Cherri Walton
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 1:39 PM
To: CityClerk; Management Team; Mayor and Council
Subiect: New eComment for City Council
City of American Canyon
New eComment for City Council
william baker submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council
Item: 10.) Elections Code Section 9212 Report Regarding Measure K eComment: From: William Baker, Montevino Good evening, Mayor and City Council Members, I cannot present these comments to you in person this evening, so I will share my thoughts through this comment. In short, I respectfully suggest this decision go to the voters in November.
I have two main thoughts and concerns that lead me to this suggestion: 1) 94% of our City's General Industrial land is already developed. It would only be fair for the remaining 6%in our City to be developed through the same processes. To be clear, I am not opposed to the warehouse project. I believe they should go through the processes all other industrial tenants have gone through. 2) Ministerial powers are something that, once granted, are rarely taken back. Our City has been blessed by a series of competent city professionals who work in the interest of the City and its citizens. We cannot, however, guarantee we will be so fortunate in the future. Other cities have been plagued by incompetent and even corrupt managers who have harmed what was otherwise a well-run city. Ministerial powers are one way these city professionals abuse their power and wreak havoc on the Cities they manage. Again, I am impressed by our city management team; my concern is a future hire misstep. I am, however, wary of expanding the ministerial powers of our city management. I am opposed to the question that is betore the Council this evening - granting expanded Ministerial powers described in Meaure K. As this cannot be rejected, I respectfully suggest the Council place this question before the electorate in November. Thank you for your consideration. William Baker View and Analyze eComments
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1 Taresa Geilfuss
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 2:24 PM
To: ityClerk; Management Team; Mayor and Coun
Subject: lew eComment for City Counc
City of American Canyon
New eComment for City Council
Geena Saavedra submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council
Item: 10.) Elections Code Section 9212 Report Regarding Measure K eComment: I oppose Measure K and am disappointed to discover that this decision may no longer be up to the residents of American Canyon, despite what was previously implied when the petition was circulating. Going back on one's word about the right for the citizens of this city to contribute to this decision-making is disappointing at best. Measure K would enable more warehouses to be built than already exist in this city, burdening it with pollution, worsening traffic, and negatively impacting the local natural habitat. Those who invest in the building of the warehouses are solely concerned about the contents of their own pockets, not the vitality of the environment and the longevity of the people who live here and breathe in the pollution. Please allow this decision to be made by the citizens of American Canyon by bringing it to a vote in November. Thank you for your consideration.
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Cherri Walton
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 1:41 PM
To: CityClerk; Management Team; Mayor and Council
Subject: New eComment for City Council
City of American Canyon
New eComment for City Council
Jeannette Goyetche submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council
Item: 10.) Elections Code Section 9212 Report Regarding Measure K eComment: I understand there are only 3 options available regarding the vote from the city council for Measure K. I oppose adoption of Measure K for environmental reasons and the fact that warehouse development will hand developers a blank check to build warehouses in A.C without risk. Meaure K eliminates input from the A.C residents without regard to the environmental impact of increased warehouse development. I believe most people who signed the petition regarding measure K did so thinking it would go on the ballot for citizen approval or disapproval. At least that is what I and others I spoke to were told. If one of the options is to put the Measure K on the ballot, then I believe that is what needs to be done at this point. In the report it states the fiscal impact to have the Measure on the ballot would be expensive and no fiscal impact if Measure K is adopted. By allowing the Measure to proceed to a law, why not think of the environmental impact, and the impact on the trust the citizens of A.C will have on it's elected officials. We cannot allow the unrestricted warehouse development to be in the hands of developers who do not care about the citizens of A.C. Please allow Measure K to come to a vote by the people of American Canyon. Thank you.
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From: William Baker
Date: March 4, 2024 at 6:12:22 PM PST
To: Mayor and Council Cc: Bill Ross - Brent Cooper - Taresa Geilfuss Subject: Thoughts on Measure K
Dear Mayor and Council,
Here are a few thoughts regarding Measure K on the Agenda for this week.
In short, let this decision go to the voters in November.
Here are a few comments and questions that bring me to this suggestion. 1) How much GI land are we talking about?
According to Exhibit C (pg 100 of the staff report), there are a total of 4,179 Gl acres listed.
Of that total, 261 acres, or 6%, are 'vacant.' Adding back in the undefined 'underutilized' 100 acres in Table C totals less than 9% of all the City Gl. Everything else is 'developed' and presumably not under consideration for development.
The City has a process to vet and develop General Industrial land. 94% of this land was exposed to this process. Why don't we continue to use these same methodologies for the remaining 261 acres?
Eighty percent of the vacant land in question is owned by one party. They were (or should have been) aware of the application and vetting process before purchasing the land. Their partaking in this action is like saying"... it's too hard for us please change the rules..." and is a failure of their due diligence, not the process.
Streamlining city approvals under the Ministerial process might be relevant if there were still 3,000-4,000 acres of undeveloped GI land and the City wanted to expedite development.
The processes in place were put there for a reason. The remaining 261 acres should go through those same processes.
2) Ministerial powers - much more of a bugbear for me.
First, American Canyon has been very lucky (some may say blessed) that we have a series of long-tenured, competent City Managers and City Attorneys who manage the ins and outs of city business.
My concern is when these professionals eventually move on, and we are not so lucky in our next selection of these critical professionals.
I have, and I am sure you have as well, observed that other cities have, for whatever reason, not had the same luck as us in their choices of city manager and city attorney.
I am sure you are aware of cities that have taken on not one but a series of City Managers and City Attorney that has led to mismanagement, low citizen satisfaction, poorly managed city funds, late and over-budget projects, etc., etc., etc. Removing these folks is time-consuming and expensive. Much more so than the process under consideration of letting this decision go to the electorate.
My point is that we have a good management team in place today and might be inclined to give them additional ministerial powers, as they serve our City well.
Unfortunately, Ministerial powers, like the Ring in the Lord of the Rings, are never returned once granted. Giving this power to Frodo today risks losing it to Sauron tomorrow.
To stretch the metaphor more than should be permissible, our Shire of American Canyon could quickly become Modor...
3) Civic pride:
Like the Mayor, I am also proud when he waxes eloquently about initiatives like the new wetlands center, our open spaces, our wetland walking trails, free irrigation water during the drought, even a commitment to banning future gas stations in our City.
And, because those in the Shire cannot live on Lembas bread alone...we even have a new Chicken Guy restaurant coming to our City. ;-)
I am also proud of the collegiate culture American Canyon is governed by today. This is due to participation by its citizens, elected city officials, and city management. I see no need to rock this boat, giving ministerial power to one party.
In closing:
We should ensure the last 6% of GI land in the City is exposed to the same process as the other 94%. I believe this process, however long drawn out, is in the interest of our community.
For me, this tension through participation of citizens, elected officials, and city professionals is what makes American Canyon what it is.
Keep the Ring of Ministerial power in the collective hands of the community.
Please choose to place Measure K on the ballot in November.
Thank you for your consideration.
Yours sincerely,
William Baker
CENTER for BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Because life is good.
Sent via email
City of American Canyon City Council
City Hall
4381 Broadway Street
American Canyon, CA 94503
To the American Canyon City Council Members,
These comments are submitted on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity (the "Center") regarding the proposed Measure K ballot initiative. As detailed in our public comments at the February 6, 2024 City Council meeting, Measure K would remove the City's oversight over the future of warehouse development within American Canyon, along with the safeguards provided by the California Environmental Quality Act. The public will lose its right to participate in local land use planning, and the City will lose its ability to ensure that such planning decisions are in the City's best interests. These rights are fundamental to democratic land use planning in California, and they should not be signed away without a vote of the people. We urge the City to send the initiative to the voters.
We have reviewed the Elections Code Section 9212 Report regarding Measure K ("Report") and remain concerned that the Measure would force approval of projects that do not meet the City's own sustainability standards. As noted in the Report, on February 6, 2024, the City passed the Industrial GHG standards ordinance and the Industrial Commerce Centers Sustainability Standards ordinance-making the City a leader in holding industrial development to the highest standards of environmental sustainability. Measure K would bar enforcement of these standards for qualifying projects, and replace the City's chosen high standards with bare minimum requirements that are vague, weak, or already required by state law.
Measure K represents a serious reshaping of environmental policy in American Canyon, from leading the charge to lagging behind. It also cements that change for the next five years, tying the City's hands. The residents of American Canyon deserve a chance to decide if this is what they want for their city.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Frances Tinney
Attorney
Urban Wildlands Program
CENTER for BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
509-432-9256
[email protected]
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