Famous as the locus for gold mining, today Placerville cites lumber, agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism and recreation as strengths in its economy, along with vineyards and production of fine wines. Formerly known as Hangtown—there's a great story about being the site of the first known hanging in the Mother Lode for a string of gold robberies by some bad guys—visitors can get a look into the pursuit of gold at the Gold Bug Park & Mine, a museum with tours and books on the era. The county seat of El Dorado County has population of around 11,000, most of whom can tell you all about the town’s legendary “Hangtown fry,” a dish of eggs, bacon, and oysters favored by miners.

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City Council

Placerville operates under the council-manager form of municipal government. Councilmembers are elected at large for four-year staggered terms of office at the general municipal election in November of even-numbered years.

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Planning Commission

The Planning Commission works with the director of Development Services, staff and city officials to guide the city’s long-term planning and development. Its meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of every month and are open to the public. (Photo: Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock)

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Image for display with article titled State Sues El Dorado County Over Needle Exchange Bans

As part of an ongoing dispute between some county officials and the Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition, a nonprofit that distributes clean needles, Narcan and offers other services, Placerville's City Council and the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors both recently passed bans on the operation of needle exchange programs.

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The Placerville City Council and the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors the same day both pass prohibitions on new tobacco shops citing concerns around an increase in tobacco use by middle schoolers.

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As sandwich board signs proliferate along Main Street and impinge on space along narrower-than-normal sidewalks, the Placerville City Council discussed what the city could do to cut down on the clutter.

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Placerville City Council kicked off its first meeting of 2024 by taking a look back at some highlights of the year gone by.

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12/11/2023
The city of Placerville was the recipient of a surprise early Christmas present when state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil announced she secured $1 million in state funds to go toward the creation of the Placerville joint public safety facility.
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