Supes favor Springs redevelopment

April 15 is the next big step in the process to raise the cap on the Springs redevelopment funding. Controversial for its impact on the tabled discussions by the Sonoma City Council regarding possible annexation of the Springs areas, the vote by the county supervisors was not held on Tuesday, as some had anticipated.
Instead, the supervisors heard from three consultants reviewing the process, then listened to comments from half a dozen members of the public, all of whom spoke in favor of raising the cap. Among the speakers were Rich Lee, Steve Cox, and Ellen Conlan from the Springs Redevelopment Advisory Committee, as well as Nora Flood, Director of the Sonoma Charter School.
Sonoma Mayor Joanne Sanders also spoke in favor, noting that the City of Sonoma is directly impacted by activities in the Springs. She said that raising the revenue cap for the redevelopment funding in the Springs was important for continuing the improvements in infrastructure begun in that area.
Supervisor Valerie Brown, who represents Sonoma Valley, asked County Adminsitrator Bob Deis specifically what impact there might have been in his staff’s analysis if the City of Sonoma had begun active pursuit of annexation. The answer was that “probably” he’d have recommended not raising the cap, or at least not raising it any more than necessary to complete the Highway 12 improvements. However, with discussions on that topic tabled indefinitely by the city council, the RAC members present felt optimistic about approval. “It looks like three votes are there,” said Lee, “so certification of the EIR on April 15 is likely, with final approvals possible by August.”
Part of the Highway 12 improvements underway involves acquiring some 42 easements on properties fronting the highway. Many of the landowners have already reached agreement with the county to accept the easements, but staff reported that 10 are not yet finalized. In order to ensure that the easements are secured before August, the supervisors authorized the commencement of eminent domain proceedings against those properties, which include such recognizable names as John Metallinos (Fruit Basket), Ross Drulis Architects, Michelle Savage (Boyes Food Center), County School Board Trustee John Musilli, Sonoma Mission Inn, Saied Molavi (Valero Gas), and Ferrando’s Plumbing.