However, the Bill only applies to counties, not cities or other local jurisdictions. Thus the Planning Commission discussed adding the provision for oak woodlands to the ordinance so the requirements and regulations would be uniform between County and City.explained the mission of the group which is to protect, conserve, and restore oak trees and oak woodland resources in both Amador and Calaveras Counties. Bowers said she wanted to make it perfectly clear that the group is not anti-growth, because they realize that growth is inevitable and that well planned growth could contribute to the local economy. She explained that the Oak Woodlands Conservation Group is simply trying to preserve the Oaks while encouraging participation and education in the program among all stakeholders, which includes cross sections of the community. Carla Bowers a representative of the Oak Conservation Group of Amador and Calaveras County addressed the Council. She

Bowers referred to several lawsuits that have occurred over the “decimation” of Oak Woodlands and said one way to avoid a lawsuit by an active environmentalist group is to make sure the City has the proper rules and regulations in place. She also said that the conservation and preservation of oak woodlands is beneficial because having them increases property values and can actually increase the value of a home by 10%. Bowers concluded by saying that the Oak Conservation Group thinks that an ordinance would do nothing but benefit the City of Sutter Creek. “We as the oak conservation group are prepared and willing to work with the Planning Commission we will work hard to make the ordinance a win for all stakeholders,” said Bowers.

Terry Strange the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Coordinator added to Bowers comments in support of another layer of protection for Oak Woodlands. “One thing we haven’t heard tonight,” he said are the habitats that the Oak woodlands provide. He said the current Landscaping ordinance is not sufficient enough because, “It addresses commercial development and multi-family, but you don’t spell out single family residential development which potentially is the largest potential impact on oak trees and woodlands.” The public attending the meeting seemed divided on the issue. Some public members felt the existing ordinance is sufficient, while others said they find an Oak Woodlands ordinance beneficial. “Oak trees take many, many, many years to grow…but once you cut one (that’s full grown) it’s gone forever,” said Tony Lindy. The final consensus of the City Council was to send the item back to the Planning Commission for their discretion in whether or not to amend the City’s Tree and Landscaping Ordinance to add regulations pertaining to oak woodlands.