Board approves zone election measures, adopts 2026 CIP and updates TIFF amid debate over senior‑housing fee discounts

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors spent most of its June 16 session on transportation matters, approving multiple ballot measures and key planning documents while asking staff for additional analysis on fees and project timing.

At the outset of the agenda’s transportation block the board approved resolutions to place four special‑tax measures on the November 3, 2026 gubernatorial general election ballot for distinct zones of benefit — Walnut Drive, Tigra Road, Rancho Ponderosa Estates and Fernwood Catherine Ranch — after staff (Elizabeth Hes of the Department of Transportation) outlined outreach and prior attempts. The measures were adopted by roll‑call vote 5–0.

Director of Transportation Mr. Martinez then presented the 2026 Capital Improvement Program, describing it as “a long‑range planning document” that estimates costs and funding over a 20‑year horizon. He said two substantive adjustments in this year’s update were the inclusion of a signalized intersection at Appian Way and Silva Valley Parkway (added after several traffic analyses suggested a future warrant) and the removal of a surface overlay for El Dorado Hills Boulevard (moved from the CIP into the maintenance program for construction in 2027). Martinez also explained that a recent Caltrans review increased cost estimates for the Bass Lake interchange; staff said the larger estimate (reported in the CIP change tables) reflects updated preliminary engineering, environmental and right‑of‑way assumptions.

During CIP discussion supervisors asked whether certain projects could be re‑prioritized and whether grant assumptions were realistic; DOT staff said the department has about $29 million in grants committed toward TIFF/CIP projects to date but that competition for federal and state funds remains strong. The board adopted the 2026 CIP by roll call (5–0). The packet and staff presentations included detailed funding tables and project descriptions; several public commenters asked for more transparent supporting studies and for earlier posting of traffic analyses tied to high‑profile projects.

Immediately following the CIP hearing, DOT brought the 2026 Traffic Impact Fee annual update. Senior DOT planner Zach Oats said the update reflects a 3.6% construction‑cost adjustment (ENR index) plus project‑level estimate updates and noted the program assumes roughly $57 million in grant funding over the 20‑year TIFF horizon. Oats reported the county has applied about $29 million in grant funds to TIFF projects so far.

The TIFF presentation produced the meeting’s most contested exchange: several supervisors and members of the public urged staff to re‑examine how the county treats age‑restricted (typically 55+) housing when calculating trip generation and fees. DOT explained the fee schedule uses Institute of Transportation Engineers trip generation rates that assign lower trip rates to age‑restricted housing, which produces a reduced fee in the current schedule. Multiple supervisors asked staff to research whether local driving patterns warrant that discount in El Dorado County and to include the review in the next major TIFF update; the board approved the TIFF annual rate update 5–0 while directing staff to analyze senior‑housing trip assumptions and report back.

What happened: the board approved (a) four zone‑of‑benefit ballot resolutions; (b) the 2026 CIP including the Silva Valley/Appian addition and El Dorado Hills Boulevard overlay removal; and (c) the 2026 TIFF update with a directive to staff to examine the age‑restricted fee discount. Votes on the measures and the CIP/TIFF updates were unanimous (roll calls recorded 5–0). Staff will return with more detailed traffic engineering data and a study of the fee assumptions for senior housing.