Yes on Measure F

<- Back

The Truth about the Antioch Debate

By Fix Balfour Road and American Avenue PAC, on May 30, 2010

Much of the current debate about Measure F is turning on the question of whether or not Antioch might take control of the area if Measure F is defeated.  Our opposition has provided an impressive sounding argument.  Unfortunately, it’s full of misinformation half-truths and does not tell the whole story..

Here are the facts.

1.  The site is NOT within Brentwood’s City Limits.  Until it is within the actual City Limits, the determination of the area’s ultimate control remains unresolved.  This is the law.

2.  The Contra Costa Local Agency Formation (LAFCO) has the power to decide whether the area goes to Brentwood or Antioch or stays unincorporated.  It is made up of 7 members.  Contra Costa LAFCO has a longstanding policy of abiding by the express will of the people.  In this case, if the people of Brentwood reject this area for a 2^nd time, LAFCO Commissioners have indicated that they are open to sending it to Antioch if Antioch’s voters want it.

3.  The area is within Brentwood’s Sphere of Influence (SOI).  This does support the idea that Brentwood should ultimately control this territory.  We agree.  That’s why we’re trying to finalize the steps of coming into Brentwood by passing Measure F.  We would much rather join Brentwood.  That’s why we wrote an initiative to come to Brentwood instead of Antioch.

It’s important to understand that a SOI status can be changed at any time LAFCO deems it appropriate.  As recently as 2008, LAFCO removed hundreds of acres from Brentwood’s SOI after that land was made part of the state park system.  LAFCO does a regular review of SOI’s to see if they still make sense.  We’re concerned that a 2^nd rejection of our land by Brentwood’s voters would be a substantial basis for removing our land from Brentwood’s SOI.  This is the kind of reasoning that LAFCO uses throughout the County.

4.  Opponents seem to think that the position of the City of Antioch somehow decides whether land is placed under their control.  Not true.  In fact, Antioch’s City Council could even OPPOSE the proposed annexation.  In the final analysis, the relevant issue is the policy of the 7 LAFCO Commissioners.  State law gives them the sole power to decide this question.

But don’t be fooled.  Antioch has NOT rejected the idea of bringing our land into their control should Brentwood reject it.  Even more important, with their recent announcement that they may be facing bankruptcy, Antioch would have a strong motivation to go after this area.  Brentwood’s staff concluded that homes on our site would generate annual net $800,000 surplus.  Not only would the tax dollars and fees be of great benefit to Antioch, they have made it clear that development is needed to fund roads and sewer lines to allow them to implement their plans for Roddy Ranch.  Antioch voters approved Roddy Ranch via the Measure K initiative in 2005 by nearly a 60% to 40% vote.

5.  The real question surrounding Antioch is what will the voters of that city do?  Because of the approval of Measure K in 2005, Antioch has its own Urban Limit Line.  Pittsburg and San Ramon’s voters have the same power and authority over their own area.  Currently, Brentwood does not.  If Measure F passes, Brentwood will have its own Urban Limit Line which it will control.  Right now, Brentwood is only a 5% fraction of overall countywide line.

6.  An initiative in Antioch would change that city’s Urban Limit Line and would amend its General Plan.  These are the key factors which would allow Antioch to annex the Balfour area. 

7.  Once Antioch’s voters approved the initiative, all that would be left is for LAFCO to finalize the shift to Antioch.  It is true that a full review and public hearing would be part of that process.  However, given LAFCO’s stated policy of respecting the will of the people, ask yourself this basic question:  if Brentwood’s voters say no while Antioch’s voters say yes, why wouldn’t LAFCO put the area in the city which wants it?  They almost certainly would.  They always have.

8. Regarding an Antioch initiative, there are at least 4 groups who can put one on the ballot.  A) the Antioch City Council, B) a group of Antioch citizens, C) other property owners, and D) the Measure F property owners.  Please understand that initiatives get on city ballots a number of ways, often without the consent of the impacted property owners.

9.  Finally, when our opponents say that Antioch can’t take this area, please remember that Roddy Ranch was outside Antioch and outside the Urban Limit Line.  It became a part of Antioch because of the passage of Measure K and the votes of the 7 LAFCO Commissioners. 

That’s it.  As complicated as it may sound, it’s ultimately a 3 step process.  Our land can come into Antioch if:  A) Measure F loses, B) an Antioch initiative passes and C) LAFCO approves the move.

Please ask our opponents that if Roddy Ranch could come into Antioch by initiative, why couldn’t the Balfour area?  Regardless of what they say, the simple fact is that it can.