The meeting was organized by the Family Water Alliance and the Yolo County Taxpayer's Association. It was billed as a chance for the Board of Supervisors and Conaway Preservation Group to explain their sides and take questions.

In the end, they heard from two supervisors, speaking only for themselves, and heard the landowners reiterate that they do not want to develop the 17,300-acre ranch. However, the board did not attend, calling it "an event ... designed specifically to stifle open discussion and advocate one side to the exclusion of another."

Two supervisors did attend in spite of the board's formal absence - District 3 Supervisor Frank Sieferman Jr., who spoke at the beginning of the meeting and left, and District 5 Supervisor Duane Chamberlain, who stayed throughout but emphasized he spoke only for himself, not the full board.

Audience questions were read to participants by moderator, former Sen. Jim Nielsen - also an opponent of the takeover effort. They were most critical of the county's arrangement with the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians to pay for the ranch and skeptical that the land was truly in danger of development.

The audience and panel also pressed CPG representatives - none of the actual property owners attended - for details of their plans for the land. Counsel George Phillips said the owners did not want to develop the land or sell water rights, but would consider selling habitat mitigation or conservation easements on the land, which could still be profitable.

"We see a return on investment on the conservation side," he said, noting that Sacramento County recently approved Swainson Hawk mitigation for $18,000 an acre.

Chamberlain, who campaigned for his seat by opposing the use of eminent domain, said he does not trust either the county or the owners with the land. He said he has "no problem with the way the ranch is managed right now," and suggested that the county and owners should simply arrange a deal that would prohibit development of the land or sale of the water rights.

The board members apparently anticipated that the questions in the hour-long panel session would be hostile to the county. The only panel members were from the FWA and YCTA, which both oppose the county's efforts.

In one instance, YCTA President Dudley Holman answered his own question after asking whether the tribe's offer to pay for the land was a gift or a loan.

"I can answer that one myself," he said, without waiting for District 5 Supervisor Duane Chamberlain to respond. "It's a loan."

Chamberlain later said he believed the county had a simple agreement with the tribe for its donation, but implied there would be strings attached in the future.