Both the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance and opponents of San Martin incorporation told Local Agency Formation Commission members Wednesday that several documents related to the proposed incorporation of San Martin have serious flaws.
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors have voted to oppose the incorporation unless San Martin pays approximately $10 million to alleviate a general fund deficit the county says will be created if the area becomes a city. Negotiation attempts between the alliance and the county to achieve "revenue neutrality," or make sure each entity benefits equally, have failed.
Commissioners held public hearings on the revised initial study and negative declaration and on the comprehensive analysis and plan for services during their regular meeting, and San Martin residents on both sides of the issue weighed in.
"That is not how we think the game should be played," said San Martin resident John Sanders, referring to SMNA's contention that their comments have been excluded from the LAFCO packet by LAFCO staff members. He said this was the third time information from SMNA had been left out of a packet.
Commissioners instructed staff to insert a letter from the alliance dated April 16 that was not included.
A handful of people who attended the meeting spoke out against incorporation.
Warren Walsh, who said his family has farmed land in San Martin for 80 years, told commissioners that incorporation would kill agriculture in the area.
"There are water district issues, agricultural water rates will go up, there's a rural crimes deputy ... we'll lose that," he said. "If the board votes or allows the incorporation to proceed, it's a vote against agriculture."
John Wolfenbarger, who has been a San Martin resident for 21 years, said the residents have the right to decide for themselves if they want to incorporate.
"LAFCO should give us the right to put (incorporation) on the ballot," he said. "We should have the right to vote ... We do not want to do away with farm land, we're trying to preserve it."
Sylvia Hamilton, president of the alliance, confirmed that incorporation proponents are not against farming.
"All of San Martin has agriculture throughout and we love it," she said. "We don't think incorporation will hurt it, if anything, it would help it."
Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or send her an email.
