Home Care In Vista, CA

(Beth LaBerge/KQED)

On Tuesday, the Rio Vista City Council voted unanimously to explore annexing some of the land owned by a subsidiary of California Forever, making it the second neighbor to consider expanding its boundaries in the wake of the company’s proposal to build a city from scratch on nearby farmland.

In January, Suisun City’s council took a similar action to consider annexing land surrounding its borders. Although the directive didn’t specifically mention California Forever, a large portion of unincorporated land to the east of the city is owned by the company’s subsidiary, Flannery Associates.

“This decision is about just getting to the table,” Rio Vista Mayor Edwin Okamura said shortly before Tuesday’s vote. “Many of us were content waiting for further studies on the original impacts of the California Forever project before weighing in. Suisun’s bold move requires Rio Vista to take steps to protect our interests.”

The council directed staff to start the lengthy process of determining how much land the city could annex, the process for annexation, and how such a move might impact its budget. Included in that process is a request to explore expansion while still maintaining Rio Vista’s character as “a quaint river town.”

At just 6.6 square miles and 4 square miles, respectively, Rio Vista and neighboring Suisun City are the county’s two smallest cities. Lisa Duke, who was recently appointed to the city council, said she wants to protect the 700-acre open space buffer between Rio Vista and the proposed city.

“I wanted to live in a small rural town surrounded by open space, and that’s why I’m here,” she said. “I’m not happy about the position that I’m in tonight, but I was appointed to make the best decisions possible for Rio Vista and the community.”

Last year, California Forever, a company backed by a cadre of Silicon Valley billionaires, introduced the East Solano Plan. The ambitious ballot measure asked Solano County voters for permission to build a new city that would eventually support some 400,000 new residents, bring “well-paid” jobs to Solano and improve the county’s worn-down infrastructure. In the years leading up to the company’s announcement, its subsidiary quietly bought more than 60,000 acres of farmland, making it the largest private landowner in the county.

Company executives were prepared to present the plan to voters in November but pulled the ballot measure a few months before the election, instead promising to publish an environmental impact report and a development agreement before bringing the measure back to voters in 2026.

Since then, officials in neighboring cities have been slowly warming up to negotiating with California Forever.

During a Jan. 21 meeting, Suisun City officials directed City Manager Bret Prebula to study whether expanding the city’s limits could broaden its tax base to bolster its dwindling revenues. During public comment, opponents of the East Solano Plan cited concerns about a lack of transparency in the council and agenda, not mentioning California Forever or acknowledging at the outset that this move would require talking to the company’s representatives.

“This isn’t about Suisun City trying to do a land grab,” Prebula told KQED. “It’s about us doing it for our own survival and for the future for our residents.”

Shortly after the meeting, Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy and other city officials announced they wanted to work with California Forever to bring defense tech companies to their city.

In a statement to KQED, California Forever spokesperson Julia Blystone said the company is “committed to working with all stakeholders to build a stronger Solano County.” If the company receives an invitation to explore annexations from Rio Vista or Suisun City, Blystone said it would “be open to a conversation.”

Neither city has specified how much land it would annex or how the move, if ultimately approved, would impact the company’s proposed East Solano Plan. The land is currently within Solano County’s jurisdiction, but a spokesperson for the county did not return a request for comment.

In a report detailing Rio Vista’s options for annexation, staff said potential benefits could include broadening the city’s tax base, improving infrastructure and retaining the ability to negotiate with California Forever to ensure the East Solano Plan benefits Rio Vista.

During her presentation to the council, City Manager Kristina Miller reminded the public that annexation would “take years to complete” and that anywhere in the process, the city could choose to move in an alternative direction.

A majority of the more than two dozen residents who spoke during public comment encouraged the council to explore annexation, with some speaking in favor of the East Solano Plan’s promises to bring jobs and housing to the county. Sandy Roth, a resident of the city since 2022 who lives in the Trilogy at Rio Vista retirement community, said when she arrived, she said many of the people who do work on her property travel from outside the city.

“There’s not housing for people who do the jobs here in town,” she said. “So we think it’s very important that we at least have a seat at the table to change things here.”

Other residents were frustrated that the city’s general plan could change with a potential annexation and that the council was considering working with California Forever after its subsidiary pursued a bitter antitrust lawsuit against local farmers who refused to sell their land. The company settled that suit with a majority of the farmers in September.

Sarah Soroken, a local resident and opponent of the East Solano Plan, said she was concerned about the farmland and open space the proposed new city might consume.

“I oppose exploring annexation and development of our county’s farmland due to the reality that this will put into process a motion that will cause us to lose so much that we can never get back,” she said. “We could develop smarter within city boundaries with existing infrastructure.”

Okamura said he would prefer if the city focused on infill development before expanding outwards. But he worried that if Rio Vista decided to do nothing, both California Forever’s proposed new city and Suisun City could grow to reach Rio Vista’s border, potentially depriving the city of its own growth, economic development opportunities and open space.

“In the most aggressive scenario, their project could reach us and pin us between the river and the development,” he said. “That does not necessarily mean that [annexation is] what we need to do, it just means that we’re studying the options that are available.”

Prebula said he wants to work with Rio Vista officials as both cities navigate their positions in shaping the East Solano Plan.

“It almost seems like a natural path that we would help each other out along the way — we’re the two smallest cities,” he said. “The region benefits broadly if we’re walking together.”

After years of planning and construction, it is time. Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center will debut along the Chula Vista Bayfront on Thursday, May 15.

Let’s dive into what to expect at the stunning, $1.3 billion resort that is poised to spur tourism, economic growth, and further development in San Diego’s South Bay.

Splish, splash — one of the resort’s eye-catching features is its 4.25-acre outdoor water park with multiple pools overlooking the bay. The area includes a big water playground with water slides and a lazy river, wave pool, surf simulator, lounge chairs, private cabanas, and two pool bars. Summer staycation, anyone?

Led by Marriott veteran Chef Jakob Esko, Gaylord Pacific will feature 12 dining options from fast-casual to fancy. This includes the Growler Sports Bar & Taproom with its 75-ft screen, the Old Hickory Steakhouse for “refined surf & turf,” and Oeste, an atrium bar with a premium selection of tequilas, craft cocktails, and local craft beers.

A resort this big is going to need a lot of helping hands. Gaylord Pacific Resort is currently hiring for hundreds of positions, including estheticians, servers, bellpersons, front desk managers, and housekeeping aids.

The resort will host in-person job fairs at Southwestern College’s Learning Resource Center and Library on Friday, March 7-Saturday, March 8 and Friday, March 14-Sunday, March 16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Pro tip: Apply here prior to attending.

As the opening ramps up, we’ll keep an eye on the Chula Vista Bayfront — and with this towering addition, you really can’t miss the area anymore.