Residents urge Redlands City Council to protect historic citrus groves and water shares

Public commenters at the Redlands City Council meeting on March 4 pressed the council to preserve the city’s citrus groves and to honor long-standing water exchange agreements that owners say are essential to irrigating private groves.

Speakers including Chris Sedmack, owner of a private orange grove, and parcel owners Susan Brooks and Bobby Whitmore described centuries-old groves and said recent city staff actions threaten water delivery to trees that have produced citrus since the 1880s. "If these exchange agreements are terminated, it will be the end of private citrus in Redlands," Brooks told the council, saying her parcel includes about 100 trees at risk if water delivery is cut off.

The issue centers on water shares and the city’s recent purchases of grove parcels and water shares. Brooks and other speakers cited a 1996 exchange agreement between the city and Redlands Water Company and a 2013 city resolution (No. 7,047) that previously streamlined exchange procedures. Speakers said staff is refusing to honor exchanges established under those documents; they asked the council to direct staff to execute pending exchanges and to clarify the city’s position.

David Armstrong, vice president of the California Association of Mutual Water Companies and a representative of multiple local mutual water utilities, urged the council to review a prior sale of South Mountain Water Company and to avoid actions that would diminish mutual water companies’ rights. George Hansen, general manager of Bear Valley Mutual Water Company, told the council the five mutual companies he represents object to the municipal presentation language that referenced a "delivery shortfall," saying the matter remains under legal discussion and should not have been presented as settled.

Mayor Saucedo responded from the dais that staff members mentioned in public comments "do not have anything to do with water" and invited property owners to meet with the city to identify the appropriate staff and counsel. The mayor also said, referring to earlier questions about rescinding exchange agreements, "to my knowledge, the city has not rescinded any water exchange agreements, and we don't intend to." The mayor added, "We're not pursuing rescinding any water exchange agreements at this time. None." Those remarks followed multiple requests from speakers for clearer written assurances from the council.

Why it matters: Private orange groves and mutual water companies are both part of Redlands’ historical identity, and speakers said the groves contribute to local heritage and the economy. Several speakers said water shares and delivery agreements date back generations and that altering those arrangements could cause permanent loss of trees and heritage landscapes.

What the council did: The meeting record shows no formal direction on policy changes or rescinding of agreements. The mayor invited further meetings between property owners and the appropriate city staff and outside counsel. Several speakers asked the council to provide written confirmation of the city's position on exchange agreements.

Details and context - Speakers who testified included Chris Sedmack (private grove owner), Susan Brooks (parcel owner, England Grove parcel 1), Bobby Whitmore (parcel owner), David Armstrong (representing California Association of Mutual Water Companies), Sean L. Smith (descendant of longtime grove owners), and George Hansen (general manager, Bear Valley Mutual Water Company). - Susan Brooks said she and another parcel owner together have roughly 100 trees that could be deprived of water if delivery systems and exchanges are not honored. - Several speakers cited a 1996 city–Redlands Water Company exchange agreement and city council Resolution No. 7,047 (2013) as the documents that historically governed exchanges. - Speakers said the city holds majority shares in some mutual water companies; they asked the council to "honor these agreements" and to investigate a past sale of South Mountain Water Company that several speakers criticized.

What comes next: The mayor offered to have city staff meet with concerned owners to identify the right staff and counsel to discuss water-share mechanics. Speakers indicated they would pursue further meetings and may seek legal review if they remain concerned.