Solano supervisors reaffirm request for countywide review after Suisun City approves reimbursement deal for massive annexation study

The Solano County Board of Supervisors received an informational presentation and unanimously approved a motion reaffirming a prior county letter asking Suisun City to delay annexation actions and to coordinate any expansion planning through the county’s general‑plan update process.

The presentation summarized a reimbursement agreement between Suisun City and California Forever LP that would fund portions of Suisun’s planning and potentially pay the city up to $10 million tied partly to EIR certification and LAFCO annexation. County staff told the board the proposal would seek annexation of roughly 22,873 acres, including an area labeled the Suisun Expansion Specific Plan and portions of the Travis Reserve and Lamby Industrial Park.

Why it matters: The proposed scope — extending the city’s area by roughly tenfold — spans largely unincorporated, Williamson Act‑contracted agricultural land and land the county has designated as Travis Reserve (intended to remain largely open to protect Travis Air Force Base operations). Supervisors said the scale and potential regional effects require countywide, coordinated planning rather than a single city‑led annexation.

Staff summary and county concerns

James Biesick, Director of Resource Management, and Alan Calder, Planning Program Manager, told the board the reimbursement agreement includes a $400,000 deposit for city costs and tied payments of $3.5 million upon EIR certification and $6.5 million upon annexation completion. The city’s agreement with California Forever gives Suisun an exclusive working relationship with that developer and ties substantial payments to city approvals; staff raised concerns about objectivity and fiscal incentives that could pressure city decision‑making.

Staff also noted that most of the land proposed for annexation is currently zoned agricultural, covered by Williamson Act contracts, and within the Travis Reserve area. The county’s general plan and the Travis Reserve policies emphasize preserving open land, avoiding urban development adjacent to Travis Air Force Base, and maintaining compatibility with base operations.

Public comment and city response

Suisun City officials and supporters told the board the city is conducting studies and pledged to collaborate. Mayor Alma Hernandez said the city is studying the land and that about 25% of the study area is set aside to protect Travis AFB. Suisun City Manager (name provided in transcript as having participated) and Vice Mayor Jenna Lee Dawson said the expansion study would span decades and that early EIR work could provide data useful to the county’s general plan update. City manager comments requested direct, high‑level meetings between county and city leaders to coordinate processes.

Board action

After public comment from residents, business and civic groups and several supervisors’ remarks urging regional collaboration, the board voted 5–0 to reaffirm its prior direction: request Suisun City to delay unilateral action on the reimbursement agreement and to treat any expansion of this magnitude as a matter for countywide planning through the general‑plan update and the summit agreed by the 4 Cs forum. Supervisors also directed staff to proceed accordingly and to participate in regional coordination.

Ending

Supervisors emphasized an upcoming regional summit scheduled for August and said the county intends to begin its general‑plan update process after that summit. Board members urged Suisun and California Forever to use county processes and regional coordination to ensure a comprehensive analysis of land‑use, fiscal, military compatibility, infrastructure, and agricultural preservation issues.