In a world they see as increasingly dominated by strong, united voices opposed to development, some prominent members of the Amador County business community have formed an advocacy group of their own.

The Amador County Business Council came into being about six months ago, building its membership to 24 local business entities. Among the members are: Ray Perry, Bank of Stockton; Anne Platt, Sutter Amador Hospital; Paul Molinelli Jr., ACES Waste Services; and Jack Mitchell, Amador county news - www.boitano.net.

Amador will become the eighth California county to have a business council set up by Jim Conklin, veteran of 25 years in the formation and operation of such entities.

Conklin's first was the San Joaquin County Business Council, which has remained active since 1984, while remaining true to its concepts and principles. Concept No. 1 is that the members are the highest level decision makers in their respective businesses.

Over the years, Conklin has created business councils in Merced, Fresno, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Calaveras counties in California and another in Nevada.

Conklin's standard council policy is to take public positions on issues that meet the organization's criteria: promoting economic vitality, enhancing regional quality of life, supporting education and stimulating collaboration among diverse local groups.

ACBC took its initial public position on Measure M, the successful ballot initiative that will add one half-cent to the county's sales tax, in order to fund paid firefighters in all of the seven fire districts in the county.

"Our business council membership voted overwhelmingly to support Measure M," said ACBC President Platt. The council is also taking a public position in recommending consolidation of the seven existing fire entities. "This consolidation concept has already been discussed by the Amador Fire Protection Authority," Platt added, "and we feel it is the opportune time to move forward on this consolidation idea."

At least part of the impetus for creation of the council may be said to have come as a result of various proposals that were emerging during the ongoing update of the county's 1973 general plan.

The General Plan Advisory Committee was made up of five members (and their alternates), representing each of the five districts in the county. The other five members (and their alternates) were chosen from the Commission on Aging, Board of Realtors, Foothill Conservancy, Farm Bureau and Chamber of Commerce. Had there been an Amador County Business Council, there would likely have been a representative on the GPAC.

Inasmuch as the GPAC had completed its meeting schedule and made its findings known to the county planning department, the business council elected to have Conklin make an appearance at the Oct. 16 public input session for the general plan update.

Conklin told the county supervisors and planning commissioners that the council was concerned that draft elements of the general plan update might go directly from draft to environmental impact report. He went on to say that he was pleased when he heard that there would be more hearings before EIR process.

"Supervisors don't have the revenue to do everything that is desired," Conklin said. "They are adding an economic development element to the general plan in Calaveras County. If you don't have one, your ability to produce revenues will be more difficult."

He went on to suggest inclusion of agriculture in the economic element and to warn the assembled county officials that downstream entities want Amador County's water. "An economic development element can help protect water rights," he concluded.

With collaboration between business, government, education and community groups as one of the business council's stated core objectives, activities in that direction should be of considerable interest.

Other business councils have had an influence on decisions in their counties. In 2004, the San Benito County Business Council took a public position against Measure G, which proposed to limit growth in that county to 1 percent annually and to make land use changes that would result in up-zoning of much of the county, to preserve farmland and discourage development. The measure failed, with 69 percent of voters opposed.

The San Joaquin County Business Council made a strong push back in the 1980s in favor of a half-cent sales tax for transportation projects. The measure passed, yielding hundreds of millions of dollars over the intervening years.

The Monterey County Business Council, founded in 1995 and thriving, makes the following statement: A business voice is needed to remind our elected and appointed officials where the money comes from to support their decisions - from jobs and taxes - and to balance special interest pressures.