Ukiah, California Development News
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City Council Regular Meeting - Media
Published: Jul 15, 2026
Council Members Report on Public Safety, Water Resources, Library Funding, and Renewable Energy Project
Councilmember Crane reported on a ride-along with Officer Marissa Reyes, whom she found impressive for her maturity, poise, and intelligence. She also provided a superficial update on the Inland Water and Power Commission, noting that modeling shows significant water availability through the proposed Eel-Russian facility even in drought years, emphasizing the need for water storage, particularly raising Coyote Valley Dam. Councilmember Scher reported on the Library Advisory Board's ongoing concerns about the county's library budget, which has been slashed, leading to a structural deficit limiting material purchases and programming. On a positive note, she attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Sonoma Clean Power's solar and storage project, highlighting its 4-megawatt capacity, 9,338 solar panels, and 16-megawatt batteries capable of powering 1,000 homes and offsetting over 8,100 tons of CO2 annually, suggesting it as an inspiration for similar projects.
Ukiah Recommends Census Tract 116 for Opportunity Zones 2.0 Program to Attract Investment
The City Council considered and adopted a resolution to recommend Census Tract 06045011600 (Census Tract 116) for the Opportunity Zones 2.0 program, and directed the Community Development Director to submit the recommendation form to the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO Biz). This program offers significant benefits for rural, underserved areas like Ukiah, potentially attracting investment through tax incentives. The designated census tract includes much of the downtown area and commercial zones, with the hope that this designation will help revitalize vacant and abandoned buildings and commercial spaces. The definition of 'shovel-ready' for this program is less stringent than usual, potentially allowing projects like the Palace Hotel to qualify if other criteria like available utilities, appropriate zoning, and potential for readiness within six months are met. The city has made significant investments in infrastructure within the downtown core and Redwood Business Park, enhancing their 'shovel-ready' status.
Public Expresses Strong Concerns Over Flock Safety Cameras; City Manager Addresses Data Discrepancies
During the meeting, several public comments were made regarding the use of Flock safety cameras. Concerns were raised about mass surveillance, the data centers required to power these systems, their reliance on fossil fuels, and the potential for AI-driven object detection to track individuals. Speakers urged the cancellation of the city's Flock contract, citing privacy violations, potential misuse of data, and the company's history of allegedly massaging statistics and breaking contracts. One speaker mentioned that data from Ukiah's 14 cameras was searched over 10 million times in 2025, with only about 11,000 searches by Ukiah PD. The City Manager stated that there may be misinformation and that the transparency page for the last 30 days shows only 240 searches, offering to research the '10 million searches' claim further and inviting groups to discuss concerns. A list of 86 cities and counties that have rejected or canceled Flock contracts was also provided.
Ukiah City Council Approves $12,455.25 Funding Agreement with Economic Development and Financing Corporation
The City Council approved a performance agreement and authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute a contract with the Economic Development and Financing Corporation (EDFC) for fiscal year 2026-27, in the amount of $12,455.25. This is an annually recurring item, supporting EDFC's role as a local nonprofit tax-exempt CDFI founded in 1995 to provide economic development services for the region. The contribution amount is based on a 1995 funding formula of 75 cents per capita for cities. Ukiah is noted as the only remaining jurisdiction in the county maintaining this contribution and service contract. EDFC has provided $8.5 million in loans to 62 businesses over the last seven years, creating 103 full-time jobs and retaining 219.5 jobs. They have also established a Community Reinvestment Fund, seeded with $350,000, to directly impact the community with loans, including to Ability Road and another business. The organization has also completed an RDBG grant contract providing technical assistance to 85 Mendocino County businesses. EDFC has migrated its loan software for efficiency and moved its banking locally to Savings Bank of Mendocino County.
Ukiah Council Authorizes Tolling Agreement Negotiation and Enters 3M Litigation Settlement Discussions
The council discussed and approved a motion to adjourn to closed session to consider authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute a tolling agreement between the Ukaya Rifle and Pistol Club and the city of Ukaya. Upon returning to open session, the council reported out from closed session regarding item 14D (discussed as 15E on the closed session agenda), which involved discussing potential participation in a class action settlement related to 3M litigation. The council authorized the city manager to sign a retainer agreement with Grossman and Kelly law firm and to file a claim in the lawsuit. The vote was unanimous.
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