Solano supervisors back consultant-led roadmap, stress LAFCO checks on annexations

Solano County supervisors asked staff to seek a consultant to help craft a 20-year “roadmap” for growth and to convene policy makers across cities, water agencies and other stakeholders, while underscoring LAFCO’s role as a check on annexations.

The request to prepare a request for information (RFI) and request for proposals (RFP) followed an extended discussion about municipal service reviews (MSRs), spheres of influence and the county’s 2008 orderly growth policy. Supervisor Mashburn said the county and LAFCO can curb unwanted annexations if cities cannot demonstrate they can provide required services: “Do not take our local land use authority away from us,” he said.

Why it matters: supervisors framed the item as a proactive effort to shape where and how development happens in Solano County over the next 20 years, not simply to block growth. They said a consultant and structured convening would help the county form a unified position with cities, utility providers and regional bodies before state or federal policies reduce local control.

Supervisors described the general-plan update as a roadmap that can be amended as conditions change, rather than a total rewrite of the 2008 policy. Mashburn warned that LAFCO’s MSR process can cut a city’s sphere of influence if the city cannot demonstrate adequate police, fire or water services, noting that “if they can’t provide for what they have, then you don’t get to ask for more.” He urged a first presentation aimed at policy and land-use decision makers and said the county should recruit a consultant with experience in cross-jurisdictional planning.

Supervisor Brown supported broad stakeholder engagement and stressed workforce and educational ties to regional growth, saying, “If you do not have an educated workforce, you’re not gonna have a workforce that’s gonna be able to afford to buy and live.” Brown urged that school districts, community colleges and local educational institutions be included in planning conversations.

Supervisor James framed the county’s moment as one of regional attention because of recent large land purchases and state actions, saying “the nation eyes are on Solano County” and urging equity and accessible community engagement across northern, central and southern parts of the county. Supervisor Williams recommended inviting local tribal representatives and creating a citizen advisory group with meetings at different times and locations so residents who work daytime hours can participate.

Board members discussed a recent example — San Bernardino County’s multi-year process — as a cautionary model of time and resource needs. Mashburn said his recommendation is to ask the county administrative office and staff to draft an RFI and RFP so a consultant can lead the technical work and public outreach. He framed the initial convening as targeted toward policy-makers, land-use decision makers and agencies that control water and other services.

No formal ordinance or binding vote was recorded in the transcript excerpt. The board’s direction to staff was procedural: to develop procurement documents and return with options, and to plan convenings that include cities, LAFCO and other stakeholders. Supervisors noted Measure T and regional transit proposals as parallel issues that affect how and where growth should be managed, and several supervisors urged attention to preserving affordability and assisting struggling cities such as Vallejo and Suisun City.

The discussion closed with supervisors expressing general agreement to proceed and a plan to return with further information and questions. The item was ended with a staff follow-up task to draft the RFI/RFP and outline next steps for consultant recruitment and convening.