Committee to look at land deal Conaway Ranch agreement faces hurdle

By BEN ANTONIUS/Democrat Staff Writer
Daily Democrat

The county's effort to partner with the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians on a land deal can move a step closer today.

Assemblywoman Lois Wolk's (D-Davis) bill to include the tribe in the management group for Conaway Ranch faces a hurdle in the State Senate Committee on Local Government.

AB 1747 would formally allow the tribe to join the joint powers authority that would manage the 17,300-acre ranch, if it is purchased or taken through eminent domain. The participation of the tribe is crucial because the remaining partners would be hard-pressed to come up with the money to acquire the property.

"I expect it to pass out of committee, out of senate and be signed by the governor," Wolk said. "It's a good bill - it's good policy."

Some Yolo County residents have expressed concern over the participation of the tribe in a land deal outside of its reservation. Dudley Holman, of the Yolo County Taxpayers Association, said residents needed more information on the tribe's role in the deal.

In particular he said called for clarification on what role the tribe would have in the JPA and called the county "short sighted" to ignore the flood-control potential of the ranch.

"The Indians are saying, 'Here county, here's 60 or 80 million bucks,' but that's got to come with some strings," he said.

The JPA already includes Yolo County, the cities of Woodland, Davis, Winters and West Sacramento, the University of California and the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District.

Tribes are rarely included in governmental partnerships like the JPA, but it has happened at least three other times, according to Wolk's bill.

Wolk said the tribe should be included in the authority because it would promote transparency.

She expressed concerns about the Conaway Preservation Group, current owners of the ranch. They have not fully disclosed their membership and background, and Wolk said she preferred "things be done in the open."

The Conaway Preservation Group is holding a meeting on the Conaway issue at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Putah Creek Cafe in Winters.

The Yolo County Taxpayers Association is holding its own meeting at 7 p.m. on July 20 at the Woodland Public Library.

Meanwhile, the county is awaiting an Aug. 23 hearing on whether it may use eminent domain to acquire the ranch.

- Reach Ben Antonius at 406-6233 or bantonius@dailydemocrat.com.