Rio Vista Fires Back at California Forever Over Data Center Zoning Loophole

The Rio Vista City Council used its May 5 meeting to draw a sharp public line against California Forever, unanimously backing a press release that warns the Suisun Expansion Specific Plan could green-light the nation's largest data center project — despite being marketed as a housing and commercial development. The council also moved on four infrastructure and governance resolutions, investing in aging storm drains, Delta flood planning, emergency radio upgrades, and an outside investigations contract, all passing 4-0 with Mayor Edwin Okamura absent.

• Council backs press release warning Suisun Expansion Plan allows data centers by right in nearly every zone, with all four members present pushing back on California Forever's claim the city manager "went rogue"

• $200,000 approved for first-ever CCTV inspection of Rio Vista's aging storm drains after multiple emergency failures last winter

• No-cost land lease clears the way for a $2.5 million county radio tower upgrading police and fire emergency communications

• $200,000 state reimbursement deal secured for city staff participation in the Little Egbert Delta flood planning project

• Downtown merchants get relief as council backs a future ordinance cutting street closure sign posting from 72 hours to 24 hours ahead of summer event season

Data Centers, Not Housing: Rio Vista Challenges California Forever's Plan

Why it matters: Rio Vista is the nearest city to the proposed Suisun Expansion Specific Plan and stands to absorb traffic, water, and environmental impacts. The city's formal opposition puts on the record that the plan — despite California Forever's housing pitch — permits data centers by right in nearly every zoning district.

Where things stand: The City Manager Kristina Miller presented a press release issued May 4 highlighting that page 58 of the Suisun Expansion Specific Plan marks data centers as "Allowed" in all zoning districts except Open Space and Open Space Civic. She argued that California Forever's response — claiming water limitations would prevent data center construction — is not backed by any square footage caps or numerical limits in the plan itself.

"The Suisun Expansion Plan could become the largest data center project in the nation," Miller said.

She challenged California Forever directly:

"If it is truly the case that they have no intention of building data centers and this section in the table was perhaps in error, they should immediately remove this as an allowable use."

The other side: The council was united, but each member brought a different lens. Councilmember Sarah Donnelly was the bluntest, calling housing a cover story.

"I have always said that housing, shipbuilding, boundary project, those were their Trojan horses and that this project was what they were intending to do," she said.

She added that California Forever targeted Suisun City because it "runs in the deficit" and is "more desperate."

Vice Mayor Rick Dolk defended Miller against California Forever's public accusation that she had "gone rogue". Dolk also noted that Rio Vista once had an MOU with Suisun City to negotiate jointly with California Forever, but Suisun went ahead with its own deal:

"There was a rogue city manager, but it wasn't ours," he said.

Councilmember Walt Stanish praised the transparency, framing the opposition as accountability:

"California Forever's got that spaghetti pot going and throwing something on the wall and see if the spaghetti sticks. And so far nothing has stuck."

Councilmember Lisa Duke grounded her support in decades of local land use advocacy, citing "my 42-year support of the Orderly Growth Initiative" and her longstanding concerns about water, traffic, and environmental impacts.

Decisions: No formal vote was required; this was an informational item. But the unanimous, on-the-record backing from all four council members present establishes Rio Vista's position in the ongoing regional debate over the Suisun Expansion Plan.

First-Ever Storm Drain Inspection Gets $200K

The basics: Rio Vista has never conducted a CCTV inspection of its storm drain system. Multiple emergency failures last winter forced the council's hand.

Why it matters: The $200,000 allocation will fund cleaning and video inspection of approximately 40,000 linear feet of the city's oldest storm drain infrastructure. The data will be imported into the city's GIS system to create condition-assessment maps for prioritizing repairs — and critically, to build the evidence base for a future storm drain rate study that requires majority voter approval.

Where things stand: Staff based the $200,000 estimate on prior sewer CCTV projects and engineering estimates. The IMROC committee recommended the project at its February 2026 meeting. The funds flow as an interfund loan from the general fund to the storm drain fund, with the storm drain fund required to repay principal plus interest at LAIF rates.

Councilmember Lisa Duke asked how long the inspection data would remain useful. Public Works Director Greg responded:

"Historically you're supposed to do these every five years. Storm drain and sewer."

He confirmed the city's storm drains had never been inspected before.

Councilmember Walt Stanish flagged a paperwork discrepancy, asking whether the appropriation was a loan. City Manager Kristina Miller confirmed it is:

"The city's past practice has been that anytime an enterprise fund borrows from the general fund, that money is repaid with interest."

Vice Mayor Rick Dolk highlighted the political significance of thorough documentation, noting that storm drain rate votes require a majority of voters to approve — a higher bar than the protest-vote process used for sewer rates.

"There's always kind of this higher scrutiny because we have to get the majority vote on these storm drains," he said.

Public commenter Chris Armbrust, speaking as an Municipal Rates & Utilities Committee (MRUC) committee member, asked about the project timeline; staff indicated work would begin in the fall after budget approval.

Decisions: Passed 4-0 (For: Dolk, Duke, Stanish, Donnelly; Absent: Okamura).

What's next: Phase 1 inspection is expected to begin in fall 2026. The data will inform a future storm drain rate study requiring public majority approval.

$2.5M Radio Tower: County Picks Up the Tab

Why it matters: Rio Vista's police and fire departments operate approximately 65 radios currently running on aging equipment mounted on the city's water tank. A new 200-foot P25 radio tower — funded entirely by Solano County — will modernize emergency communications and improve interoperability with county agencies.

Where things stand: The tower is part of the county's Phase 2 radio system expansion, estimated at $11 million total. Approximately $2.5 million benefits Rio Vista specifically, covering a new tower, shelter, generator, air conditioning, engineering, and modern Motorola P25 radio equipment, as Public Works Director Greg Malcolm detailed in his presentation. The new tower at 11 Amador Circle will stand 200 feet tall — 60 feet taller than the existing 140-foot structure — and will be positioned southwest of the water tower, largely hidden from downtown views.

The city is providing the land lease at no cost and waiving permitting and processing fees. Solano County will serve as the CEQA lead agency. Construction is estimated at approximately one year, beginning next fiscal year.

Decisions: Passed 4-0 (For: Dolk, Duke, Stanish, Donnelly; Absent: Okamura).

State Pays Rio Vista to Join Delta Flood Planning

Why it matters: The 3,150-acre Little Egbert Tract north of Rio Vista is the site of a proposed flood conveyance and habitat restoration project led by the California Department of Water Resources. A $200,000 DWR funding agreement ensures the city gets reimbursed for staff time spent participating in early planning — without committing Rio Vista to supporting the project.

Vice Mayor Rick Dolk emphasized the distinction: the city is not endorsing the project. It remains in very early planning stages. Staff noted they had stopped answering DWR questions until a reimbursement agreement was in place, making the formal deal a prerequisite for continued participation.

Councilmember Walt Stanish confirmed the money comes from the state, not Rio Vista's general fund. Councilmember Lisa Duke asked which staff would be eligible and was told any staff working on the project qualifies.

Decisions: Passed 4-0 (For: Dolk, Duke, Stanish, Donnelly; Absent: Okamura).

Street Closure Signs Hurting Downtown Business

Councilmember Lisa Duke brought a concern from a downtown merchant: the 72-hour advance posting requirement for street closure signs causes foot traffic to drop immediately because passersby assume the street is already closed.

"As soon as the signs go up, business drops significantly. People drive by and they just think the streets close so they don't stop," she said.

City Manager Kristina Miller confirmed the 72-hour requirement stems from the California Vehicle Code's towing provisions but can be shortened to 24 hours by local ordinance. Councilmember Walt Stanish suggested an interim fix: adding the day of the week to signs, since many people track days rather than dates.

With summer events approaching — including farmers markets, live music, jet ski races, and Hog August Bites — the council reached consensus to place the ordinance on a future agenda.

Minor Items

• Consent calendar approved 3-0 (Okamura and Donnelly absent): April 21 meeting minutes, May 2026 monthly report, and a Clean Water State Revolving Fund application for low-interest water quality financing.

• Investigative services contract increased by $15,000: Council approved an amendment to the Van Dermyden Makus Investigations agreement to complete an ongoing internal affairs or workplace misconduct investigation. No general fund impact — funded by departmental savings. Passed 4-0.

• Measure K fund at $1.5 million: Oversight Committee Chair Jennifer Brazil reported the Q3 balance as of March 31, with all funds dedicated to the roadway improvement project. Bids are in; staff plans to bring the contract award to the May 19 meeting.

• City Manager Kristina Miller report: Two household hazardous waste collection events scheduled for May 30 and Oct. 17 at the Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant. Multiple city positions are being recruited, including a community services officer, part-time account clerk, maintenance workers, and an economic development manager. The next budget workshop is May 20 at 5 p.m.

• Riverfronts Arts Fest recap: Public commenter Chris Armbrust reported on the successful third annual event, highlighting merchant participation and the People's Choice Art Awards. Grace Armbrust praised Public Works employees for responding within 10 minutes on a Sunday evening to pump out a sewage overflow at her home.