Finalization of Oak Rose lawsuit eluding Elk Grove mayor, city council; Is the state pressing for more concessions?

The Oak Rose lawsuit settlement is eluding Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen (upper left) 
and her four city councilmen. |  

 

Despite the numerous developments in the fair housing lawsuit that the State of California brought against Elk Grove, the case remains in a state of uncertainty, far from being signed, sealed, and delivered.

Among the significant developments was Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen's negotiated settlement with Long Beach, Calif.-based Excelerate Housing Group, the developer of the Oak Rose supportive housing project first proposed for Old Town Elk Grove. After responding to the whims of a handful of vocal opponents, Singh-Allen negotiated and approved a settlement that cost Elk Grove taxpayers $10 million. 

While the $10 million settlement was announced months ago, there were recent developments. A hearing scheduled in Sacramento Superior Court on July 19 was canceled with the announcement, "Counsel for the parties have requested that the merits hearing on July 19, 2024, be vacated because they have reached an agreement on settlement terms. Accordingly, the hearing is vacated."

Notwithstanding that announcement, Mayor Singh-Allen's secret meeting on Wednesday, July 24, discussed the state's lawsuit. The mayor made no announcement after the meeting.

Furthermore, during that secret meeting, the mayor and her city councilmen discussed the purchase of a one-acre parcel on Elk Grove-Florin Road and a four-acre parcel on East Stockton Boulevard. These property negotiations did not appear in the secret meetings before the July 27 session, which suggests they could be related to the state's lawsuit.

When asked about the lawsuit and the possible relation to the property negotiations, Elk Grove city manager Jason Behrmann said, "The settlement is not yet finalized. Once it is, we will announce it and make the details of the settlement available. I can't comment on the properties listed on closed session."

As it stands, the settlement is still pending, raising the possibility of a higher cost for taxpayers. There's also the potential for the state to impose further conditions on the city, extending the financial burden beyond the $10 million already incurred.  

You may not like us, but here you are! Follow us on Threads @ElkGroveNewsnet Follow us on Twitter @ElkGroveNews Follow us on Spoutible @ElkGroveNews
Follow us on YouTube @ElkGroveNews
Copyright by Elk Grove News © 2024. All rights reserved.