Amador County – The Sutter Creek Planning Commission discussed wastewater obligations in the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort’s Specific Plan Monday, while staff and the developer acknowledged negotiations continue. Gold Rush Project Manager Jim Harnish said “I know you, like the rest of us, would like to get to a conclusion and move on with the project.” Consultant Anders Hauge said the word “treatment” should not be in the specific plan because it is in the development agreement. He said funding and financing of the treatment system are being negotiated. Commissioner Mike Kirkley said the specific plan does not talk about treatment. Commissioner Frank Cunha said “personally, I’d like to see it included in the conditions of approval.” Commission Chairman Robin Peters agreed, saying “the lack of discussion of treatment capacity stood out like a sore thumb.” Cunha said they should “make sure … that we are going to have a discussion on a wastewater treatment plant facility,” now or in the future. Gold Rush attorney Diane Kindermann Henderson said the city wastewater committee includes 2 City Council members, who will give a presentation about the negotiations. She said talks intend to “make this document consistent with the EIR” and other documents. Cunha said he didn’t think the council was supposed to “recommend to the planning commission what they think is good planning.” He saw the commission’s job as looking at planning questions and making recommendations. Cunha said “to do the exact opposite with the biggest issue of the project is wrong.” Hauge said a number of state laws determine when the wastewater plant comes on-line. And he noted that Gold Rush is paying for a “fair share” of the facility, “not the whole thing.” Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe (Ruh-Bay) said the presentation would not be ready for the next meeting and negotiations are “constantly in flux.” Hauge said it was a “policy level” issue and Peters agreed, noting that the term “fair share” belonged in the development agreement. Kirkley said the city has adequate water treatment and “the only reason we need to go to the tertiary (treatment) level is to water the golf course.” Cunha said “there has to be a timing” element to the wastewater facility agreement. He said his “biggest fear” is that the “golf course doesn’t get built,” and the city gets 500 new houses but cannot spray tertiary water there. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.