Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council approved a reimbursement agreement Monday to keep tabs on the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort and mitigations it must make as its project develops.

The agreement is on pause as Gold Rush faces a lawsuit by Ken Berry of Martell on environmental issues, after the settlement of which, the time line starts for improvements by both the city and developers.

Councilwoman Sandy Anderson said Gold Rush would be “very happy to work with” Hauge Brueck Associates, with whom the city approved a contract Monday. Anderson said “they are very much ready to move forward on a reimbursement contract,” and “will keep us abreast” on a timeline of their legal challenges.

Berry filed a lawsuit in Amador County Superior Court February 2nd seeking to force Sutter Creek to rewrite its Environmental Impact Report for Gold Rush. The suit asks the court to set aside certification of the EIR and order Sutter Creek to “comply with the requirements” of the California Environmental Quality Act.

Berry in the suit said his standing in the case is that he is a municipal water customer of Jackson, which is served by the Amador Water Agency. AWA also serves Gold Rush, so the “project has an impact on long term water supplies and therefore directly affects” him.

In the suit, Berry alleges the project’s subdivision, rezone and specific plan are not consistent with the Sutter Creek General Plan.

Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha said Monday that Hauge Brueck Associates partner Anders Hauge “spent a year going through the city General Plan,” and constantly reminded the commission that the policies would be city-wide and not just affect Gold Rush.

Cunha said he would like to see Hauge’s firm “on board with this.” He also reminded the council that the city, as part of the development agreement, has a year time limit to come up with a solution to our wastewater issue.

Councilman Pat Crosby said that year timeline starts at the conclusion of legal challenges. Crosby also recommended making the city council part of the agreement process.

City Manager Sean Rabe said any services for Hauge Brueck will be “spelled out” and “they will get a copy of the task order,” so the company “won’t be an open check book.”

City Finance Director Joe Aquilar said staff handling of the reimbursements keeps the city council shielded from accusations of wrongdoing.

Mayor Gary Wooten said wording in the contract does allow Rabe to share the documentation with any council member.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.