Residents Demand Rio Vista Oppose Secret State Legislation Favoring California Forever

Public commenters dominated a brisk Rio Vista City Council meeting, pressing elected officials to formally oppose what they described as a secretive state legislative effort that could strip local land use authority to benefit the California Forever development project. The council also approved a 4% garbage rate increase over one member's objection that it exceeds inflation.

• Residents urge city to formally oppose California Forever special legislation they say is being drafted in secret to bypass local land use controls
• Garbage collection rates rise 4% in a 4-1 vote, over objection that the hike exceeds the 3.5% CPI inflation rate
• Trilogy neighbors raise alarm over a red-tagged vacant "cat house" property unresolved for 11 months
• Council signals future action on a draft opposition letter targeting the governor and state legislators

A coordinated push by residents took center stage at Rio Vista's July 22 meeting, as multiple speakers urged the council to take a formal stand against what they described as a behind-the-scenes effort by California Forever lobbyists to rewrite state land use and environmental law through the budget trailer bill process — a legislative vehicle typically used for technical budget adjustments, not sweeping policy changes.