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Colfax: City on the Brink |
Residents consider dissolving city status
To be or not to be a “city?” That is the question some Colfax residents are asking after the abrupt resignations of two city council members, the controversy surrounding Colfax’s sewer plant and the hefty fines imposed on the city related to that plant.
On Tuesday night, well after the Sentinel’s press deadline, the head of the Placer County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) was slated to make a presentation to the City Council and residents about the process to dissolve the city government.
Executive Officer Kristina Berry said the decision to apply for dis-incorporation as a city rests with the Colfax City Council or the process could be started through a resident-driven petition that garners 20 percent of the town’s registered voters.
“The residents could initiate an application to LAFCO, which we would have to review,” she said. “What we have to (do) is handle it the same as a city formation. It would be subject to environmental review, the cost (of which would) be borne by the proponents.”
At the last Colfax City Council meeting, resident Margie Livingston said she understood that the water needed to be cleaned up and the sewer plant upgraded, but questioned the cost vs. resident ratio.
“I agree that our water needs to be cleaned up, but you can’t expect our small community to pay for it,” she said. “Somehow there has to be some solution.”
She urged the City Council to consider dis-incorporation as an option so the cost could be spread out among the entire county.
Nicole Norris, another resident, pointed the finger at the city itself for the mess they now find themselves in.
“We were told that your (water quality) standards are destroying our city, but I don’t believe that,” she said as she addressed Pamela Creedon of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. “Our irresponsible (city) staff is to blame.”
Placer County Executive Officer Tom Miller said it’s unusual for a city to dis-incorporate, the last one occurring more than 30 years ago.
Miller said that the costs would not be paid for by all county residents, but would actually be paid by the residents who directly benefit – Colfax residents.
“On the county side we would look at LAFCO to create entities that would handle services (that would be) independent,” Miller said. “We would require the creation of that kind of district. We would also require dependent districts (managed by the county). The residents would need to fund that.”
During public meetings in the past, proponents of dis-incorporation have held up Foresthill as a shining example of what Colfax could be. Miller said that new policies by the county means that projects like parks, sewers and the like are paid for by the residents of that service area.
“The comparison with Foresthill is (different). At the time, the park was a general fund obligation, but new parks, such as the new one in Granite Bay, (are) paid for locally and those citizens have to pay for those services,” Miller said.
Other residents have asked what would happen to the state loan Colfax acquired to pay for the construction of the sewer plant if the city dissolved.
When regional water boards Executive Officer Creedon addressed the City Council at a previous meeting, she read a letter which indicated the state would take all necessary steps to secure payment on the loan.
“What’s going on right now is tearing this city apart,” responded resident Mike Walker. “If we weren’t a city, then (the state would) have to deal with the county.”
Berry said there are laws regarding what would happen to debts and other financial obligations, such as fines imposed upon the town by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and the state water board loan.
“The county has their own money situation and I don’t see any government institution stepping in and picking up the tab,” Berry said. “Special taxes and assessments can be put on the residents by the state to repay debts.”
Miller said that the county’s view would be that those being served by the sewer plant in Colfax would pay the fines imposed by the regional water board. A similar situation recently occurred at the county’s North Auburn waste water facility and they were hit with a heavy fine.
“The rate payees, even though it’s a county sanitation district, pay for the fines,” Miller said.
He also pointed out that Colfax would essentially lose the funds it has now.
“The local revenues that are currently there would not be Colfax revenues anymore, they would be (sent) to the County of Placer,” Miller said. “If there was dis-incorporation, all the generic taxes would come to the county and would not have to be spent in Colfax. It would come to the county general fund and would be dispersed where the board decided is most appropriate.”
Some dis-incorporation proponents claim that the county would step in and pave the roadways, replace the signs and generally make the town a nicer place.
“You drive through Meadow Vista or Foresthill and those towns are beautiful. They have good roads (and signs). You drive through Colfax and it’s (like) a Third World country,” Jeff Williams told the City Council at a previous meeting.
Colfax City Councilman Ken Delfino said he doesn’t think the city will dis-incorporate because the residents haven’t thought it all through.
“Why should the county want to inherit a problem?” he asked. “(The proponents) are looking at this locally and thinking (dis-incorporation) will take care of everything. They think new roads will be here. Who do they think is going to pay for those?”
He said he believes reason will prevail when residents realize what would happen to their wallets with the creation of all the special districts, new taxes, assessments and fees.
“In the long run, they’ll realize this dis-incorporation will not be to their benefit as individuals,” he said.
Miller also shot down the notion that the county would make improvements using tax revenue other than what is provided by the service area.
“When you look at the last five to ten years, the provision of road maintenance, recreation, sewer services have been primarily the responsibility of the residents to pay for those services,” Miller said.
Colfax City Councilman Joshua Alpine said he believes that once all the facts are known, the residents will choose to retain their city status.
“I think once the realities are laid out and brought into the light, and they have a true understanding of the options, the residents will see that Colfax is better off being a city,” Apline said.
“They are not getting out of the sewer problem. It’s not going to magically go away,” Alpine said. “As frustrating as it is to live in a small town with a very limited tax base, it’s going to be up to how well we work together as a town to overcome our problems and create and develop sustainable solutions. It’s really in our hands.”
Placer County District 5 Supervisor Bruce Kranz agreed.
“I think that there is a perception that the grass is greener on the other side and my personal opinion is they have much more representation if they remain a city. If they dis-incorporate, they will share me with other communities,” he said. “Local representation is always better.”
“I also believe the residents don’t understand the county is having problems with waste water as well. The community is going to have to come to grips with what they want to do. I don’t think it’s the city council’s fault that they have financial woes right now. Frankly, the city needs more revenues,” Kranz said. “I’m willing to support whatever (the residents) want, but I don’t want them to be deceived that everything is going to be dandy if they dis-incorporate. They would lose quite a bit if Colfax isn’t a city.”
In the end, dis-incorporation would be up to the residents of Colfax, Placer County and LAFCO. After an application is initiated with LAFCO, and if the application is approved, it would then go to the ballot box.
According to LAFCO’s Berry, the vote would not be countywide, but would up for Colfax’s registered voters to decide, and that could be a lengthy process.
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