Solano County Approves $600K for Affordable Housing as Agriculture Hits Record $470M

The Solano County Board of Supervisors moved quickly through a packed Aug. 4 agenda, conditionally approving $600,000 in Housing Trust Fund allocations for two affordable housing projects — one racing an end-of-month tax credit deadline — while receiving a crop report showing the county's agricultural economy has never been more valuable. Residents, meanwhile, used public comment to deliver sharp warnings about California Forever, farmland annexation, and cracks in the county's sexual assault forensic exam program.

• Board conditionally approves $400K loan for 66-unit affordable housing project with 16 units for people with intellectual disabilities, contingent on Fairfield City Council vote the same evening
• Solano agriculture hits all-time high of $470.2 million, with almonds topping $100M for the first time in county history
• Residents blast California Forever for backroom state meetings and warn Vacaville annexation plan threatens productive farmland
• Fairfield Police Chief questions SART program finances, asks Board to agendize a full review of the sexual assault exam program's funding
• Glassy-winged sharpshooter threat escalates after Fresno nursery shipped 10,000 infested grapevines to Costco stores across Northern California
• County physician assistant warns of looming patient access problems from broken retention bonuses and missing lab services

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$600K Housing Fund Approval Hinges on Fairfield's Same-Night Vote

Why it matters: The Board's largest Housing Trust Fund deployment pairs a 66-unit affordable complex that includes a rare set-aside for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a 10-home Habitat for Humanity infill project — but the bigger allocation depended on the Fairfield City Council acting the very same evening.

Where things stand: Principal Management Analyst Ann Putney presented two requests from the Housing Trust Fund. The first: a $400,000 loan to EAH Housing for Tabor Commons, a 66-unit all-electric development at 212 East Tabor Ave. in Fairfield serving families at 30–70% of area median income. Sixteen units would be reserved for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supported by North Bay Regional Center. The county would also defer roughly $446,354 in public facilities fees.

EAH faces a $1.8 million funding gap driven by increased impact fees and risks losing its California Housing Finance Agency tax credit allocation by the end of August. Project Manager Bryce Lockard of EAH Housing told the Board that county backing is essential leverage: "With your assistance, that helps our negotiating leverage with the city of Fairfield, who works currently in discussion for additional funding in the form of impact fee credits and fee deferrals as well."

Supervisor Mitch Mashburn pressed on the math: "If we're going to give them 400,000, where are they going to get the other 1.4 million bucks? Are we just throwing good money out there?" Lockard explained that county commitment signals institutional support that Fairfield needs to see before approving additional relief.

Supervisor Cassandra James questioned the overall cost, noting the project works out to approximately $760,000 per door. Supervisor Wanda Williams focused on the disability housing component: "Not often do you have units set aside for individuals with intellectual disability. They do struggle immensely to find housing, to have their independence. So to me, this is a very important project."

The second request: a $200,000 grant to Napa-Solano Habitat for Humanity for Harmony Village, a 10-home infill project near East Monte Vista Avenue in Vacaville. Families earning 50–80% AMI contribute 500 hours of sweat equity to help build their homes.

The other side: Public commenter Gaul Coley, a real estate agent, raised concerns about Habitat's deed restrictions, describing a Walnut Creek homeowner unable to sell because of price caps, first rights of refusal, and resale limitations. He urged the Board to ensure exit pathways exist for aging homeowners. Habitat CEO Andrew Killeen responded that the organization's model includes soft second mortgages due on sale, a first right of purchase, and equity recovery for homeowners, and committed to working with the concerned homeowner directly.

Decisions: Chair Monica Brown made the EAH loan conditional on the Fairfield City Council approving its portion of project funding at its meeting that same evening. Motion by Supervisor Mashburn, seconded by Supervisor Williams. Approved 4-0 (For: Brown, James, Williams, Mashburn; Absent: Vasquez).

What's next: Fairfield's council vote will determine whether the $1.8M gap can close before the tax credit allocation deadline at the end of August. If the gap is not resolved, EAH would likely be forced to relinquish its CalHFA allocation.

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Almonds, Cattle Drive Solano Agriculture to Record $470M

Why it matters: The county's agricultural sector posted its highest-ever production value at a moment when annexation proposals from Vacaville and California Forever threaten to convert active farmland — making these numbers a benchmark for what could be lost.

Agricultural Commissioner Ed King reported total 2025 gross production value of $470.2 million, up $38 million from 2024 and surpassing the previous record of $460 million set in 2023. "This is over a $38 million increase from 2024. It also sets a new record high value for ag production in the county," King told the Board.

Almonds Break the $100M Barrier

Almonds became only the second commodity in county history to exceed $100 million, hitting $108 million — up nearly $30 million year-over-year. Cattle ranked second at $65.4 million, buoyed by historically low nationwide herd inventory and the USDA's closure of the southern border to Mexican cattle imports due to New World screwworm reinfestation. Processing tomatoes came in third at $50.3 million, down on reduced contracting. Wine grapes held steady at $31 million despite a broader industry downturn, with Suisun Valley voted the No. 1 wine region by USA Today readers. Nursery products dropped $10 million following a major nursery bankruptcy.

Sharpshooter Threat Hits Close to Home

King delivered a sobering warning about the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a pest that spreads Pierce's disease and can devastate vineyards. "We had a Fresno County nursery in April and May ship 10,000 grapevines, many of which were infested with glassy-winged sharpshooter, to Costco stores all over Northern California, including Vallejo, Vacaville, and Fairfield." Enhanced surveillance is ongoing.

Supervisor Williams reported constituent alarm from Suisun Valley: "I have been receiving some calls from the valley. Not that they have spotted any sharpshooters, but just concern, the concern the impact to the grapevines." Supervisor Mashburn thanked staff for their rapid sharpshooter response and asked about enforcement tools for roughly 1,300 acres of neglected walnut orchards creating pest pressure on neighboring farms. King confirmed new state legislation grants civil penalty authority for abatement.

Weights, Measures, and Consumer Protection

Supervisor Mashburn also pushed for greater transparency in the weights and measures program, requesting that businesses caught overcharging consumers be publicly identified: "I think we should be calling out the businesses. The citizens have a right to know who's overcharging them, especially if they're repeat offenders or if they're a big corporate chain."

Chair Brown connected the crop report to the broader land-use fight: "Not only do we create a lot in terms of the economy, but we feed people. And that is why we need to keep our land pristine and we don't pave over it."

Public commenter Gaul Coley, president of the Pleasants Valley Ag Association, urged the county to elevate agriculture's standing: "I believe agriculture deserves to stand alongside health care, manufacturing, logistics, biotechnology, and government as one of the foundational industries that drives our local economy." Public commenter Charlene Schmid suggested future crop reports project the agricultural production that would be lost if pending annexations proceed.

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Residents Sound the Alarm on California Forever and Farmland Annexation

Three public commenters used general public comment to deliver pointed criticism of California Forever and Vacaville's Northeast Development Plan, framing both as existential threats to the county's agricultural economy and governance transparency.

Public commenter Jim Declo described the California Forever proposal as a plan by Silicon Valley billionaires to build a city that would nearly double the county's population. He cited CalMatters investigative reporting on meetings between California Forever representatives and state officials, including a meeting with the governor, and asked elected officials to publicly report on any such meetings. "The current proposal is to waive environmental review for this proposal that would almost double the population of Solano County. Absurd," Declo said.

Public commenter Joel Barrio of Vacaville called California Forever a net drain on taxpayers, referencing a 2024 county staff report. He described the Saronic shipyard connection as a "smokescreen," noting the company already has a facility in Franklin, Louisiana, and reported that fewer than 40 people attended a California Forever open house.

Public commenter Charlene Schmid, a District 4 rancher, warned that Vacaville's Northeast Development Plan would require 700–800 acres of county farmland to be annexed. She demanded transparency and input processes for unincorporated residents, noting that District 4 currently has no seated supervisor, with Supervisor John M. Vasquez absent from the meeting.

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Police Chief Questions SART Program Finances

Why it matters: Twenty-four-hour SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) coverage is critical for both victims and criminal prosecution. Potential service reductions from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. would create a dangerous gap.

Fairfield Police Chief Dan Marshall used general public comment to raise financial transparency questions about the SANE/SART forensic exam program run by executive director Kerry Cordero, who has publicly stated the program needs an additional $90,500 in county funding to sustain around-the-clock services. Marshall presented calculations suggesting that exam fee revenue — roughly $262,000 based on 114 exams per year at $2,300 each, rising to $2,800 — should cover estimated staffing costs of about $220,800.

"I respectfully request that the Board agendize this issue and include a financial review of the SANE/SART program including all county funding, grants, examination revenue, and operating expenses," Marshall said. He also asked the Board to evaluate whether a joint powers authority with local hospitals could administer the program more efficiently. Chair Brown asked Marshall to email his data to all supervisors and indicated the issue would be taken up.

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County Health Worker Warns of Patient Access Crisis

Public commenter Joseph, a physician assistant at Solano County Family Health Services, warned that recruitment gains at the county's clinics may be lost due to three problems: a $50,000 five-year retention bonus that is no longer available, the absence of a functioning lab for basic blood sugar and urine testing, and unfavorable contract negotiations compared to previous terms. He noted that Supervisors Williams and James — whose districts have the most Medi-Cal-dependent residents — voted favorably for public servant contracts, while other supervisors did not.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar (items 4–14) approved 4-0, including: a $665,150 Proposition 36 grant for community-based substance use treatment expansion through March 2028; a resolution adopting an EMS provider contracting policy for emergency ambulance services; $539,735 in Sheriff contract amendments for inmate security and evacuation software; up to $6.5 million for Public Works capital improvement projects including Lake Solano pavement rehabilitation; $400,000 for Stevenson Bridge rehabilitation and PG&E utility work; an amendment to the Countywide Local Road Safety Plan; a $113,671 transfer to accept DHS vehicle barrier equipment; and recognition of Lidia Arceo as the DA's Employee of the Month.
• Board honored Diana Jaramillo upon her retirement after 20 years and 3 months of service across multiple county departments, most recently as Clerical Operations Manager overseeing the Sheriff's 24/7 Records and Warrants Bureau. Sheriff Brad Dewal praised her for building a strong, cohesive team. Approved 4-0.
• August 2026 declared Child Support Awareness Month. Director Leanne Peck emphasized that child support services require no income qualification: "You don't have to qualify. Your income doesn't matter, the jurisdiction where you live doesn't matter." The department partnered with the Solano County Office of Education to assemble 220 backpacks with school supplies for foster youth. Approved 4-0.
• National Health Center Week recognized. Dr. Cameron Kaiser, acting public health officer, highlighted county clinics in Fairfield, Vacaville, and Vallejo. Viola Lujan of La Clinica de La Raza noted 1,200 staff serving 90,000 patients annually and flagged concerns about Medicaid and HR1 changes. Dinora Corey of Aliados Health cited over 143,000 patient visits in the region. Approved 4-0.
• Resource Management Director James Vezik introduced two new managers: Riley Martinson (engineering) and Austin Miller (water and delta programs).
• Supervisor Vasquez (District 4) was absent throughout the meeting. All votes were 4-0.
• The Aug. 11 Board meeting is canceled; next meeting is Aug. 25.