At this week's budget hearings, Supervisor Maureen Mulheren delivered an impassioned speech about transparency, warning that government shouldn't present "selected facts," "talking points," or "narratives" to the public. According to Mulheren, residents deserve the "full picture" on major policy decisions.

The City of Ukiah is currently conducting environmental review for its proposed annexation project, and residents have an important opportunity to make their concerns part of the official record.

Over the past year, the City has pursued aggressive annexation proposals while providing shifting explanations about costs, benefits, service impacts, and the long-term consequences for affected property owners. Rather than dismissing public concerns as "misinformation," City leaders should recognize that skepticism is the natural result of a process that many residents feel has lacked transparency and meaningful public engagement.

At the May 26th City Selection Committee meeting, a troubling message came through loud and clear: City of Ukiah leadership appears to believe Mendocino County’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) should serve Ukiah’s interests first.

The County of Mendocino is raising concerns about the long-term financial impacts of the City of Ukiah’s proposed annexation, warning that the proposal could shift millions of dollars in tax revenue away from the County while leaving many county service obligations largely unchanged

The City of Ukiah is already moving forward with the formal CEQA environmental review process for annexation, despite many residents feeling there has not yet been a real, transparent public process about whether annexation should move forward in the first place.

No Ukiah Annexation is sounding the alarm over the City of Ukiah’s continued attempt to fast-track annexation without the transparent, community-driven process residents were promised.

From the beginning, our position has been simple: any annexation must be an annexation of the willing, shaped by the people who will actually live with the consequences, not dictated by City Hall.

A public workshop on the proposed Ukiah annexation will take place on Thursday, April 30 at 5:30 pm at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center, located at 200 South School Street. The meeting is part of the ongoing process surrounding the City’s proposed boundary expansion and comes as community interest and questions continue to grow.

Ukiah, CA – April 23, 2026 – From the very beginning, No Ukiah Annexation has supported an annexation of the willing, one that follows a full, transparent, and inclusive public process. That standard has not changed.

At this time, No Ukiah Annexation has not taken a formal position on the proposal. We will make a determination only after the workshop and after reviewing feedback from the public. 

At their meeting on Monday, February 9th, the Ukiah Valley Water Authority (UVWA) adopted new water rate increased that will begin in March. The adopted plan includes increases of up to 30 percent this year for some districts, followed by additional double-digit hikes each year through 2029.

At this Wednesday’s meeting, the City of Ukiah will continue discussions on its Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan is a document meant to guide the City’s long-term priorities and direction. On paper, the draft includes language about “expanded prioritization of clear, timely, and accessible communication” and the creation of feedback loops with the community and staff.

Ukiah, CA – February 9, 2026 — At last week’s City Council meeting, the City of Ukiah passed the Right to Industry ordinance with little pushback, but with an important comment from City staff. During the meeting, the City’s Chief Planning Manager Jesse Davis stated that the ordinance “aligns us very much so with the policies that are just outside of our borders as we seek to progress annexation in the coming years.”

We recently reached out to the City for an update on the annexation process and wanted to share with you where things currently stand. The City provided an update on the annexation process and shared the following information. They are currently evaluating additional potential boundary configurations with the goal of offering the community at least a few different options to review and comment on.

Ukiah, CA – October 10, 2025 – The No Ukiah Annexation group remains committed to collaboration and transparency in addressing the City of Ukiah’s proposed annexation plans. Our goal has always been to ensure that any decisions made about the future of the Ukiah Valley reflect the best interests of the entire community, not just City Hall. Our group reached out to the City to initiate a joint meeting rooted in open dialogue and community engagement. We continue to believe that productive collaboration is the only way forward.

Ukiah, CA – July 26, 2025 – We appreciate the City of Ukiah’s decision to pause and reassess its proposed annexation plans. This shift acknowledges the broad community concern and demonstrates the importance of transparency and public input in shaping the future of Ukiah.

Ukiah, CA - July 19, 2025 - No Ukiah Annexation acknowledges the City of Ukiah’s recent removal of the proposed annexation map from its website. Yet the City of Ukiah staff seems to view annexation as inevitable even after clear rejection from those the City proposes to annex.

Community Group Opposes City of Ukiah’s Massive Annexation Plan. Residents Urged to Push Back Against Risky Expansion Proposal That Triples City Limits

Ukiah, CA – June 20, 2025 — No Ukiah Annexation has launched a campaign to oppose the City of Ukiah’s controversial plan to triple the size of its city limits through an aggressive annexation of the Willow and Millview Water District areas. The proposed annexation threatens to overwhelm the city’s already strained public safety services, burden local residents with higher taxes and fees, and accelerate financial instability.

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to take a critical vote that could effectively shut down the Master Tax Sharing Agreement between the County and the Cities of Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg, and Point Arena. This agreement, which was carefully negotiated to create a transparent and cooperative path for future annexations and tax sharing, is now on the chopping block — and public voices must be heard.

“This plan reflects a clear disregard for the property rights and lifestyle choices of residents who intentionally live outside city boundaries to preserve an agricultural or rural way of life. These citizens are now facing the imposition of city oversight without consent, due process, or adequate representation. More concerning is the imposition of city-level regulations that would severely restrict or prohibit long-standing rural practices which are integral to rural living and agricultural operations.”

City officials say the move could bolster Ukiah tax base and improve municipal service delivery. But critics — including business owners, farmers, and county leaders — warn the annexation could violate an agreed-on sphere of influence that protected agricultural land while undercutting the county’s ability to fund essential services like road repair, fire prevention, and law enforcement.