Sutter Creek – The Sutter Creek City Council last week was urged to take its time on the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort, and not to freeze traffic impact fees. District 4 Supervisor Louis Boitano urged the City Council to “consider all facts carefully before voting to approve” Gold Rush. Boitano, in a letter Thursday to the council said: “Approval of this project is a very complex issue and could potentially have significant impacts on not only traffic but fire services, roads and schools in the county as a whole.” He urged the council to review its October 20th resolution and a related attachment, “which outlines the specifics of the revenue sharing agreement with the city of Sutter Creek for the Noble Ranch Allen Ranch Phase II Annexation.” Boitano said a “similar resolution was unanimously adopted by the Board of Supervisors” in November 2003. Boitano said “as chairman of the Amador County Transportation Commission,” he urged the council to “not lock in the (traffic mitigation) fees at the rate of $170 per trip-end but give the city, county and region the ability to raise the rates over time so that each home will be paying amounts that can provide needed infrastructure.” Amador High School Athletic Director Kevin Neville in a letter last Friday said “there is a need for more parks and recreation facilities” in Sutter Creek. He said fields at Amador “are used continually from the time school is dismissed until late into the evening,” and “almost every weekend.” Neville said: “During peak seasons, as many as three teams will be practicing on the same field, safety is a major issue and organizing a quality practice is difficult.” Neville said the “Gold Rush Development plan includes a park and fields,” and he hoped “the city requires and supports this aspect of the plan.” County Assessor Jim Rooney gave the council “information they can use as they see fit.” He said “nobody is suggesting this will affect property taxes in Sutter Creek.” He said the average home sale price in Gold Rush would be $450,000. Sutter Creek’s property tax revenues in 5 years would be $2 million. In 10 years, it would be $4 million, and 15 years out, it would be $6.9 million. The county would get 22 percent of property taxes, and the schools would get about 60 percent, or about $3.9 million after 15 years. The council discusses Gold Rush again today, with a 6 p.m. meeting in the Auditorium. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.