East v. West: Both Sides of Cosumnes River Plead Cases on SOI

UPDATED 3:15 pm


At last night’s public meeting to discuss the City of Elk Grove’s sphere of influence (SOI) application, the main focus was supposed to be on memorandum of understanding (MOU) being developed by the city and Sacramento County and floodplain and transition zone property owners.

Instead, the meeting participants almost exclusively focused on the SOI and it’s inclusion of the Cosumnes River floodplain. The differing opinions about the whole matter seemed to line up on an east-west basis.

On the east side of the river were primarily Wilton residents who not only wanted the floodplain removed from the SOI, but were openly suspicious of Elk Grove’s motives.

Representing the west side of the river were a few large property owners who for a variety or reasons support not only inclusion of the floodplain in the SOI, but strongly back the entire SOI philosophy.

Typical of the comments offered by Wilton residents was Dan Speer who noted he was speking as a resident of Sacramento County. “As a county resident, I don’t want the county to enter a MOU with Elk Grove,” he said.

Several other Wilton and Elk Grove residents spoke against the entire SOI application and their comments focused on environmental concerns as well as referencing the 1997 floods. A number of people said they felt the county has done a good job of administering the rural area encompassed by the SOI and should continue in that function.

For their part, the small contingent of Grantline Road property owners from the west side of the river generally spoke in favor of inclusion of the floodplain in the SOI and the entire process.

One speaker was Grantline property owner Doug Williams who said there were many misconceptions about the SOI. “I wish some of you would take a closer look at this,” he said.

Following a mostly civil point-counter point exchange between the two sides of the rivers on the merits and shortcomings of the plan, discussion moderator Pam Johns of the Elk Grove city planning department attempted to explain the MOU process.

The meeting drew a stranding-room-only audience to the Elk Grove City Hall council chambers. Also attending the meeting was County Supervisor Don Notolli and Elk Grove City Council members Steve Detrick and Pat Hume. Marilyn Erbes, Administrative Director for Congressional Representative Dan Lungren was also in attendance. None of the elected officials participated in the session.

Invariably the discussion veered back to the floodplain and SOI with several people openly expressing skepticism that the floodplain will not be developed as promised.

“I don’t trust Elk Grove as far as I can throw them,” said Speer.