Sutter Creek – The Sutter Creek City Council continues work on Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort this week. The Ad Hoc Gold Rush Fiscal Analysis Committee meets 10 a.m. Tuesday in the civic building. Councilwomen Linda Rianda and Sandy Anderson, will work with Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha to “review fiscal impacts,” then “come back with specific recommendations” for the council’s October 19th meeting. The “public hearing” closed, but public comment is invited at committee meetings, or in writing sent to City Hall. Comment over several meetings included a man who said he plays softball, coaches baseball and does not golf. He said “Sutter Creek has no future unless it has parks.” Ray Brusatori, who said he hoped the city park fees won’t be used for open space. 2007 Amador High graduate and Thundering Herd golf star Will Byrd spoke in support of Gold Rush, and thanked them for sponsoring the golf team. Planning Commissioner Mike Kirkley told the council that the commission was 4-1 in favor of reducing unit numbers, but Chairman Robin Peters did not want to consider a smaller number. Peters later said he used Gold Rush’s 1,335 units to appropriately determine impacts. The city council directed staff to bring information on unit number, so the council can decide on the project’s size, October 19th. In one discussion of conditions of approval and the development agreement, Councilman Pat Crosby said: “I don’t like to put a guarantee on houses. Can we put a guarantee on the golf course and the sewer?” The council later voted to draft a guarantee on the golf course property, with ownership reverting to the city, if the golf course is not built in 10 years. Mayor Gary Wooten noted that the property was originally purchased to be a spray field for the city wastewater system. City Manager Rob Duke later told the city council that staff in studying the issue found that the first phase of the sewer plant build-out would most easily be done by the city, with reimbursement by Gold Rush. Among those speaking in support was former Amador County Museum Curator Georgia Fox, and Former Supervisor Richard Vinson. One woman said the council should preserve the historic small-town setting of Amador County. Wooten noted that his grandfather was born in 1889 in Amador City, and at the time, 20,000 people lived there. Amador City is the smallest incorporated city in California, with a 2000 Census total of 196 residents. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.