Negotiations between American Canyon and Napa County officials have not gone far and both sides continue to disagree on the location of the city’s future borders, according to recent letters and comments from city and county representatives.

While American Canyon still plan to expand its boundaries northward, Napa County officials want the city’s northern borders to remain where they are.

“We’re real firm that the (city’s) northern boundary needs to stay where it is,” Supervisor Mark Luce said Tuesday.

American Canyon Mayor Leon Garcia said he was disappointed by the county’s latest positions yet remains hopeful a compromise will be reached.

“I’m leaving the door open to further discussions with Napa County,” Garcia said.

American Canyon City Manager Rich Ramirez and County Executive Officer Nancy Watt met this summer to find a solution to a host of disagreements between American Canyon and Napa County representatives.

Napa County’s proposed General Plan whipped up a storm of protest from American Canyon officials who oppose the location of the city’s ultimate boundary lines shown in the document. The new General Plan — a blueprint for the county’s future growth — could be approved in 2008.

So far, no agreement has been reached, though Ramirez and Watt have exchanged letters that included offers and counter-offers.

In a letter dated Aug. 9, Ramirez offered several “deal points.”

American Canyon’s ultimate northern boundaries would only include industrial properties immediately north of the city limits, according to Ramirez’ letter. City officials wanted the city’s ultimate northern borders should shift to Fagan Creek — the area near the open-air market off Highway 29.

In a counter-offer Aug. 22, Watt said that Napa County would agree to share tax revenues from the properties south of Tower Road. The city would receive 60 percent of the tax revenues and the county, 40 percent, Watt wrote.

However, the city would agree not to expand its city limits, according to the document.

“We believe that the counter is fair and addresses the interests of both entities,” Watt wrote in an e-mail Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Luce explained Napa County wants to maintain land-use control to protect Napa County Airport for  wo main reasons.

Housing built too close to the airport could compromise its operations as an airport, said Luce. In addition, the County wants to have the guarantee the land around the airport remains industrial, he said, referring to the properties where warehouses are built to support the wine industry. The county wants to develop the land around the airport industrial uses that serve the wine industry, all in an effort to preserve agriculture in the rest of Napa County.

Luce said the County would not oppose the city’s shifting its boundaries eastward, subject to voter approval.

Whether the city should supply water to properties around the airport remains another unresolved issue between City and County.

The city’s water service area since its incorporation in 1992 mirrors the borders of the now-defunct American Canyon County Water District.

While County officials have maintained American Canyon is obligated to serve the area around the airport with water, American Canyon officials have said they first want to make sure there is plenty of water for American Canyon residents. Half-a-dozen known property owners have been told over the past year they have to annex into the city in order to receive water services, letters show.

In a compromise, Ramirez’ letter noted that only the properties immediately contiguous to the city limits will be required to annex to receive water.