• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Nature, Environment, History & Politics

The Valley Citizen

  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About
  • RSS Icon

Local Mayors in LAFCo Coup Attempt

April 18, 2015 By Bradley Barker 1 Comment

Brad Barker
Brad Barker

Brad Barker is Conservation Chair of Yokuts Chapter of the Sierra Club. He is a close follower of local land use issues and an ardent advocate of smart growth.

Smart, orderly land use planning is crucial to protecting our environment. Land use is directly connected to air quality, water quality and supply, climate change, habitat loss, transportation problems, farmland protection and other important environmental issues.

In each of California’s 58 counties, there is an agency charged with overseeing the expansion of city boundaries, preserving agricultural resources and discouraging urban sprawl. That agency is the Local Agency Formation Commission or “LAFCo.” The Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club strongly endorses LAFCO’s mission. Their land use goals are among our highest priorities.

On March 25th, Stanislaus LAFCO amended its Ag Preservation Policy to recommend a formula for farmland mitigation. The intention was to let wayward local cities know that they must provide 1-for -1 full mitigation for the loss of farmland to new housing. This was a huge (3-2) victory for smart planning. Commissioners Jim DeMartini, Terry Withrow and Matt Beekman voted in favor.  Brad Hawn and Amy Bublak voted with the building industry. Now, six minor mayors are trying to replace Hughson Mayor Beekman on LAFCO. That would be ridiculous. Beekman is excellent. He needs to stay.

A 2013 report from the American Farmland Trust, “Saving Farmland, Growing Cities,” shows Stanislaus County as the worst county in the San Joaquin Valley for the percentage of development that converts high quality farmland. Sadly, it’s 87%. Much of the fault here lies with the nine cities of Stanislaus County, including the cities with mayors now trying to rig the local LAFCo.

Stanislaus County has consistently been among the top ten agricultural producing counties in the United States. Farm production and the connected industries — packing, processing, transporting, marketing, etc. are the backbone of our local economy. The general plans of all nine cities and Stanislaus County recognize the importance of farmland preservation. And yet, some city officials in some cities are objecting to a fairly-imposed plan to mitigate the loss of agricultural lands. Their actions are disheartening.

For years now, cities have asked for a “level playing field” when it comes to farmland preservation so that cities with lax development standards don’t grab unfair advantage. Developers have asked for more “certainty” in the process. The amended policy would help to achieve both of those outcomes.

The preservation of farmland is a core belief of the people of Stanislaus County. Last year, Modesto City Council chambers overflowed with residents protesting the possible annexation of Wood Colony. In 2009, Modesto voters rejected all five advisory growth measures proposed by the city. The most successful of the five still lost by 60%. In 2008, Stanislaus County voters overwhelmingly approved Meaure E to restrict residential development on county lands outside the nine cities. The measure passed two-to-one (67%). Certainly the voters were not voting to protect county farmland so that it could be gobbled up by sprawling cities.

So the question arises: Why do some local officials seem so insulated from the values of the people they represent?

On May 13th, the selection committee for the mayors of the nine cities in Stanislaus County will meet at Turlock City Hall at 6 PM to consider replacing Mayor Beekman on LAFCo. The mayors need to hear from their constituents that Mayor Beekman should stay put. Even The Modesto Bee editorial board (who are inconsistent on smart planning) called this “an ill-advised coup attempt…about courting favor with deep-pocket builders.”

Please contact your local mayor. It’s definitely not the time to return to pre-recession patterns of sprawl that drained public revenues, spread public services too thin, and were horrible for the environment.

 

 

Filed Under: Environment, Featured

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. West_Sider says

    April 18, 2015 at 3:25 pm

    Great Piece Bradley!

    Bradley’s written response to LAFCO’s proposed policy was a good one. I especially enjoyed that he copied the city’s ” ag policies ” that are contained in the City’s general plans. Those policies are meaningless feel good mumbo jumbo. Patterson has one in there because they need to address it but when developers come to Patterson’s door seeking annexations, those policies are not even an afterthought. That is what these cities, and especially cities like Patterson want. Feel good policy that makes average people feel the issue is being addressed when, in fact, these policies are useless and it is business as usual. The reason these cities are fighting this ag mitigation policy is because it might actually work and preserve some prime farmland in the area.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Note: Some comments may be held for moderation.

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

A South Texan?s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
A South Texan’s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
When she began her year-long bird-spotting adventure, Tiffany Kersten was lost and lonely. She ended up achieving a major milestone and finding her way.
www.texasmonthly.com
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
A top aide said the Wisconsin Republican senator wanted to give Pence the list of pro-Trump electors as he prepared to certify the 2020 election.
www.politico.com
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
“I think it would have helped our party heal, given [people] more facts.”
www.axios.com
'Not safe anymore': Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
‘Not safe anymore’: Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
Homeless encampments now spill well beyond Portland’s downtown core, dividing a city that has invested liberally in support services.
www.latimes.com
Republicans Will Do It Again
Republicans Will Do It Again
They have not been chastened by the revelations of the January 6 committee.
nymag.com
Birdman
Birdman
Bird Brother: A Falconer’s Journey and the Healing Power of Wildlife
www.earthisland.org
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Martins were bit players in politics, until they put Doug Mastriano one step away from becoming Pennsylvania’s next governor.
nymag.com
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Prominent Christian leaders accuse Trump allies of spreading misinformation about election and Covid, while distorting Christian teachings at ReAwaken America events
www.theguardian.com
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears 'moment of reckoning'
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears ‘moment of reckoning’
As the Colorado River water shortage worsens, major cutbacks are needed to reduce most perilous risks, a federal official tells senators.
www.latimes.com
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Supporters who thought they were donating to “election integrity” instead saw some of their money funneled to Trump hotels
www.rollingstone.com
Police Arrested 31 White Supremacists Crammed Into a U-Haul With a Detailed Riot Plan
Police Arrested 31 White Supremacists Crammed Into a U-Haul With a Detailed Riot Plan
Members of the Patriot Front were allegedly planning to disrupt a pride parade in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
www.vice.com
Dishonor, Trump’s and His Party’s, Is the Real January 6th Takeaway
Dishonor, Trump’s and His Party’s, Is the Real January 6th Takeaway
Liz Cheney, defying the G.O.P., offered a searing indictment of the former President at Thursday’s hearing.
www.newyorker.com
Trumpworld Lied To Your Face About The Election
Trumpworld Lied To Your Face About The Election
In the fall and winter of 2020, former President Trump’s top lieutenants…
talkingpointsmemo.com

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design