UKIAH, CA., 6/18/25 — The city of Ukiah is holding a town hall meeting Thursday for residents who want to ask questions about the city’s recent annexation proposal. The meeting follows a planning commission meeting and an annexation workshop, both held earlier this month.
The city is organizing the meeting to provide information and answer questions about its proposal to annex unincorporated areas outside city limits. The plan, called the “Ukiah Valley Reorganization,” involves annexing unincorporated land in the Willow area to the south of the city and part of Millview to the north.
In a press release, the city said the proposal “builds on a long-standing city policy direction to strengthen regional planning, enhance service delivery and protect agricultural and open space lands.”
The city’s annexation proposal has inspired mixed emotions from community members in Ukiah. At the most recent planning commission meeting, some residents said they didn’t feel properly informed before the city moved forward with the plans.
The proposed annexation could further exasperate an already strained county budget. For example, the county will lose tax revenue if the annexation takes place, while the city of Ukiah would bring in 15% or more in tax revenue, according to a recent board of supervisors discussion.
However, city officials, including Deputy City Manager Shannon Riley, said some residents have expressed support for annexation, stating it could help them obtain permits and get certain project proposals approved by the city.
At Thursday’s town hall, city employees will be available to answer questions about annexation and provide more details.
The town hall will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center, 200 S. School St. There is no option for virtual attendance. To learn more about the event, go to the city’s website here.
Sarah Stierch contributed to this story.
It’s a water grab. It’s clear in the test used.
“annexing unincorporated land in the Willow area to the south of the city and part of Millview to the north. ”
They flew the helicopter over a few years ago with the giant antenna under it to measure the water tables. We have more water than we thought in those districts as the aquifer is not being depleted as quickly due to lack of housing and business draw. It’s all ag use land and they pull from the Russian river!
Is anybody even considering the proposed removal of Scott dam, drying up the Russian river in this area throughout the summer? It wilk cause farmers to dig wells and pull from the aquifer. On top of that, everyone pulling from newly drilled city wells in those areas will pull even more from the ground storage!
The city needs tax dollars. The water is a heavy tax and moderated usage item.
Put two and two together folks!!
Over the years there have been many businesses that owned property in the city but had residance in county jurisdiction. Which prevented them from voting in city elections that affected their commercial properties. It created a lot of distrust in city
government.
The prospect of having the city regulating Ag land is scary. What happens to the county s Right to Farm ordinance? What about pressure to rezone prime Ag land ?
Then there’s the current water issues both ground and surface for Ag and domestic.
Also the loss of county tax revenue.
This proposed city annexation is wrong.