PLACERVILLE . INFO

City's aging infrastructure and economic growth are top priorities, though candidates generally agree on most issues.

By Cathy Locke - Bee Staff Writer

Economic development and upgrading aging road, water and sewer systems are top priorities in Placerville, according to candidates vying for three seats on the City Council.

Incumbents Carl Hagen and Pierre Rivas say replacing aging infrastructure is of primary concern, while challengers Patricia "Patty" Borelli and Michael Hendren say economic development tops their agenda. Overall, however, the four candidates are in accord on most issues.

Comfort with the direction of city government was part of what influenced a fifth candidate to drop out of the race. John Clerici said work demands led him to abandon the campaign, though his name will appear on the ballot. "One of the problems I also had with running," he said, "is I'm kind of satisfied with the way the city is going."

Voters will elect at least one new member to the council. Councilwoman Marian Washburn is retiring after 12 years in office.

When it comes to local government, Patty Borelli, widow of former councilman and county supervisor Carl Borelli, has had a ringside seat for years. She grew up in Placerville, graduated from El Dorado High School and earned a business degree from Sacramento City College. She and her husband owned and operated restaurants and a shopping center, and Borelli said she continues to own and manage the shopping center and a fourplex. She also has served on a committee studying the potential for revitalizing Placerville Drive, on the city's west side.

"We need more jobs and housing," Borelli said during a recent candidates forum, adding that she would like to see more people employed locally.

"We need better-paying jobs," she said.

Placerville Drive has the potential to support a mix of commercial and residential development to further that goal, she said.

Hendren, a plumber who has worked in the private and public sectors, said his experience could benefit the city as it strives to upgrade its water and wastewater systems.

"Economic development is probably the biggest issue facing Placerville," he said, and sizable increases in water and sewer rates as well as traffic impact mitigation fees could hinder that.

The city should have raised fees incrementally over the past several years to prevent the steep rate hikes that, he said, are now unavoidable.

Incumbents Hagen and Rivas say they, too, would have preferred more gradual fee increases, but putting off increases now would only make matters worse. Upgrading the city's water and sewer systems is necessary to serve current residents and support economic development, they say.

Hagen, who owns a Farmers Insurance Agency on Placerville Drive, was appointed to the council in 2004 following the death of Councilman Bob Salazar.

Rivas, a land-use planner with the El Dorado County Planning Department, is completing his first term and currently serving as mayor.

Both cited the $40 million project under way to improve the city's wastewater treatment plant as a major step forward.

All four candidates said developing a plan for Placerville Drive is key to boosting the local economy, citing the Home Depot store as a model that can draw other businesses to the area.

"Home Depot has just done wonders for our treasury," Borelli said.

Rivas said the area includes a number of undeveloped an underdeveloped parcels. "The key question," he said, "is what does Placerville Drive want to be?"

-- read more --