The general election of November 5th, 1996, brought welcome results for environmentalists in counties adjacent to Mendocino County, north and south, and stimulated response well beyond the local area.
In Arcata, Humboldt County, two Green Party members were elected to the City Council. As a Green Party member elected two years ago was already serving on the Council, this resulted in a Green majority - the first such majority in any incorporated city in the country.
Although city council races are non-partisan, most of the voters in Arcata were aware the successful candidates were Green Party members. The vote presumably reflects concerns the major parties have become too alike and no longer offer relevant solutions - particularly on issues relating to the environment.
Ralph Nadar, Green Party presidential candidate, offered his congratulations, noting the Green Party victory in Arcata clearly was not based on excessive financial contributions, but rather on the appeal of the party's positions on the issues.
Voters in Sonoma County passed five measures intended to curtail development in rural areas and protect agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands. Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) initiatives were easily passed in Santa Rosa, Healdsburg and Sebastopol and narrowly prevailed (by 350 votes) in Rohnert Park. A companion measure, to restrict development in unincorporated areas adjacent to UGBs, was given overwhelming support by voters county-wide.
The UGB initiatives in Santa Rosa, Healdsburg and Sebastopol established boundaries that cannot be changed for twenty years without a vote of the people. The Rohnert Park initiative provided for an urban growth boundary of four year's duration to allow the city time to revise and update its general plan.
Healdsburg and Sebastopol had previously adopted UGBs as part of their general plans. However, by adopting them as initiatives, they cannot be repealed other than by a majority vote of the people. Otherwise, change or repeal could be instituted at any time, by a majority of the city council.
UGBs are new to California, but pervasive in Oregon, where all 241 incorporated cities have had them for over a decade. Although critisized by developers and speculators, experience in Oregon indicates broad support and a high level of success. By establishing distinct boundaries, UGBs promote a sense of identity and integrity essential for maintaining a community's distinctive character. Many members of the business community support UGBs as they shelter established businesses in the city's core from competition of mega-mall developments in open space adjacent to the city.
The drive to establish UGBs in Sonoma County was supported by a coalition of environmental groups led by the Greenbelt Alliance. The Greenbelt Alliance was founded in 1958 and has offices in San Francisco and San Jose. The Alliance is dedicated to preserving open space and has staff and volunteers working in all parts of the Bay Area. The Greenbelt Alliance has helped save more than 600,000 acres of open space since its inception.
The successful outcome of the election may result in other communities in California adopting UGBs as an important planning tool. Had such measures been enacted a half-century ago we might not be confronted with urban disasters such as Santa Clara/San Jose and the Los Angeles/Orange County areas. It was encouraging to note the extended articles on UGBs in the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle stemming from the election.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 1997
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