Amador County - The Board of Supervisors tackled the ongoing issue of temporary housing for farm workers at their meeting on Tuesday. The discussion centered on whether or not to provide discounts in fees associated with developing farm worker housing projects. The application was based on a letter and ongoing talks with property owner Ken Deaver. Amador County Deputy Administrative Officer Kristin Bengyel outlined a revised set of fees meant to satisfy both state and county requirements under the guidelines of temporary housing, and the ongoing requests of property owners like Deaver. These include a fee structure that reflects Health and Safety Code fee provisions, the General Plan Housing element and agricultural modifications. In all cases, the proposed structure would either waive or reduce fees on everything from recreation to school fees to traffic impact fees. In some options, fees would undergo a standard increase of 3 percent. Supervisor Brian Oneto spoke out against any sort of fee increase. He singled out Traffic Impact and Recreation fees. He also was against the Manufactured Housing fee, saying he was uneasy about fees that apply to housing that he saw as temporary for temporary workers.

But the other supervisors generally considered Oneto’s viewpoint as unrealistic. “Fees aren’t up to us, they’re up to the State of California,” said Supervisor Louis Boitano. Supervisors Forster, Escamilla and Novelli agreed with that statement. “Even farm workers are going to have kids, families…going to use parks…and going to be in jail, just like anyone else would have these issues,” said Supervisor Forster, adding: “I have a problem with completely waiving these fees.” Oneto questioned, “So basically permanent fees for temporary structures?” Boitano said that $250,000 had been spent on portable classrooms near his home in Sutter Creek, and “they were not going anywhere.” Oneto referred to the workers as seasonal workers who “come and go.” Forster said, “In this county, temporary workers pick grapes and leave, but farm workers are year-round employees. We just want to provide a good place for them to live.” Oneto repeated that the concern he has is for fees related to houses that may not always be there. Bengyel suggested bringing back a modified fee structure based on the Supervisors’ input. The issue will be added to an upcoming agenda. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).