Cordova Community Collaborative

Rancho Cordova Incorporation Committee

Nov 13, 2000

The Local Agengcy Formation Commission had its regular meeting on Oct. 4, 2000. Not much time was needed regarding Rancho Cordova incorporation, but the LAFCO Commissioners did vote that the extra EIR finances ($8,275) needed to study the alternative boundaries for "The City of Rancho Cordova" will be borne by LAFCO. The $90,000 bill for the EIR still must be paid by the RCIC. In the initial payment schedule with LAFCO the incorportation committee is making monthly payments of $1,000 a month with a lump sum of forty percent(less payments made) after the 45-day EIR draft review period. The rest of the bill is to be paid when the EIR is completed and accpeted.

The RCIC is working in earnest to raise the money that is needed. The mailing address is Rancho Cordova Incorporation Committee, P.O. Box 2226, Rancho Cordova, CA, 95741-2226. The RCIC office address is 2723 Dawes Street, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. In the past some of the checks have been made out to the $5 a Month Club. The bank perfres that all checks be made out to Rancho Cordova Incorporation Committee or RCIC.

The comprehensive fiscal analysis is also being completed, but there will be some extra time and cost incurred because of the alternate boundaries that have been added. There is no definite time of completion as of yet, but as of the Oct. 4th LAFCO meeting it was said that it will be after the first of the year. Revenue Neutrality is going to be discussed when all figures are completed. As of now the numbers that will affect the "City of Rancho Cordova" are too vague. How much will have to be paid on "revenue neutrality" depends on who you ask.

The goal of the Rancho Cordova Incorporation Committee is to place incorporation on then ballot. When can we vote? That is the question I must ask again because I think we should be on the ballot next year. Rancho Snata Margarita had a special election in November of 1999 and became a city January 1, 2000. The community of Aliso Viejo has completed the LAFCO process and has been placed on the ballot in a special election for cityhood on March 6, 2001. We have been told that becaue of Proposition 218 we must wait unitl there is a statewide general election in the year 2002 before we could vote on cityhood. When I was in college I was told tht such a state law applies to all counties and can not be applied differently to the citizens of differnt counties.

The Cordova Plan Update addresses some of the changes baeing faced by our commuity since the counties Cordova Plan was last done in 1978. What is being learned by the "Update" will be helpful to out sity as plans are made to create the new Rancho Cordova for its citizens and businesses. There are many decisions being made in, about, and for us today. It is unfortunate that the decisions can not be made by "Rancho Cordova City Council". Today, citizens ae asked for input regarding land use, zoning changes, roads, taxes, water tanks, etc. but the final decisions are not made by Rancho Cordovans. They should be!

Bob McGarvey, Chariman, RCIC