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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

June 5, 2005

Supes to revisit road tax

Subheading

They will again look at the "Fair and Safe Traffic Solutions" platform favored by Supervisors Barbara Kondylis and Duane Kromm. The platform, already endorsed by Fairfield and Benicia, states principles for a proposed county transportation sales tax measure.

The county Board of Supervisors was divided over the platform during a previous discussion.

Some of the items are non-controversial. Fixing the interstates 80 and 680 interchange and repairing roads are widely supported by transportation sales tax advocates.

But the "Fair and Safe" platform also deals with the always-contentious issue of how Solano County should grow.

"Traffic will only get worse unless we plan well for accommodating future growth," the platform says. "Only cities that are doing their part to reduce traffic should get their share of our transportation dollars."

To get the transportation tax money, cities should have to do such things as have growth boundaries and try to reduce how much people drive, the platform states.

But some people saying attaching growth control rules to a transportation sales tax measure would doom the measure. Others say the move interferes with the right of cities to decide how they should grow.

Supervisors discussed the "Fair and Safe" platform on May 3, but took no vote. They were scheduled to try again on May 24, but the meeting went on so long - from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.- that they never got around to the item.

"Fair and Safe Traffic Solutions" describes itself as a coalition supporting planning that reduces traffic and promotes healthy, livable communities. Backers include Fairfield Mayor Karin MacMillan, Kenn Browne of the Sierra Club, Brent Schoradt of the Greenbelt Alliance, Benicia City Council members Tom Campbell, Dan Smith and Elizabeth Patterson and Vallejo City Councilman Gary Cloutier.

Also Tuesday, the board could again discuss whether to ban biosolids from farmland in the Suisun Marsh upland buffer zone. Farmers sometimes use treated sewer sludge as a fertilizer.

The board discussed the issue on May 24, but deadlocked 2-2 on whether to impose the ban. Two ranchers who already have permission to use the treated sludge in the marsh buffer zone would not be affected.

The Board of Supervisors meets at 8:30 a.m. in its chambers at 675 Texas St., though it will begin in closed session. Open session generally starts about 9 a.m.

Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646 Ext. 232 or at beberling@dailyrepublic.net.

At a glance

What: County transportation sales tax platform

When: Tuesday, 9 a.m.

Where: Board of Supervisors chambers, 675 Texas St.

Info: Supervisor Barbara Kondylis, 553-5363

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