After multiple city of Ukiah representatives – including one who called a controversial annexation map a “big f–k up” – assured Mendocino County representatives they were reevaluating their ambitious Ukiah Valley Reorganization plan, the Board of Supervisors Tuesday voted not to rescind a Master Tax-Sharing Agreement with the county’s four cities to allow for more information to be collected on, and possible modifications made to, Ukiah’s decidedly unpopular plan for significantly expanding its borders.
“When I saw the map, I was basically horrified,” Ukiah Mayor Doug Crane told the board, describing the proposed annexation map as being based on the consolidation of Ukiah Valley water agencies who then requested to be annexed by the city, “and that map came forward based on the idea of doing that re-organization annexation. In hindsight, that was a big f–k up. Just to put it frankly.
“But the matter before us today is the tax-sharing agreement,” Crane continued. “It is a good tool that we all should respect, cherish and modify, over time, if that is needed. We’re in a community, we gotta work together – we have to call somebody out if they’re not doing the right thing, and make suggestions on how they could make it better.”
Fifth District Supervisor Ted Williams, who sponsored the item being considered, thanked Crane for addressing the board in-person, and said he “would like to see the city, and the county, and the people work on a plan that’s a win in all directions, and I think that’s possible.”
“Big decisions require input and engagement, and we’re clearly engaged,” said City Manager Sage Sangiacomo. “And where we are today, is a commitment from the city of Ukiah to engage with the community, engage with stakeholders and engage with the county, and engage with (the Local Agency Formation Commission), to see if there’s something here.”
“Are you suggesting that the city is in a position to withdraw the current plan and come back with a new proposal?” Williams asked Sangiacomo, who responded that the city had not yet submitted a plan, only a pre-application, and that the City Council had not approved a plan or even a map, describing the unpopular map in the draft proposal as “starting this discussion, in a very awkward way. We all recognize that, (but) sometimes starting these discussions is not easy to do.”
“The problem I have is, people are calling me, irate,” Williams said. “I would have expected the city to pull back and say, ‘We’re not doing that plan. We hear the public, we will do something different.’ If you could make that statement, I think that would de-escalate the situation. Because now, people feel they have no voice. They’re going to city meetings, and they hear a presentation, but they don’t feel that there is an opportunity to be part of the discussion and actually steer it.
“And secondly, if you could make the commitment that the county won’t be in a financial position where we’re unable to provide the mandated public protection,” Williams said. “Whatever the end result is, as long as (Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall) isn’t telling us that he’s cutting resident deputies, I can live with it. But right now, that’s not the case.”
“The data is not even there to know the impacts, and to make a commitment that the county is not going to have financial issues, is irresponsible,” Sangiacomo said. “We need strong cities and we need a strong county – we are linked together, whether we like it or not. Our financial futures are linked together, and it’s incumbent upon us not to let the services that are important to our communities fail, (so the ultimate goal) is to get to a proposal that benefits all parties related to services that are being provided.”
As to Williams’ first request, Sangiacomo said that city officials had already announced their intent to “go through a meaningful, collaborative process to collect public input and to work with stakeholders… to define whether or not we even have a proposal to move forward with. At this point, there is not a proposal to withdraw, because we don’t have one yet to submit.”
“I think you’ve got an amazing opportunity right now to tell the public that you’re willing to step back and start over, and I’m not hearing you take that opportunity,” said 4th District Supervisor Bernie Norvell. “Because what you put to the community is a proposal, it’s what you initiated. It’s not a proposal to LAFCo, it’s not the final, but it is a proposal.”
“I think it’s irresponsible to start completely over with input, because there’s valuable input that’s been gathered,” Sangiacomo said. “Does the proposal that’s on the table meet the needs of the community and the county and others? I don’t think so. But from this point moving forward, I think all of those things that you talked about, need to occur, 100 percent. And the map will change.”
“We’ve heard from the city that they are stepping back (and) I think we at least owe this an opportunity before we blow this thing up,” said Norvell, suggesting that instead of negating the tax-sharing agreement now, county representatives “sit down with the city and see where they’re at. But if they’re not going to budge, or the financial data comes back that this is a raw deal (for the county), I’m 100 percent with rescinding (the agreement).”
Williams suggested tabling the item and allowing the board’s ad-hoc committee, made up of Norvell and 1st District Supervisor Madeline Cline, to meet with city representatives and gather more information regarding the annexation proposal and how it will affect the county’s finances, but stressed that he wanted to keep the public updated on the process.
“I’m comfortable saying that the ad-hoc will provide regular updates, and I think even once a month is more than acceptable,” said Cline, after which Williams moved to table the item until the ad-hoc could collect financial data, while providing monthly updates. The motion was passed unanimously.
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