UKIAH, CA., 4/17/25 – The Ukiah City Council at its meeting Wednesday evening voted unanimously to allow city staff to move forward with a proposal to annex the Willow area south of Ukiah and a portion of Millview just north of the city.
The City Council gave the green light for Ukiah’s Community Development Department to submit an application to the Mendocino Local Agency Formation Commission, a government agency that oversees boundary changes in cities, counties and special districts.
City staff will now submit a thorough analysis to LAFCo as well as present their final documents to the Ukiah City Council this summer. If approved, the annexation will begin at the end of 2025, according to the staff report provided by the city.
During the public comment portion of the presentation at Wednesday’s meeting, concerned constituents, business owners and farmers explained why they believe the annexation proposal would not benefit Ukiah or its surrounding communities, including the absorption of the Willow County Water District into the Ukiah Valley Water Authority.
“I’m a property owner and my first question when I saw the map was: When were we, the property owners, going to be notified that this was even up for discussion?” said Katrina Bartolomie, Mendocino County assessor-county clerk-recorder and a property owner in the proposed annexation area. “The fact that it might now include all of the water district concerns me. That bothers me. It bothers my neighbors, too.”
Bartolomie, who owns horses and other animals, said she’s concerned about how the annexation could affect her livestock and general property.
“We raise cattle. Are you going to start requiring permits?” she said. “Put limits on the number of animals? We rely on our cattle. Who’s standing up for us?”
Several local farmers and rural residents echoed Bartolomie’s concerns, saying they were happy with their current water infrastructure and did not want to switch to the Ukiah Valley Water Authority.
“My septic tank works. It’s a lot cheaper than being connected to sewage. I get compensated,” said Mary Phillips, a local farmer. “I’d like to know what the benefits are for me, as a resident, to become part of the city. What am I getting into? What are they going to ask of me?”
City Councilmember Mari Rodin, a supporter of the annexation proposal, noted that integrating surrounding regions will bring more benefits to areas outside of Ukiah.
“They would have an improvement in services,” Rodin said in an interview. “I think that an annexation will benefit the Ukiah Valley community. Economically, financially, and security in their water supply.” BCN-20250415-UKIAHANNEXMAP-01
City staff gave a detailed presentation Wednesday evening of the proposed annexation, with outside special counsel Phil Williams serving as the project lead and main presenter along with Ukiah’s community development director Craig Schlatter and deputy city manager Shannon Riley.
At the beginning of the annexation presentation, Williams summarized how the proposal would alter the city’s geography. The annexation would roughly double Ukiah’s geographic size and redirect property tax revenue from Mendocino County to the city in the areas annexed.
Rodin asked who would be responsible for maintaining roads and infrastructure in the areas that are proposed to be annexed by the city.
“The City Council would serve as the legislative body overseeing that district, managing those funds on behalf of the public,” he added.
Last year, the city of Ukiah and Mendocino County signed a tax-sharing agreement to mitigate the financial impact of Ukiah annexing unincorporated areas surrounding the city. The agreement gradually transfers tax revenue from the county to the city over about 10 to 15 years, allowing the county to adjust to the change without an abrupt loss in revenue.
The agreement states that property owners in annexed areas will not see changes in their taxes.
The possible annexation comes on the heels of the city’s recent annexation of the Western Hills region last year.
It seems inconceivable to me that this annexation should take place without thorough notification of all the parties involved. I am sure that all the people in the annex properties are going to want to know what particular changes are going to be made to their fees, utilities, etc.. It can’t be that difficult to notify people about this. Again, how can you do this without taking that step to notify everyone?
It’s not about helping the residents at all. It’s about grabbing more taxes. For what? To fund the ever growing homeless problems? To force people to have to pay the city for water and sewage? To pay Ghilotti Bros more money for never ending road repairs? This doesn’t help anyone more than the board of supervisors and their bank accounts.
If 25% of the annex residents protest we will then get to vote on if this happens. If we get 50% protest it shuts it down. I hope we see some transparency from LAFCO and the protest process. Lafco is supposed to prevent sprawl. Is it possible the application is denied?
To successfully gather enough signatures for a petition in Ukiah, California, and put an annexation measure to a vote, you’ll need to follow specific steps. Here’s a structured approach:
### 1. Understand the Annexation Process
– **Research Local Laws**: Familiarize yourself with the California Government Code regarding annexations (particularly Section 56700-56895) and local ordinances that may apply in Ukiah. Understanding the legal framework will help ensure your petition is compliant.
– **Study Recent Council Decisions**: Review the city council’s past votes and discussions on annexation to gather context and support for your initiative.
### 2. Organize Your Campaign
– **Define Your Objective**: Clearly outline the purpose of the annexation and the benefits it may bring to the community.
– **Form a Committee**: Organize a group of supporters who share your goal. This will help with planning, gathering signatures, and mobilizing the community.
### 3. Draft the Petition
– **Petition Requirements**: Create a petition that adheres to state and local regulations. This typically includes a clear statement of the issue, the proposed annexation details, and space for signatories’ names and addresses.
– **Solicit Legal Review**: Consider having an attorney review your petition to ensure it meets all legal requirements.
### 4. Gather Signatures
– **Determine Signature Requirements**: Verify the number of signatures needed—this is usually a percentage of the registered voters in the area affected by the annexation.
– **Set Goals and Create a Timeline**: Develop a manageable timeline for your signature-gathering efforts and set daily or weekly goals.
– **Utilize Various Methods**: Collect signatures in person at community events, local businesses, and public areas. Utilize online platforms if allowed, and encourage supporters to share the petition.
– **Engage with the Community**: Host informational meetings or town halls to educate residents about the benefits of the annexation and encourage them to sign.
### 5. Submit the Signatures
– **Check Requirements for Submission**: Once you have gathered enough signatures, follow the guidelines for submitting them to the appropriate local government office (likely the city clerk’s office).
– **Verify Signatures**: Make sure that all signatures are valid (registered voters in the district) and that the petition is complete.
### 6. Follow Up
– **Work with City Officials**: After submission, maintain communication with city officials and provide any additional information they may require.
– **Prepare for the Vote**: If the petition drives enough support, prepare for the election campaign by educating voters about the measure and its implications.
### 7. Campaign for Support
– **Engage the Community**: If the measure is placed on the ballot, organize a campaign to educate voters on the benefits of the proposed annexation.
– **Host Events**: Create forums for discussion, distribute literature, and use social media to reach a wider audience.
### Important Considerations
– **Check Deadlines**: Be aware of deadlines for petition submission and election dates.
– **Monitoring**: After submission, track the progress of your petition through public records or by contacting local officials.
Conclusion:
It’s a lot of work to fight City hall!
All affected residents should we notified well in advance of making any important decisions.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts
Does anyone understand why the City wants to take this on. They talk about how to do it, but not why to do it. I asked the Planning Manager and he told me that there are no examples of cities in Northern CA where this kind of massive annexation has been tried. They are rushing this whole thing through for reasons unknown.
What do you mean? Cities in other counties annex unincorporated parcels quite often. What stands out in Mendo is how non-existent annexation has been over the last 35 years even as the area grows. The city has higher standards and better enforcement of building codes along with more resources to offer their locals. Ukiah power is cheaper than pg&e and police and fire protection in the city has much better coverage than the unincorporated areas.