Agenda Item
4f) Discussion and Possible Action Including Adoption of a Resolution Terminate BOS Agreement No. 24-085 (Master Tax Sharing Agreement) Between the County of Mendocino and the Cities of Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg, and Point Arena, due to Fiscal and Operational Impacts Arising from the First Proposed Annexation Under the Agreement; Authorize Notification of the Signatory Cities and Mendocino LAFCo; and Direction to Staff to Notify Mendocino Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) that the County Anticipates the Proposed Annexation would Create a Substantial Risk to the Provision of Mandated Public Protection Services, Consistent with the Framework Established by Mendocino County Policy #13 (Annexations)
(Sponsor: Supervisor Williams)
Please direct staff to notify Mendocino Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) that the currently proposed City of Ukiah annexation plan is not in the best interest of the County, or the residents it would affect. Residents in the annexed area ONLY have the voice of County Supervisors and LAFCO at this time. The City "workshops" they have offered provide little actual information about how residents in the proposed annexation areas will be treated.
I have very little understanding about how the Master Tax Sharing Agreement works, but if the Master Tax Sharing Agreement works well (and respectfully) with the other incorporated Cities in the county, it seems like a shame to fully abandon something that is working well for respectful Cities at this time.
In order to ensure that the economic well-being, the health of the community, and the safety of the thousands of residents in the unincorporated areas of the county is provided, this agreement must be nullified. The City of Ukiah's desire to consolidate services within and without of its own service area are not paramount to the continued provision of services by the County of Mendocino in its existing area. While the consolidation of the water and sewer districts could be beneficial to both city and county residents and could bring in about $50 million dollars from the state to help the community, the current City of Ukiah annexation proposal will prevent adequate provision of services to areas currently served by the county. Furthermore, it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to consolidate utility districts based on Ukiah having a goal to acquire even more all at once. Let's wait and see how the utility district consolidation goes and then move on to a county/city annexation review in an orderly fashion. Now is not a good time to hamstring the County of Mendocino's ability to provide required services to other outlying areas for the benefit of one city. Every city is different; even just our four incorporated cities are very different. An individual agreement should be considered for each and every annexation proposal to ensure that LAFCo is hearing the full economic impact to each specific agency and its constituency involved in any consideration of boundary changes.