The Gold Rush Ranch and Golf Resort financial plan took center stage at the Sutter Creek City Council meeting Monday night, with a number of residents stepping to the microphone with comments.

"There will be impacts on the citizens that aren't included in the report," said Citizens for Smart Growth representative Kathy Allen. Allen expressed concern that the analysis only dealt with the city, not the people who would be impacted on their wastewater and water bills, school costs, fire department costs and the like.

"We'd like to look at the report in light of the credit situation," said Foothill Conservancy attorney Tom Infusino. By his recitation of statistics from national, regional and local housing markets, Infusino drove home the point that the sale figures used for homes in the financial report may not be reflective of the present reality.

Infusino noted that many cities and counties have seen their expenditures increase far more quickly than revenues. He also pointed out that there are 49 houses in foreclosure in Amador County, 11 of them in Sutter Creek.

"I can't imagine that you're going to approve this without any parks," said local builder and businessman Ray Brusatori, referring to the report's disclosure that $600,000 in park maintenance had been removed from the projected annual deficit, effectively reducing the proposed Community Facilities District tax per house.

Much is expected of the highly anticipated development agreement and many concerns with the financial report are to be resolved as that agreement is hammered out.

Rob Duke, Sutter Creek's police chief and city manager, left the meeting at one point to respond to an armed robbery call in Jackson. When he returned, he presented his city manager's report on wastewater.

The recently completed analysis of the wastewater treatment plant situation, by consulting firm HDR, estimated costs to ratepayers under three different scenarios: with Gold Rush; without Gold Rush, but with rate increases; and, without Gold Rush and without rate increases.

Without Gold Rush, Duke explained, rates for existing customers are likely to rise by $55 to the city and $38 to the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority, a total of $93. The report lists many different rates and costs for new hook-ups, depending upon how involved the city gets with Gold Rush and Martell (through ARSA and the Amador Water Agency).

Meetings are underway among the various stakeholders, with further information expected soon.

Duke said that Gold Rush had tentatively agreed to finance a new wastewater treatment plant, which could prevent any rate increases beyond those already planned for January.

The meeting agenda did not include discussion of the merits of the pending project, but numerous residents chose to make nearly an hour's worth of statements during the public portion of the meeting.

"The Sutter Creek Business Association had a meeting," said resident Bart Weatherly, "at which they presented a Gold Rush benefits list and they voted to support it." Weatherly proceeded to ask the council if the city financed the business association.

"The city does not finance the business association," insisted Sutter Creek Business and Professional Association spokesperson Lisa Klosowski. The association is open to new members, Klosowski continued, inviting Weatherly to join, or, alternatively, to arrange to appear as a guest speaker at an association meeting.

Long-time resident Ron Floyd told the council of his personal campaign on behalf of Gold Rush. "I had a good conversation with (general manager) Jim Abercrombie at the water agency," Floyd said, "and (Superintendent) Richard Glock at the school district assured me that he's in favor of Gold Rush."

Floyd reminisced about the old sayings that went with anticipation of Gold Rush's golf course in Sutter Creek: "On the tee in '03" and "Bring your sticks in '06."

Ed Swift said, "They say you'll see it (Gold Rush) from everywhere. That's not true."

"If something's not growing," said resident Rich Murphy, "it's dying."

With the stream of proponents coming to the microphone, Amador City resident Mike McEnroe appeared to be compelled to ask the council why this was going on, as the project's merits were not on the agenda.

"This is public comment," shrugged Sutter Creek Mayor Gary Wooten.

Klosowski returned to the podium to say, "Even after Gold Rush is built, this will still be a very small town."

"If this thing goes through," said hotel and restaurant owner and Sutter Creek resident Dennis Griffin, "my project alone (the American Exchange Hotel) will yield $60,000 more in transient occupancy tax and a significant amount of sales tax."