[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6573396,"mediaKeyId","3049874-98d0d3dc2ea5c08e692b28b3d47b149e","parentId",3049874,"title","Seniors First outlines volunteer‑driver mileage program to expand rides for older residents","audioSeconds",590,"startMs",1986000,"endMs",2576000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3049874-98d0d3dc2ea5c08e692b28b3d47b149e&start=1986&end=2576","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3049874-98d0d3dc2ea5c08e692b28b3d47b149e/thumbnail_1986000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573396/Colfax/Placer-County/California/Seniors-First-outlines-volunteerdriver-mileage-program-to-expand-rides-for-older-residents","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573396-74e45ee3037f07f9df683637ee5fe225/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186103&Signature=ncO1fNHicT9XCMzeR70Hyad4Khi-hoAzl8VsZSDRIq5Cb0R-T5XpWrEm18ho9gMXyOY1egNtlB4m1ECasiAQ~-06O5BboXv7wWeK~BHyDBdc0MM-caNKApfdEKPX9btJY7ECei2UUAlK7ktNc4R889KRfs3TGTPsLFpiUpSi48fCX2KghZI1JHIoi7m9kIWrAcjZRfVmes~9MFeZOKAtVdKGJZokvJV7pGGXOg~QtoxzaEec07-dZgjWsZTd7nIfvbUO9jh1prhH111H5h7VfnlGPimQx1~z0NOBCkLd5vx0kfy28Euvv9BRH6cBmGsv5KPndby7H2TCB6axRGb8Iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-18T10:01:19.92Z","article","Seniors First, a nonprofit operator of local Meals on Wheels programs, presented an alternative-transportation reimbursement program to Colfax City Council on Jan. 22 aimed at residents who cannot use fixed-route public transit.

The program, administered by Seniors First at the county’s request, reimburses volunteer drivers 70¢ per mile (the IRS 2025 standard) and caps reimbursement at 200 miles per enrolled rider per month. The program is available to three primary groups: people age 60 and over, people with disabilities who cannot use fixed-route services, and low-income residents who cannot afford rideshare services.

Mark Hall, program lead at Seniors First, described the program as a mileage-reimbursement model rather than a volunteer‑driver service: riders must identify a volunteer driver (family, friend, neighbor) and Seniors First reimburses that driver through the rider’s paperwork; Seniors First does not provide drivers or vet them beyond collecting trip logs.

Hall said the program does not have the typical geographic boundaries of local paid services like on‑demand transit: “If someone needed to go to see a specialist … 72¢ a mile, 200 miles a month, that trip could be paid out to the driver,” he said. The program reimburses the rider (the client), who then pays the volunteer driver. Trips are logged and verified with mapping checks before reimbursement.

Funding and scope: Hall said the county is funding the program through 2027 and that the program reimbursed 67 users in the most recent month. Seniors First said it is recruiting volunteer drivers and asked local partners to distribute application packets for both riders and drivers. Council members asked whether airport trips and longer out‑of‑county trips would qualify; Hall said eligible trips include medical and other essential needs and that exceptions can be requested.

Next steps: Seniors First will provide printed application packets for drivers and riders to the city clerk’s office and requested assistance distributing materials to reach potential riders and volunteer drivers in Colfax. Hall said the program is likely to be extended beyond 2027 if demand continues.

Ending: The presentation was informational; no council action was taken. City staff and the nonprofit will coordinate to distribute application materials and to promote volunteer recruitment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 22, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Colfax City Council","oneSentenceSummary","Seniors First presented a county-funded mileage-reimbursement pilot that reimburses volunteer drivers 70¢ per mile up to 200 miles per enrolled rider per month; staff asked for drivers and distribution of applications through city offices.","taxTitle","Colfax, Placer County, California","taxId",79889,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6573401,"Colfax council schedules workshop after wide public debate over downtown outdoor dining redesign",3160,3600000,6760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3049874-98d0d3dc2ea5c08e692b28b3d47b149e&start=3600&end=6760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3049874-98d0d3dc2ea5c08e692b28b3d47b149e/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6573401/Colfax/Placer-County/California/Colfax-council-schedules-workshop-after-wide-public-debate-over-downtown-outdoor-dining-redesign","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573401-225aa9d41bb5a61d26066b436a83d14d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186103&Signature=S21AOl9kRfVCqY-UUr8SgyMRk~WZojMVaOWh3ZgcqjdQ0ZZS-q~rRhYxiYMYJGHynGZ71ZyPnBUATWL6P4sfN47ag7ItAuU9ZymPBtPPyopScio0JPsuSvnLft~3UVmxWDsBPLKMO6ApZI5yYElPdPKt8RQqFhrAxWXjhvIrl808RJjvL-ANfOi8-xic6G8Z46hsG4pA7Ppr0QhlKyboEys3ZSLfmPktKmWz7U1gPLtNC0y7MCzrD9C3PSNkM0soskjz09Ach36JKXvaOU3jcAHNd1UM1nelSFxjhkW8pJmU94w3bBmy81nbgx5etcgaX-Q4gqQKTaLqQyUVc9lBmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Colfax City Council on Jan. 22 heard more than an hour of public comment on a proposed long-term outdoor dining area on North Main Street and directed staff to hold a publicly noticed workshop within 30 days to finalize the design.

Why it matters: The downtown seating area, originally installed during the COVID pandemic, has become a permanent community concern for businesses and residents. Council had previously allocated $25,000 in the 2024 budget and Railroad Days (a local nonprofit) secured an additional $10,000 grant (identified in the meeting as a UP grant) to rehabilitate the space. The draft plans under discussion would reconfigure the peninsula planter/parking footprint, add fencing, shade structures and accessible ramps, and set roles for maintenance and special‑use permits.

Council and staff summary: City staff explained the program history: two outdoor dining areas were installed during the pandemic and one (in front of the business then called Grandma C’s, now occupied by Snapdragon Provisions and Bloomin' Mountain Flowers) remains. The council packet referenced the $25,000 2024 allocation and a $10,000 grant from UP. Staff said a handicap ramp had already been ordered and was on site.

Public comment and business concerns: Business owners and residents voiced both support for a more attractive, longer-term design and strong concerns about parking loss, maintenance responsibilities, alcohol licensing and business equity. Chris McNabb of Bloomin' Mountain Flowers thanked council for momentum but asked that the final design be slid a bit to avoid encroaching on the front of his store. Tammy Hampshire (owner of 38 North Main Street) asked for better balance in space allocation; she requested clearer, finished drawings.

The bakery and café (Wrecking Crew Bakery and Cafe) and other business owners said they supported outdoor seating as a way to draw customers but raised operational issues. The cafe owner asked that any expanded public space not jeopardize the ABC (alcohol) licensing of nearby businesses—one business owner required line-of-sight control when alcohol is served. The Wellness Cafe (representative Taylor Moore) asked for an area that can be used for “sober nights” without alcohol present.

Design alternatives discussed: Staff and a community volunteer (Trinity and others) presented rough sketches that would mirror seating on both sides of the planter peninsula and preserve loading zones next to each business while locating handicap access where the peninsula extends into the street. Trinity’s sketch proposed a mirrored layout: each side would include one loading space, one spot blocked by a planter, and a smaller adjacent parking area that would be folded into a fenced seating space. Participants suggested an alternative: one large, contiguous community seating plaza with an internal fence and gated boundary separating alcohol-permitted areas from alcohol‑free zones (a solution proposed to address ABC requirements).

Council action and next steps: Council did not adopt final plans. Instead it directed staff to: schedule a publicly noticed workshop (requested within 30 days) to review refined designs with business owners; continue working with downtown business owners and the grant donor (Railroad Days) on a more detailed plan; provide cost estimates for options (including replacing planters, adding fencing and extending sidewalks); and examine near-term cleanup/maintenance options for the existing, deteriorated fencing and materials so the block is presentable before seasonal events.

Ending: The council closed the item with direction to staff to return a refined plan after the workshop; staff will also gather formal input from all affected business owners and post notices for the public workshop.","Council heard extended public comment and directed staff to schedule a publicly noticed workshop within 30 days to finalize design for a long‑term temporary outdoor dining area on North Main Street; staff was also asked to coordinate with business owners on cleanup and to explore fencing/material estimates.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6573406,"Colfax council delays sidewalk-repair ordinance, asks staff to clarify tree and city-responsibility language",1751,216000,1967000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3049874-98d0d3dc2ea5c08e692b28b3d47b149e&start=216&end=1967","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3049874-98d0d3dc2ea5c08e692b28b3d47b149e/thumbnail_216000.jpg","/articles/6573406/Colfax/Placer-County/California/Colfax-council-delays-sidewalk-repair-ordinance-asks-staff-to-clarify-tree-and-city-responsibility-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573406-f25a9daff97cb6d5a96b70eac057c498/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186103&Signature=iMo7-~M7t7Snkks0uDyDEWiGThY6OPnAKCH1Kv~o8ZssK225L6korwQJ6xALbaTlU9jVj464lycEcHCn2XpgRVO~dg5xfZXqHpP~XdfJpDqlskzSOCrpVWFI5W9QhqgRJOzIxJltRXZPtBjgwhM64fOhD2UCApWI8-dJMpyIpjirPNhTI1t-H8bQcWdXZkP5gdVEXon7ftkusSt-d9e3pz0ePkZOT3nR4h-Mv5TTnJStz3gQAfrqHEcLC79dbuJIqqpnCze~mhp9J1RWoB~4IKUvgQFK6OnUSzx2op86sZToE4QmBfEv1-OJ7QrfTVKrL3WWk2O2AxmCBfuYH3nB0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Colfax City Council on Jan. 22 pulled proposed amendments to the municipal code that would formalize property owners' duty to repair defective sidewalks and instead directed staff to return with clarifying language.

The council removed the sidewalk-maintenance ordinance (agenda item 2d) from the consent calendar after multiple residents and council members pressed for clearer definitions of “defective sidewalk,” the scope of owners’ liability, and how tree roots and city-planted trees would be treated under the code.

Why it matters: The amendment under consideration added a section (listed in the agenda packet as 12.24.030) describing an owner’s duty to repair defective sidewalks. Residents said uneven sidewalks, old walkways narrower than modern code and tree-root damage are common in Colfax and worried they would be put on the hook for costly upgrades. Council members also raised the prospect that state law could limit local changes.

City staff and council offered legal-language details during the discussion. A staff member identified in the meeting as Connor pointed council and the public to the proposed code sections in the packet, noting the draft includes definitions of “standards of repair” and “defective sidewalk.” “Section 12.24.030 … describes an owner's duty to repair a defective sidewalk,” Connor said during the hearing.

Residents asked several practical questions: whether very old sidewalks built to earlier, narrower standards would be considered “defective” under the new text; whether homeowners would be required to remove snow or face liability; and how the city would determine whether a tree was city‑planted or privately planted when tree roots contributed to damage.

One resident asked whether she would be obligated to upgrade a narrow, century-old walkway at substantial cost; another asked whether the city keeps records that would show who planted a tree. Council members and staff repeatedly pointed to the ordinance’s definitions and notice provisions as the place to resolve those distinctions.

Council discussion and direction: Several council members said they expected a distinction between damage caused by city property (for example, trees planted in the public planting strip or damage caused by city equipment) and private trees. Council member Caroline McAuley and others explicitly asked that the revision include language differentiating city-owned trees from trees on private property.

The council made two specific directions to staff: to return with a revised draft that distinguishes between city-owned trees and privately owned trees in the duty-to-repair provisions, and to confirm whether state law constrains local adjustments. The council left the ordinance pulled from the consent calendar; no final vote to adopt the code change occurred on Jan. 22.

What remains unresolved: The draft in the packet references notice and payment procedures (the council was pointed at 12.24.090 for the contents of a required notice and at 12.24.030 for the duty to repair). Staff said the director of public works has discretion about when to impose full cost on an owner, and the director may grant permission to cut roots after consulting an arborist. The council asked city staff to give property owners a clearer estimate of costs should the city need to do repairs at prevailing wage, as a comparison for owners considering making repairs themselves.

Next steps: Staff (Kathy, city planning/staff) will revise the ordinance language and return to the council for further consideration. The council asked staff to confirm any applicable state-law barriers before returning the draft.

Ending note: The conversation combined public comment, staff legal clarification, and council direction; the council emphasized the need for case‑by‑case review in the ordinance text while seeking clearer standards and procedural notices for affected property owners.","Council pulled proposed municipal-code changes on sidewalk maintenance (item 2d) for more staff review after residents asked who would be liable for damage from trees and questions about ADA requirements; council directed staff to draft a version distinguishing city-owned trees from private trees and to check state law limits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Seniors First outlines volunteer‑driver mileage program to expand rides for older residents

Colfax council schedules workshop after wide public debate over downtown outdoor dining redesign

Colfax council delays sidewalk-repair ordinance, asks staff to clarify tree and city-responsibility language