At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board found some closure in ongoing discussions over the controversial Amador Economic Stimulus Plan. A host of local contractors and realtors showed up to voice their support for contractor Paul Bramell’s proposed plan to temporarily cut impact and development fees in order to stimulate growth in the sinking housing market. The original proposal would have allowed a reduction in impact fees for local and regional traffic mitigation, recreation and capital facilities between July 1st, 2008 and December 31st, 2009.

During deliberation, the general consensus among the Board members was to approve the bill- with some caveats. “I have no problem with affordable housing, but we need to keep it simple,” said Supervisor Boitano. As long as this doesn’t affect impact fees for roads, I could go along with something.” According to Supervisor Forster, “Part of our job is to help the community get back to work. I’ve seen comments that (this stimulus package) won’t amount to a hill of beans, but 10 to 15 thousand dollars will make a lot of difference when you’re building a 250 thousand dollar house.”st , 2008. There would also be a limit to how many homes a contractor could build under the new guidelines. Despite some confusion over the details, the Board approved the package with the understanding that further discussion over the details will take place at a future meeting. Supervisor Escamilla’s main concern was with reopening old wounds. “I’m concerned about our planning department. I don’t want to see they get caught up in this again.” Supervisor Oneto made a motion to wave county facility fees and a portion of park and recreation fees until November 1