On the agenda for Tuesday night, August 6, is approval of a “pre-annexation” “agreement,” giving jurisdiction to Redlands in exchange for irrigation water, as well as some domestic water. Irrigation water is also available from Bear Valley Mutual Water Company, which does not require annexation, to MM’s knowledge, and from which Redlands obtains some of its water supplies.
The new Redlands area covers more than 300 acres; as of the 2010 U.S. Census, Mentone covered more than 6 square miles or about 3900-4000 acres. Several properties have been annexed into Redlands’ city limits since 2010. The area under consideration starts at the hills near Yucaipa, goes west to Crafton and even west of that, north to 5th Street, and south to Tennessee Lane/Street. The map of the area is available on the City Council’s website: https://destinyhosted.com/agenda_publish.cfm?mt=ALL&get_month=8&get_year=2019&dsp=ag&seq=164&id=73352. Click on agenda item “L. New Business,”No. 6.
“Pre-annexed” areas are agreed to be given to Redlands when it is contiguous, or next-door, to the “pre-annexed” property. The “agreement” states that the property owner will cooperate with annexation and they pay a fee for the annexation “agreement,” as well – sometimes thousands of dollars but only $500 in this agenda item.