COM 0109.003 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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..>>r''~ ,a~= Testimony on 4,000 acres by Keiko Bonk The County has owned this land since 1993. The mayor privately negotiated for this land in exchange for approximately 15 million dollars in back taxes. At the time 1 objected to the County taking land above the ditch when we could have taken the much more valuable land below the ditch. In those four years since this secret deal the mayor has acted as if the land was his private asset rather than public property. This land belongs to the people and they should have some input into how it is used. As Councilwoman I repeatedly tried to get Council and administration to hold public hearings and draw up along term public plan for how this land is to be used. Accept for one meeting in January that was attended primarily by a handful of the mayor's fiends the public has had no opportunity to offer any input and has been kept in the dark. As someone who was on the Council four years after we acquired the land I was w~able to get answers to a list of questions, so I know the general public has been RECEIVED n kept in the dark. ~ By------•--• L County Cuuncil I will ask you the same questions. If you can not give satisfactory answers you have no right passing this resolution. What is the intention here? Spell it out. This is not a guessing game, this is public policy. First didn't we already do this last year for Mr. Nobreiga. What happened to that 1,000 acres? Hasn't the Mayor said in the press that the County will be leasing this land to Oji Paper Company for forestry? How is the County going to lease the land to Oji if it is tied tip in five year leases to private land owners, at least some of which are contributors to the Mayor's last campaign? What ss.nrn. Glo. 10 ~ 3_ NSIe No. Pros F'rC lief. 'Mi +~et. r>ar,~ FEB 6 1997;