WAG the Tail: Elk Grove’s SOI Attracts Attention, Concern in Wilton

While Elk Grove pursues its sphere of influence (SOI) application to expand its possible boundaries, there is another stakeholder that is seeking to have it concerns heard – the people of neighboring Wilton.

As part of unincorporated Sacramento County, Wilton shares a border with a portion of the area Elk Grove seeks to put under its sphere of influence. With the SOI process gaining steam, so to are the people of Wilton.

In response to their concerns, several people in Wilton have formed a group to voice these and other concerns, the Wilton Action Group, or WAG.
Using the moniker “Wilton is good place to be. Elk Grove thinks so, too,” the group was formed to specifically take on issues as it relates to the SOI.

On WAG’s website, their first newsletter states they “want to keep Elk Grove way on the other side of the river” and “since becoming a city in 2000,Elk Grove has set a very graphic example of what Wilton does not want to become.”

One of the WAG’s leaders is Wilton resident Bill Kutzer who has helped organize efforts to have their voices heard. These efforts, which have been ramped up in recent weeks, have included contacting regional media outlets and elected officials from local officials up to congressional representatives.

At last night’s Elk Grove City Council meeting council member Gary Davis expressed support of removing the Cosumnes River floodplain from the SOI application. While Davis’ support of removing the floodplain is undoubtedly welcome news for WAG, Kutzer said they will press on regardless of the SOI’s outcome.

“Yes we will pursue this SOI wherever it goes as long as the floodplain remains in the SOI,” Kutzer said “The people in this region, Sloughhouse, Elk Grove citizens, Herald, Galt, Franklin, outlying areas and even Wilton have spoken out over and over and over again and deserve to have it removed.”

Kutzer also pulled no punches on his assessment of who the driving forces are in the SOI.

“A handful of landowners, greedy special interest groups who have no stake in where we live or the consequences of expansion into the floodplain and a couple of ego-driven, greedy City Council members are feeding this whole thing,” he said. “Right now, only Gary Davis is listening. Are others?”

Elk Grove City Council member Pat Hume, who has been one of the primary advocates for the SOI, said there needs to be a complete deliberation and people should not jump to any conclusions regarding the entire process.

"It appears to me that a deep-seated mistrust of the City of Elk Grove and potential ulterior motives are miring down the process," he said. "I think the discussion would be healthier and much more productive if it were focused on safeguards to achieve what we want and want to prevent, rather than hanging up on jumping to premature conclusions."