Woodland · Yolo County
Protect Woodland’s water quality and environment.
Measure Z is a simple, practical solution that will protect Woodland’s water quality and environment.
What Measure Z does
A simple, practical solution
Some businesses in Woodland rely on old, outdated septic systems that pose a constant risk to our local water Quality. Measure Z would address this problem by allowing neighboring properties to connect to the City’s modern wastewater system, eliminating septic systems that could contaminate groundwater and harm our environment.
By allowing surrounding businesses to connect to the City’s wastewater system, Measure Z will also dramatically reduce the need to pump groundwater from local aquifers, protecting the critical groundwater resources that residents and family farmers rely on.
At the same time, Measure Z would allow private investment to fund the expansion of Woodland’s recycled water system to be used in serving parks, schools, and the cemetery, causing more use of the recycled water and reducing the likelihood that water restrictions would ever need to be imposed on existing residents.
It’s that simple! For clean water and a healthy environment, vote YES on Measure Z!
Questions
Frequently asked
Why is Measure Z Needed?
In 2006, Woodland voters voted to establish an Urban Limit Line to protect open-space and local agriculture from sprawl and overdevelopment. Measure Z would maintain the Urban Limit Line’s key protections while providing a common-sense, environmentally sound update to allow for the limited delivery of City water and wastewater services just outside the line.
What is the cost to Woodland ratepayers?
There is no cost to existing Woodland ratepayers. The cost of the services provided to existing facilities outside the city limits will be paid by those seeking the expansion.
What benefit is there to Woodland residents?
Measure Z would allow private investment to fund the expansion of Woodland’s recycled water system to serve our parks, schools, and the cemetery, offsetting potable water use and reducing the likelihood that water restrictions are ever imposed on existing residents.
Does Woodland Have Enough Water?
Yes. Woodland has more than enough water for their uses. In fact, by selling their extra capacity to those outside the urban limit line they help save ground water in the aquifer for future use by the city. Under this plan the City of Woodland sells extra capacity and is allowed to save more aquifer capacity.
Does Measure Z protect local water resources?
Absolutely! Measure Z protects the critical groundwater resources that residents and family farmers rely on by reducing the need for several large businesses to pump groundwater from local aquifers.
Measure Z would also protect local water quality by reducing the need to rely on old septic systems that pose a constant risk of groundwater contamination. Instead, businesses would connect to Woodland’s modern wastewater system, eliminating those septic systems and the risk of harm to our local environment.
What would Measure Z do to water and utility rates?
Under Measure Z, new corporate water and wastewater customers would pay for 100% of their infrastructure and utility costs, expanding Woodland’s service base and helping share the fixed operating costs of our utility systems. As a result, Measure Z could stabilize water and wastewater fees for all current Woodland ratepayers.
Would Measure Z result in sprawl and overdevelopment?
No. Measure Z maintains the key Urban Limit Line protections that strictly prohibit new residential development, protecting our agricultural heritage and preventing urban sprawl.
Why is Measure Z good for the environment?
Businesses outside the city limits pump groundwater year round and use septic systems. If Measure Z passes some of those businesses would no longer pump ground water and would be able to connect to the City of Woodland sewer system with the cost of the hook up being paid by the business.
So Measure Z protects our aquifer and leads to fewer septic systems near city limits.
Bayer has ag uses on their site. Is this water going to be used for the ag production, for the greenhouses, etc?
The city water will not be going to Bayer’s agricultural uses. Municipal water costs are too high.
What will be the impact to the groundwater in the region?
Currently, ground water levels are fairly stable in the region. Two of the companies most likely to connect to city services will pump 20 million or 55.239-acre feet of groundwater less each year if they connect to city services.
How do parks, cemeteries, and schools benefit?
Measure Z does NOT increase rates or taxes—instead it enables $2 million in funding from private businesses to extend reclaimed water to the various parks, schools, and cemetery.
Is water use going to go up with the recent expansion of Clark Pacific?
Clark Pacific’s expansion is all in the future regardless of the recent land zone changes. Measure Z will only serve existing commercial facilities located on parcels with a boundary that falls wholly or partially within one mile of the Urban Limit Line and in operation on or prior to November 3, 2026. There are no existing facilities on Clark Pacific’s recently rezoned land.
How many people does Clark Pacific and Bayer employ and how many are from Woodland?
Bayer employs 190 full-time employees and contractors with more than 100 additional seasonal contractors during peak periods. Approximately 60 employees and contractors have a Woodland address.
Clark Pacific employs over 300 engineers, plant, and field personnel with 85 having Woodland addresses.
What is the economic impact of those companies to Woodland?
Economic Impact - In 2023, Bayer spent approximately $1,450,513 for goods and services from Woodland businesses, with Clark Pacific spending an additional $1,440,000.
How much will the entities connecting pay, and are they paying for the infrastructure?
Bayer and Clark Pacific will pay all costs for the infrastructure installation as well as connection fees, water fees, and sewer fees.
Who supports Measure Z
Supporters
Measure Z is a clear win-win for our city and our community. Private investment will pay to expand our local utility footprint, which in turn, provides for long-term rate stabilization for the Woodland community. Measure Z fully supports critical local employers who have been part of Woodland for decades. Be assured that that Measure Z will not raise rates for current customers. Businesses connecting to our resources will be paying their own way and at the same time protecting our groundwater. As your councilman I urge you to Vote yes on Measure Z.
As a lifelong Woodlander and advocate for our local community, I support Measure Z because it protects our vital groundwater resources and maintains strict limits against urban sprawl. It allows existing local employers to modernize their utility infrastructure on their own dime, ensuring our city grows responsibly while protecting our agricultural roots and keeping costs fair for local families.
As a lifelong Woodland resident, I care deeply about protecting our city’s future. Measure Z is a common-sense approach that allows existing commercial operations to connect to modern municipal utility systems at their own expense, safeguarding our groundwater and local environment without shifting costs to taxpayers or compromising our Urban Limit Line.
Measure Z would significantly benefit Woodland’s local economy. This measure allows established businesses access to utility services, enabling businesses within the one-mile ULL to expand while safeguarding jobs and ensuring our Urban Limit Line remains fully protected.
Measure Z strikes the exact right balance for Woodland. It delivers significant environmental benefits by protecting our shared groundwater aquifers while maintaining strict protections against urban sprawl and new residential development beyond our Urban Limit Line.
By allowing neighboring commercial facilities to connect to Woodland’s modern municipal infrastructure, Measure Z directly reduces reliance on local groundwater pumping and safeguards our regional water table for future generations.
Former Mayor of Woodland
Vote YES on Measure Z to protect Woodland’s environment, secure our water resources, and help stabilize rates.
The measure itself
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