Growth" and compact design can be utilized to create healthy communities. He answered questions on the Caltrans planning grant and the upcoming community-based design process for Valley Springs. *Click here for the press release and more info.*

**WHERE DO THE CHILDREN PLAY?** PBS film presentation & discussion was held 11-5-08, sponsored by MyValleySprings.com and facilitated by First 5 Calaveras. The movie was rated highly by those attending, and opportunities for outdoor, unstructured play were explored, along with the need for parks, sidewalks, and trails. *Click here for the press release and more info.*

"CONSERVATION STRATEGIES: AN OVERVIEW OF EASEMENTS & THE WILLIAMSON ACT"--Presentation & workshop was held 8/16/08.  Experts spoke, answered questions, and testimonials were given by conservation ranchers & landowners. 
*Click HERE for flyer and agenda*

**July 7th, 2008: Valley Springs Community Planning Baseline Report released to the public!!** This new Report documents the call to action by MyValleySprings.com in February 2008 to begin work on a community plan update, documents the formation of the new Greater Valley Springs Advisory Group, and describes current progress of community planning and visioning in Valley Springs. Click the yellow bolt to read the complete 30-page report with photos. Click HERE for press release and concerns about data gaps

GROWTH IMPACTS ON PUBLIC SAFETY; CRIMINALS ON THE STREETS-- read the May 2008 Sheriff Staffing Report and 'JAIL FACTS' editorial (click the jailbird)

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**VALLEY SPRINGS DESIGN WORKSHOP SUMMARY REPORT NOW AVAILABLE!** 12/17/07: The LGC completes 'Summary of Results' for October Design Workshops; click lightning bolt or Community Plan tab to view report and maps, photos and meeting presentations.

**THE FUTURE OF THE VALLEY SPRINGS AREA EXPLORED!** Professionals from the Local Government Commission presented Community Design Workshops 10/24 and 10/27/07: Area residents & stakeholders took the future in their hands, described their Visions for Valley Springs, and listed Community Priorities and Values. They toured downtown and worked on planning maps. Click photo or Community Plan tab on left top of page to see photos, lists, and reports.

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Third Town Meeting in Valley Springs on 5/23/07 explained connections between water resources and land use planning! To learn more about the meeting, watersheds, floodplains, water quality, runoff, and more, click the photo (caution, 26 photos--slow download with dial-up).

Second Town Meeting in Valley Springs informed county residents about Transportation Planning! To learn about the 4/12/07 meeting, how the Council of Governments plans and funds road projects, and to find ANSWERS to traffic questions, click the picture.