CSA #1 Long Valley

COMMUNITY SERVICE AREA #1 MUNICIPAL SERVICE REVIEW Draft#1 Report | Prepared for: Mono County Local Agency Formation Commission PO Box 347 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (760) 924-1800, fax (760) 924-1801 commdev@mono.ca.gov Preparers: Project Oversight: Brent Calloway, LAFCO Executive Officer Project Manager: Kelly Karl, Planning Analyst Contract Staff: Erin Bauer, BPES Inc. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Acronyms………………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. I. Executive Summary………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. II. Determinations………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 2.1 MSR Determinations 2.2 Sphere of Influence Findings 2.3 Sphere of Influence Recommendation 2.4. Reorganization Recommendation III. Introduction 3.1 Municipal Service Reviews………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 3.2 Relationship Between Municipal Service Reviews and Spheres of Influence………..………..………..……….. 3.3 Revised Requirements………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 3.4 Other Applicable Laws………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 3.5 Study Area………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. IV. Service Review……..………..…………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 4.1 Growth and population projections……..………..…….………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 4.2 Disadvantaged unincorporated communities……..………..…………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 4.3 Review of facilities and services……..………..…………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 4.3.1 Services Provided……..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 4.3.2 Facilities and Equipment 4.3.3 Administration and Staffing 4.3.4 District Planning…..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..…… 4.4 Financial review…..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..…… 4.4.1 Revenue…..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..…… 4.4.2 Expenditures…..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..…… 4.4.3 Reserves…..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..…… 4.5 Shared facilities.…..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..…… 4.6 Accountability…..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..…… 4.7 Other matters…..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..…… V. Sphere of Influence Determinations………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 5.1 The present and planned land uses………..……….. 5.2 The present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area………..………..………..……….. 5.3 The present capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services that the agency provides or is authorized to provide………..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 5.4 The existence of any social or economic communities of interest in the area if the commission determines that they are relevant to the agency……..………..……..………..………..………..………..………..………..………..……….. 5.5 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities………..………..……..………..………..………..………..………..……….. VI. Attachments Endnotes FIGURES, TABLES, AND ATTACHMENTS Figure 1: District Boundaries and Sphere of Influence…….. Figure 2: District Boundaries, including Lease Sites Table 1: Revenue From Property Taxes, 2015-2023………..………..………..……….. Table 2: District Expenditures, 2018-2023………..………..………..……….. Table 3: Ongoing Expenses………..………..………..……….. Table 4: Reserve Funds……………….………..………..………..……….. Attachment 1: LAFCO Resolution R10-02………..………..………..……….. Attachment 2: July 2014 Wetlands Study ………………..………..……….. ACRONYMS ACS – American Community Survey ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act BLM – Bureau of Land Management CDP – Census Designated Place CKH – Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 CoI – Community of Interest CSA—Community Service Area DOF – Department of Finance DTV – Digital Television Transition DUC – Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community FCC – Federal Communications Commission LAFCO – Local Agency Formation Commission LADWP – Los Angeles Department of Water and Power MSR – Municipal Service Review RPAC—Regional Planning Advisory Committee SoI – Sphere of Influence USFS – United States Forest Service I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CSA #1 encompasses the area known as Long Valley, including the communities of Crowley Lake, Sunny Slopes, Aspen Springs, and McGee Creek, with a combined population of 1,234 at the 2020 Census. While the majority of the land area is publicly owned, the Mammoth Geothermal Complex and the Mammoth-Yosemite Airport fall within the district’s boundaries and contribute to its high revenue base. District revenues derive from property taxes, and have risen along with property values over the past decade. The district was founded to provide broadcast television to residents. As advances in technology rendered this function obsolete, the district shifted its focus. On November 6, 2010, the Mono County LAFCO approved Resolution R10-02 authorizing CSA #1 to activate a selection of latent powers including vegetation management, recreation, and activities related to the construction and use of community centers. CSA #1 has since focused on developing the Crowley Lake Community Center, and providing recreational opportunities to district residents. In addition to making significant capital improvements, including the renovation of the ballfield and the construction of a skate park, the district sponsors seasonal events and a regular slate of wellness classes. In 2019, the district voted to cease broadcasting television entirely. The district facilitates internet service via Schat.net, and is in the process of clearing the leased broadcast sites of specialized equipment. II. DETERMINATIONS 2.1 MSR DETERMINATIONS GROWTH AND POPULATION PROJECTIONS FOR THE AFFECTED AREA (SEE 4.1) • CSA #1 encompasses a wide area that includes four Census Designated Places (CDPs): Sunny Slopes, Aspen Springs, Crowley Lake and McGee Creek.i As of the 2020 Census, the Aspen Springs CDP had a population of 70 (up from 65 at the 2010 Census), the Crowley Lake CDP had a population of 980 (up from 875 at the 2010 Census), the McGee Creek CDP had a population of 45 (up from 41 at the 2010 Census), and the Sunny Slopes CDP had a population of 139 (down from 182 at the 2010 Census). The total for all four CDPs in 2020 was 1,234, a 6.4% increase from the 2010 total. LOCATION & CHARACTERISTICS OF ANY DISADVANTAGED UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES (DUCS) IN OR CONTIGUOUS TO THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE (SOI). (SEE 4.2) • No part of the Long Valley CSA, nor any contiguous area, qualifies as a DUC. PRESENT AND PLANNED CAPACITY OF PUBLIC FACILITIES, ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC SERVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OR DEFICIENCIES INCLUDING NEEDS OR DEFICIENCIES RELATED TO SEWERS, MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL WATER, AND STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION IN ANY DISADVANTAGED, UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES WITHIN OR CONTIGUOUS TO THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE. (SEE 4.3) • Most of the CSA’s efforts center on the Crowley Lake Community Center. • The district balances its efforts between capital improvements and recreational opportunities. • Capital improvements include renovating and maintaining the Crowley Lake Ballfield, landscaping and parking at the Crowley Lake Community Center, and the construction of the Crowley Lake Skate Park. • Recreational opportunities include a slate of Wellness Classes at the Community Center, seasonal events (a barbeque/yard sale in the summer, a fun run in the fall, and a tree lighting ceremony in the winter), a community garden, funding the local 4th of July fireworks show, and others. • The CSA voted to end broadcast television services in in 2019, but continues to provide radio and internet within the district. The district maintains its FCC license. • CSA #1 has begun the process of clearing the sites it once leased for broadcast television service of obsolete equipment, with the goal of ending or transferring its leases. • CSA #1 has two employees: a Wellness Coordinator and a Secretary of the Board. • CSA #1 outlines its long-term goals in a Ten-Year Plan, prepared with input from district residents and in cooperation with the Mono County Board of Supervisors. The most recent Ten-Year Plan was set forth in 2020. FINANCIAL ABILITY OF AGENCIES TO PROVIDE SERVICES. (SEE 4.4) • The district’s significant revenue base makes it financially stable. • Revenue derives primarily from secured and unsecured property taxes, boosted by secondary sources. Total revenue from property taxes rose from $139,150 in the 2015-2016 fiscal year to $212,438 in the 2022-2023 fiscal year—an increase of 52.6% percent. • CSA #1 has shepherded several significant projects to completion, while building reserves and without going into debt. STATUS OF, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR, SHARED FACILITIES. (SEE 4.5) • CSA #1 is a discrete geographical area. • CSA relies upon Mono County for many of its functions, including budgeting and construction, and collaborates with other organizations when opportunities arise. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE NEEDS, INCLUDING GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES. (SEE 4.6) • Monthly meetings of the Board of Directors are open to the public, and recent minutes are posted online. • CSA tracks community needs and feedback through surveys. • The Mono County Board of Supervisors must approve all projects that cost more than $5,000, so oversight is built into the district’s operations. ANY OTHER MATTER RELATED TO EFFECTIVE OR EFFICIENT SERVICE DELIVERY, AS REQUIRED BY COMMISSION POLICY. (SEE 4.7) • No other matters. 2.2 SPHERE OF INFLUENCE FINDINGS THE PRESENT AND PLANNED LAND USES IN THE AREA, INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL AND OPEN-SPACE LANDS (SEE 5.1) • The majority of Long Valley is publicly owned, either by the BLM, the USFS, or the LADWP. • Small residential communities dot the district, the largest in population being Crowley Lake. • The Mammoth Geothermal Complex and the Mammoth-Yosemite Airport also fall within the boundaries of Long Valley. • Planning objectives as outlined in the Land Use Element of the General Plan include maintaining the district’s rural-residential character, prioritizing the improvement of existing facilities over building new, and clustering new commercial development near the Crowley Lake Community Center. THE PRESENT AND PROBABLE NEED FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN THE AREA. (SEE 5.2) • CSA #1 has focused on providing recreational opportunities to residents. The skate park, ball park renovations, community center renovations, programmed wellness classes, and seasonal events give residents—and especially youth—opportunities to gather and socialize while engaging in a variety of activities. THE PRESENT CAPACITY OF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC SERVICES THAT THE AGENCY PROVIDES OR IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE. (SEE 5.3) • Where the CSA has undertaken the improvement of public facilities, capacity is sufficient to meet demand. In the case of recreational opportunities, the district revisits attendance and interest on a regular basis, to match offerings to demand. THE EXISTENCE OF ANY SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST IN THE AREA IF THE COMMISSION DETERMINES THAT THEY ARE RELEVANT TO THE AGENCY. (SEE 5.4) • The 2011 Citizens Redistricting Advisory Committee Report did not identify any interests unique to the Greater Crowley Lake Area. FOR AN UPDATE OF A SPHERE OF INFLUENCE OF A CITY OR SPECIAL DISTRICT THAT PROVIDES PUBLIC FACILITIES OR SERVICES RELATED TO SEWERS, MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL WATER, OR STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION, THAT OCCURS PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (G) ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2012, THE PRESENT AND PROBABLE NEED FOR THOSE PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES OF ANY DISADVANTAGED UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE EXISTING SPHERE OF INFLUENCE. (SEE 5.5) • CSA #5 does not provide services related to sewers, water, or fire protection. 2.3 SPHERE OF INFLUENCE RECOMMENDATION • The Sphere of Influence for CSA #1 – Long Valley should remain coterminous with the district boundary. 2.4 REORGANIZATION RECOMMENDATION Section 56001 of the California Government Code states that: “The Legislature finds and declares that a single multipurpose governmental agency is accountable for community service needs and financial resources and, therefore, may be the best mechanism for establishing community service priorities especially in urban areas. Nonetheless, the Legislature recognizes the critical role of many limited purpose agencies, especially in rural communities. The Legislature also finds that, whether governmental services are proposed to be provided by a single-purpose agency, several agencies, or a multipurpose agency, responsibility should be given to the agency or agencies that can best provide government services.” The feasibility of such a reorganization should be determined by a reorganization committee consisting of representatives of the district, the Town, and Mono LAFCO. III. INTRODUCTION 3.1 MUNICIPAL SERVICE REVIEWS The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (CKH) requires Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs) to conduct comprehensive reviews of all municipal services in each California county—or other appropriate area designated by the commission—in California and to periodically update that information. The formation of local agency boundaries fits into the state’s larger goal of encouraging orderly growth and development. Section 56001 of the CKH recognizes that: “the logical formation and determination of local agency boundaries is an important factor in promoting orderly development and in balancing that development with sometimes competing state interests of discouraging urban sprawl, preserving open-space and prime agricultural lands, and efficiently extending government services.” 3.2 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUNICIPAL SERVICE REVIEWS AND SPHERES OF INFLUENCE The CKH requires LAFCOs to develop and determine the Sphere of Influence (SOI) for each applicable local governmental agency that provides services or facilities related to development. California LAFCO (CaLAFCO) defines a SOI as: “a planning boundary outside of an agency’s legal boundary (such as the city limit line) that designates the agency’s probable future boundary and service area. Factors considered in a sphere of influence review focus on the current and future land use, the current and future need and capacity for service, and any relevant communities of interest. With the passage of the CKH Act, spheres for all cities and special districts are reviewed every five years. “The purpose of the sphere of influence is to ensure the provision of efficient services while discouraging urban sprawl and the premature conversion of agricultural and open space lands by preventing overlapping jurisdictions and duplication of services. Commissions cannot tell agencies what their planning goals should be. Rather, on a regional level, LAFCOs coordinate the orderly development of a community through reconciling differences between agency plans so that the most efficient urban service arrangements are created for the benefit of area residents and property owners.”ii Spheres of influence must be reviewed and updated every five years (§56425). LAFCO can conduct Municipal Service Reviews (MSRs) before, or in conjunction with, but no later than the time it is considering an action to establish or update an SOI (§56430). Community Service Area #1’s Municipal Service Review is being conducted in conjunction with a review and update of the district’s SOI. 3.3 REVISED REQUIREMENTS California Senate Bill 244, passed in 2011 and in effect since 2012, significantly revised the requirements for MSRs. Since the previous MSR for County Service Area 1 dates to 2010, this is the first review written to the new requirements. A 2003 guide detailed nine determinations necessary to an MSR,iii each consisting of between five and forty-nine elements. These requirements have been streamlined. The new requirements, pared down to a list of seven, still review land use, demographics, present and future service needs as compared with capacity, and the financial ability of agencies to provide services. They additionally require agencies to give special consideration to Communities of Interest and Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities (DUCs) during the review. 3.4 OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS The Telecommunications Act, first passed in 1934 and then amended in 1996, shaped the development of CSA #5. The Telecommunications Act of 1934 mandated Universal Service, the “principle that all Americans should have access to communications services.”iv This led to the creation of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has regulatory authority over telecommunications and broadcasting, and also the emergence of special districts like CSA #5. For decades, the district ensured that the residents of Long Valley had access to broadcast television. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandated the Digital Television Transition (DTV).v The DTV required all television stations to cease broadcasting on the analog spectrum, returning their frequency allocations to the FCC. While television broadcasts were shifted to the digital spectrum, the reclaimed analog spectrum could be redistributed to public safety communications, auctioned to wireless telephone companies, or otherwise repurposed. The sunset of analog television was initially scheduled for 2006, but ultimately pushed back to a final end date of June 12, 2009. A letter from the Mono County Counsel Dated September 7, 2010, and attached to this MSR as Attachment 1 notes that with “the advent of satellite television… there is a decreasing need for… broadcast television services while, at the same time, other technologies have brought about a new and increased need for telecommunications services such as broadband internet. And there are other services or facilities that a community with a CSA may be interested in having its CSA provide or support.” The letter from County Council goes on to describe the process by which a CSA might activate its “latent powers,” and CSA #1’s progress through those steps. “In accordance with Board direction, the CSA #1 board of directors has developed a list of latent powers that it recommends for activation. That list of powers was presented to the Long Valley RPAC, which gave its unanimous support. The list is incorporated into the proposed Resolution of Application and includes all of the following powers (including revised or restated existing powers): 1. Vegetation management. 2. Recreation, including, but not limited to, parks, playground equipment, skate parks, parkways, trails and other amenities, open space, and various types of recreational events and activities, including, but not limited to, holiday events, trips, classes, swap meets, farmer's markets, tournaments, and camps. 3. Telecommunication services, including, but not limited to, television, radio, telephone, and internet services, provided through any wired or wireless form of equipment and infrastructure, including, but not limited to, translator stations, low-power television, radio, cables, towers, antennae, and satellite dishes. 4. The surveillance, prevention, abatement, and control of pests, vectors, and vector-borne diseases. 5. The acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, and operation of street lighting, landscaping, signage, and artwork on public property, rights of way, and easements. 6. Cemeteries. 7. The conversion of existing overhead electrical and communications facilities, with the consent of the public agency or public utility that owns the facilities, to underground locations pursuant to chapter 28 (commencing with section 5896.1) of Part 3 of Division 7 of the Streets and Highways Code. 8. Emergency medical services. 9. Flood control and drainage. 10. The acquisition, construction, improvement, and provision of programs, classes, and other activities supporting usage and enjoyment of community facilities, including, but not limited to, cultural facilities, child care centers, community centers, libraries, museums, and theaters.” The letter from County Counsel specifies that “the concept of activating such powers is to create a range of options for the expenditure of the CSA’s existing revenue stream based on community input and recommendations of the CSA board of directors. It is not to increase that revenue stream nor to commit the CSA to immediately providing any of the specified services or facilities.” Resolution R10-64 of the Mono County Board of Supervisors, recommending that LAFCO approve the change in scope, passed on September 7, 2010 with four ayes and one abstention. Two months later, on November 6, a meeting of the Mono County LAFCO approved Resolution R10-02 authorizing CSA #1 to activate the listed latent powers. Both letters are included in this MSR as Attachment 1. 3.5 STUDY AREA1 Bordered to the south by the Sierra Nevada, to the east by the Volcanic Tablelands, to the north by the Glass Mountains, and to the west by the Town of Mammoth Lakes, Community Service Area #1 encompasses approximately 114 square miles of public and private lands. (See Figure 1) US Route 395 cuts across the district, from the junction with State Route 203 in the northwest to Tom’s Place in the southeast. Crowley Lake Drive provides secondary access to local communities. The district boundaries include the Mammoth Pacific Geothermal Plant, Mammoth Yosemite Airport, the Hot Creek Fish Hatchery, business and industrial uses at Sierra Business Park, resort uses at Convict Lake, recreational uses at Whitmore Park, housing and research facilities at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Lab (SNARL), and a Caltrans road maintenance facility and housing. Topography in the area is characterized by the relatively flat floor of the valley, gently sloping hills to the sides of the valley floor and steep slopes above the hills. Vegetation on the valley floor includes pastureland and wetlands. Vegetation on the surrounding hills includes sagebrush scrub, junipers, and pinyon pines. Crowley Lake is the largest body of water. 1 Details of the district’s boundaries and size carried forward from the district’s 2009 MSR. Figure 1: District Boundaries and Sphere of Influence Figure 2: District Boundaries, including lease sitesvi IV. SERVICE REVIEW In order to prepare and to update SOIs in accordance with California Senate Bill 244 §56425, §56430(a) requires the commission to conduct a service review of the municipal services provided in the county or other appropriate area designated by the commission. The commission shall include in the area designated for service review the county, the region, the subregion, or any other geographic area as is appropriate for an analysis of the service or services to be reviewed, and shall prepare a written statement of its determinations with respect to each of the following: 4.1 Growth and population projections for the affected area. 4.2 Location & characteristics of any disadvantaged unincorporated communities in or contiguous to the sphere of influence. 4.3 Present and planned capacity of public facilities, adequacy of public services, and infrastructure needs or deficiencies including needs or deficiencies related to sewers, municipal and industrial water, and structural fire protection in any disadvantaged, unincorporated communities within or contiguous to the sphere of influence. 4.4 Financial ability of agencies to provide services. 4.5 Status of, and opportunities for, shared facilities. 4.6 Accountability for community service needs, including governmental structure and operational efficiencies. 4.7 Any other matter related to effective or efficient service delivery, as required by commission policy. These seven factors are listed below and analyzed in the discussions that follow. 4.1 GROWTH AND POPULATION PROJECTIONS FOR THE AFFECTED AREA. CSA #1 encompasses a wide area that includes four Census Designated Places: Sunny Slopes, Aspen Springs, Crowley Lake and McGee Creek.vii As of the 2020 Census, the Aspen Springs CDP had a population of 70 (up from 65 at the 2010 Census), the Crowley Lake CDP had a population of 980 (up from 875 at the 2010 Census), the McGee Creek CDP had a population of 45 (up from 41 at the 2010 Census), and the Sunny Slopes CDP had a population of 139 (down from 182 at the 2010 Census). The total for all four CDPs in 2020 is 1,234, a 6.4% increase from the 2010 total. The Housing Element notes that, as the communities nearest to Mammoth Lakes, “they are heavily influenced by the County’s economic center.”viii Long Valley residents have the highest average household income in the County, and most workers commute to Mammoth Lakes.ix The Mono County Housing Needs Assessment and Resident Survey prepared in 2017 by BBC Research and Consulting collected information about housing stock and demographic trends in Long Valley.x According to the survey, there are 653 total housing units in Long Valley. Of these 401 are owner-occupied, 58 are renter-occupied, and 172 are seasonal units. A majority of the year-round residents who own property (80%) live in single-family detached homes. Only 38% of year-round residents who rent live in single-family detached homes; the remaining 62% is split fairly evenly among attached single-family homes, condos/apartments, and accessory dwelling units. In Long Valley, 85% of year-round residents are employed full time, and the top five industries of working adults in the district are government, education, health care, business services, and the ski industry. 11% of year-round residents are retired, 3% are homemakers or full-time caregivers, and 1% are disabled and unable to work. The unemployment rate in Long Valley, as of the 2017 survey, was 0%. According to the Mono County Housing Needs Assessment and Resident Survey, the median monthly rent in Long Valley is $1,500 and the median monthly mortgage is $1,800. Median utilities are $250/month and the median monthly HOA fee is $49. About 10 percent of residents pay HOA fees. 4.2 THE LOCATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ANY DISADVANTAGED UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES WITHIN OR CONTIGUOUS TO THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE. Senate Bill 244, passed in 2011, requires LAFCO to make determinations regarding Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities (DUCs). Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities are defined in the bill as “a fringe, island, or legacy community in which the median household income is 80 percent or less than the statewide median household income.”xi CALAFCO publishes a statewide map of DUCs in California using data from ArcGIS, a mapping and spatial analytics software. No part of the Long Valley County Service Area, nor any area contiguous to it, is designated as a DUC.xii The Mono County Housing Element, using data from 2010, lists the median household income of Sunny Slopes as $133,287, of Aspen Springs as unavailable, of Crowley Lake as $85,735, and of McGee Creek as $89,290.xiii The median income for the state of California in 2010 was $57,708.xiv By this metric, the communities of Long Valley do not qualify as DUCs. Senate Bill 535 required the California Environmental Protection Agency to identify disadvantaged communities within the state.2 The California EPA designates the highest scoring 25% of census tracts from CalEnviroScreen 4.0 as disadvantaged. By this measure, no part of the Long Valley CSA, nor any contiguous area, is disadvantaged.xv 4.3 PRESENT AND PLANNED CAPACITY OF PUBLIC FACILITIES, ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC SERVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OR DEFICIENCIES INCLUDING NEEDS OR DEFICIENCIES RELATED TO SEWERS, MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL WATER, AND STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION IN ANY DISADVANTAGED, UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES WITHIN OR CONTIGUOUS TO THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE. 4.3.1 SERVICES PROVIDEDxvi CSA #1 has undertaken projects ranging in scale from the installation of a welcome sign along the road into Crowley Lake to the construction of a skate park. Most of its efforts are focused in and around the Crowley Lake Community Center. The district balances its efforts between capital improvements and recreational offerings, sponsoring seasonal events and activities within the community. Ballfield Starting in 2013, CSA #1 began planning upgrades for a ballfield on property owned by the Unified School District. CSA #1 leased the property, funded construction performed by the Mono County Public Works Department, and committed to maintain the facilities. In addition to the school district, the local Little League and other organizations expressed an interest in the project. Initial construction began in 2014 and included the ballfield, along with an equipment room, a concession stand, restrooms, and a drinking fountain. Improvements continued throughout 2015, adding electrical wiring, wheelchair access, and a recycle bin. In 2016, the district finished the interior of the concession stand, planted trees, and installed picnic tables. In 2017, barbeques were added to the picnic area. In 2021, CSA #1 funded a new infield for the ballfield, which was completed in 2022.xvii On a continuing basis, CSA #1 funds drinking water and irrigation at the ballpark. 2 Text of Senate Bill 535, re: identifying disadvantaged communities: “These communities shall be identified based on geographic, socioeconomic, public health, and environmental hazard criteria, and may include, but are not limited to, either of the following: (a) Areas disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative public health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation. (b) Areas with concentrations of people that are of low income, high unemployment, low levels of homeownership, high rent burden, sensitive populations, or low levels of educational attainment.” Communications Services The district has provided television, radio, and internet to the district. Until 2019, they provided broadcast television, maintaining a contract with Valley TV and distributing a handful of channels including NBC, ABC, CBS, and Sierra Wave. However, use of television services declined while maintenance remained costly—outages were relatively common, often weather related, and reaching the site to make repairs could be difficult. Repairing outdated equipment grew increasingly expensive, and capable technicians harder to find. Additionally, the FCC continued to narrow the range of frequencies available to broadcast television. In 2018, the CSA Board spent several thousand dollars to reassign a channel (Channel 49) to a new frequency after the FCC sold the original one. In 2017, the board sent a survey to property owners asking whether they opposed the discontinuation of television service. The majority of respondents favored ending television service.xviii The Mono County Board of Supervisors discussed the issue at a regular meeting on January 15, 2019.xix Later that year, the district voted to cease broadcast television service entirely and subsidize internet television for any residents affected by the change. This decision accelerated efforts to clear the leased sites of obsolete electronic equipment, including large satellites resting on concrete plinths. As of January 2024, the McGee communications site has been shut down by the district. However, due both to the rough and steep access road and the heavy equipment located there, the site has not yet been cleared and CSA #1 continues to pay the lease on it. The Wilfred communications site, located north of Crowley Lake, is used for radio. Two FM stations broadcast from the Wilfred site (KUNR and KSRW). The USFS has requested that CSA #1 clear the site, but the access road is in poor condition and the remaining equipment includes large (12 foot) satellite dishes and three towers of various heights. The CSA renewed their FCC license in 2021. Community Center Landscape Project As early as 2013, the CSA Board set aside an annual budget of $5,000 for landscape maintenance at the Crowley Lake Community Center. This covers recurring costs such as weeding, mowing, and watering. In addition, the district undertook a long-term landscape rehabilitation project. In 2013, the Board funded the installation of decorative boulders and shrubs, garden plantings, and a new sprinkler system. In 2014, with the goal of adding greater “curb appeal”xx to the building’s exterior, the Board replaced a dry creek and white gravel with dirt surfaces and more plantings. In 2015 the board funded an overlay treatment to repair the steps leading up to the center, and in 2016 began discussing the construction of a pergola. The Board approved funds to commission a design, which was scrapped because the preferred engineer hadn’t been pre-approved by the County, and commissioned a second design. The new design arrived in 2017, and the district put it out to bid in early 2018. The cost of construction ultimately proved prohibitive, and in July of 2018 the proposed pergola was removed from the agenda. Modest improvements, such as the 2017 purchase of new trees and a picnic table, went ahead. In 2019, CSA #1 repaired and extended the walkway into the community center, replaced the stairs with an ADA-approved ramp, constructed a retaining wall, replaced garden plantings with a lawn for ease of maintenance, and improved exterior lighting. Community Garden In 2013, CSA #1 undertook the creation of a community garden. Board President John Connolly initially collaborated with IMACA to purchase seeds and establish plots. Starting in spring, the CSA reserves plots for local gardeners, who sign a contract outlining their responsibilities and pay a small fee ($40/plot in 2015, $25/plot in 2020, $20/plot in 2021, including water and the use of basic tools). During the growing season the CSA oversees the garden, troubleshoots, and covers the cost of water. The CSA also sponsors maintenance and equipment, purchasing hoses in 2013 and signage in 2014. Gardens can be untidy, and the CSA has stepped in to clean and weed. Community use of the garden varies, but in some years all plots are reserved in advance. In 2021, for example, all four of the available plots were rented. When plots are unclaimed, the CSA sends out fliers and emails. The district has expressed a willingness to expand the community garden, if justified by community interest. In 2019, the garden could not operate while landscape improvements were made. The garden was moved to the side of the community center, and its size reduced by about half. In 2020, the CSA added a retaining wall and installed 12x12 raised beds. Crowley Lake Community Center CSA #1 has focused much of its energy on improvements to the Crowley Lake Community Center. Larger projects are considered individually in this MSR, and miscellaneous projects are grouped in this section. In 2014 the board of directors commissioned a master plan for the entire Community Center parcel, to accommodate the existing community center and proposed facilities—specifically, the district hoped to construct a new library and skate park. The master plan accounted for needs such as snow storage, restrooms, parking, sidewalks, and landscaping. The Board took the Master Plan to the planning commission in 2015. The Community Center is a designated emergency shelter. In 2014, CSA #1 funded an Automatic External Defibrillator for the building (AED), and covers the $500 yearly cost of maintaining the equipment. In 2016, the Sierra Club fundraised for new window coverings at the Community Center. In 2017, the Sierra Club donated $1,646 toward shades on the upper windows. CSA #1 contributed the remaining $4,305 and installation went smoothly. In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, CSA #1 purchased and installed a PurpleAir brand air sensor at the Community Center. In 2022, the CSA installed a donated station for chafing dishes. The district has occasionally dealt with problems such as graffiti at the skate park, unauthorized overnight parking at the Community Center, and damage after renting out the Community Center for events.xxi Events The district organizes three events annually: a yard sale in the summer, a fun run in the fall, and a tree lighting ceremony in the winter. The yard sale was first held in 2013 and most recently in 2022, with a gap due to covid. The sale booths are generally combined with a CSA-sponsored barbeque, and occasionally additional features like a bake sale (2016), a crafts booth (2016), or a community clean up (2017). The first Fun Run was held in 2017, as a fundraiser for the Crowley skate park. It proved popular enough to repeat and became an annual event, with over 100 runners participating in some years.3 Proceeds fund community programs. The CSA began decorating the Community Center for Christmas in 2015,xxii and expanded their offerings to include a family-friendly tree lighting ceremony in 2018.xxiii While attendance fluctuates due to the often-harsh December weather, in addition to the tree-lighting the event often incorporates festivities such as a costumed Santa, hot chocolate, cookies, and grab bags for children. The CSA generally contributes funds to local Fourth of July fireworks displays.xxiv It’s also sponsored a chili-cook off fundraiser, a family game night, an emergency preparedness seminar, and a potluck. Library One of the first goals the CSA #1 set for itself in 2013 was the construction of a new library in Crowley Lake. Crowley Lake has a small public library, housed in the old Community Center, but residents hoped to see the facilities relocated and expanded. They proposed to build the new library on the same parcel of land housing the new Community Center, and early plans for the parcel made room for it. Starting in 2013, members of the CSA Board were in regular communication with the Library Authority Board and the Mono County Board of Supervisors. The CSA board also mailed a survey to residents of Crowley Lake, Paradise, and Swall Meadows in 2013, to get a better idea of what the community wanted from their library. The CSA could not undertake the job alone, however. Constructing a new library would require coordination between the special district, the Mono County Board of Supervisors, and the Library Authority—part of the Mono County Office of Education. In 2013 the Library Authority declared itself “on board”xxv with the project, but interested parties disagreed about the size of the proposed library. The Library Authority proposed a 1600-1800 square foot building while the Crowley Lake Friends of the Library envisioned a 2200-2400 square foot building. The slow progress, and low likelihood of imminent resolution, persuaded the CSA #1 board to divert their reserve funds to a different project—the skate park—early in 2016. The postponement frustrated many in the community, and relevant parties clarified their concerns at the district’s monthly board meetings, at library authority board meetings, as well as at several special meetings, throughout 2016. The Office of Education explained that because it would be responsible for ongoing operation and maintenance expenses, it “will only agree to a new library they can financially support to maintain,” and in 2016 “could only commit” to a 1300 square foot building. The Crowley Lake Friends of the Library continued to push for 2200 square feet and expressed a willingness to shoulder some of the maintenance costs—but couldn’t make a commitment without detailed estimates. Such estimates would require architectural plans. The CSA agreed to fund the architectural plans, but would have 3 103 people registered and approximately 83 people participated in 2022, according to the 9-27-2022 minutes. needed approval from the Board of Supervisors to disburse funds. Such approval would not be forthcoming until the Office of Education took steps to kickstart the process, requesting an MOU to build on county property, and an RFQ. When the Office of Education declined to take these steps, the library building was dropped from the CSA #1 agenda. The library did not reappear until 2022, when the CSA #1 Board contributed $5,000 to assist with exterior paint for the existing library. The CSA #1 Board still hopes to facilitate the library’s relocation to the new Community Center. The land reserved for the library in the Master Plan remains empty for this reason. The Board is ready to collaborate with the Office of Education, should the opportunity arise.4 Mailboxes Residents of the district rely on cluster mailboxes, which had been installed through a grant program.xxvi Many residents joined a waiting list to obtain one of the few local boxes, should they become available. In the meanwhile, they collected their mail from Mammoth Lakes. The CSA agreed to consider the project in 2020. In early 2021, they distributed a survey to residents. A majority of the respondents expressed a desire for nearby mail delivery. The CSA proposed to fund the mailboxes, only to discover that the district is not allowed to provide funds for mail service and infrastructure. However, having been convinced of the need for more boxes, the CSA continued to negotiate with County Council and the Post Office to obtain new mailboxes, and to provide support wherever possible. In 2022, the issue concluded when the Sierra Springs HOA added new mailboxes for the residents of Sierra Springs.xxvii Skate Park In 2013, the district began looking for a parcel of appropriate size for a skate park. The district sought out cost estimates and recommendations regarding the eventual size of the park. By the end of the year, they’d settled on the Community Center property as a location. In 2014, the CSA focused on making plans. The Board funded a comprehensive survey of the Community Center property, in order to determine the best placement for the proposed library and skate park. They also funded a wetlands delineation study (included in this MSR as Attachment 2), which “did not reveal anything we didn’t already know,”xxviii and a master plan for the entire Community Center parcel. In 2015, the skate park was folded into “Phase 1”xxix of the district’s plans for the Community Center parcel, along with restrooms and the paving of roads, parking spaces, and sidewalks. Late in the year, the district distributed fliers inviting the community to a skate park planning session to solicit public comment, drum up support, and seek volunteers for a “skate board task force.”xxx 4 Email exchange with Board Secretary Lorinda Beatty, January 24, 2024 affirmed the Board’s commitment to reserving the Community Center land for a library. In October of 2015, at the Workshop, Board President John Connolly outlined the district’s plans and discussed estimated costs: $360,000 for the skate park and an additional $220,000 for infrastructure, with construction slated for 2017. In 2016, the CSA #1 Board sought permits, approvals, designs, and contractors. The bidding process extended into 2017, but construction began in July, as planned. The skate park opened in the summer of 2018, with a final budget of $690,000. In the April 2018 minutes, the cost overrun was attributed to the expense of digging and filling in rocky terrain. The park closes during the winter, but sees regular use during warmer months. Tennis Courts As early as 2013, the CSA #1 board considered undertaking the rehabilitation of the Crowley Lakes Tennis Courts.xxxi Other projects took priority, however, and the Board set the subject aside for several years. In 2017, they began discussing the subject more regularly and in 2019 they agreed to prioritize the project. No further action was taken until 2023, when the scope of work was updated to include drainage improvements, the addition of an ADA-compliant ramp, and other adjustments.xxxii Trails In 2020, the CSA #1 Board began to regularly agendize a project to legalize trails that are “currently used by members of the public but not legal trails,”xxxiii with the goal of improving access, signage, and function for residents and visitors. They sought advice from Mammoth Recreation in order to better understand the planning and permit process that must precede any construction. Their first proposed route is a trail from Tom’s Place to the top of Lower Rock Creek Trail.xxxiv The survey sent to residents as part of the development of the 2020 10-Year Plan came back with trail connectivity as the #1 priority. In 2021, the Board submitted their proposed trail system to the Eastern Sierra Sustainable Recreation Partnership (ESSRP) initiative, which vetted and ranked their proposal at 60 out of 160 submissions— Board member John Connolly considered this “high on the list.” The CSA continues to regularly agendize their trails connectivity project, coordinating with Regional Planning Advisory Committees (RPAC), and communicating with the Board of Supervisors. However, progress is dependent upon the cooperation of the Forest Service,xxxv and no firm plans have been made. Welcome Sign In late 2019, the Board initiated a project to install a welcome sign on one of the roads leading into Crowley Lake. The board managed the permits, stuck to a budget below the threshold at which the Board of Supervisors would have to approve expenses, and had the sign installed in 2020. Wellness Classes Every year, the CSA sponsors Wellness Classes at the Community Center. In 2013 the district hired a Community Wellness Class Coordinator to arrange the classes and set the schedule. Classes are seasonal, often reduced in the summer, and over the years have included a variety of exercise classes (Zumba, yoga, Nordic dryland training, pilates, tennis, a yoga and pilates mashup called Piyo, and bar-less), along with health and hobby-focused classes, such as regular CPR courses, ukulele, cooking, English as a Second Language, wrap bracelet making, bead bracelet making, and building will power. The CSA pays the hourly rate for instructors to teach, and additionally reimburses purchases of program supplies and incidentals, including transportation costs, yoga blocks, and foam rollers. The Wellness Coordinator regularly updates the CSA Board regarding ongoing classes, and generally reports good attendance. All Wellness programs were cancelled in 2020, due to covid-19, and resumed in the latter half of 2021. By 2023, the coordinator was once again reporting that classes were progressing well, with good attendance. 4.3.2 FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT At the time of the previous MSR, CSA #1 leased two transition sites from the US Forest Service (the McGee Mountain site, and the Squaw Peak/Wilfred site) and a third from a private citizen (the Sunny Slopes site). The district owned and maintained the broadcast equipment at those sites. Over the past decade, the district discontinued broadcast television service and began the process of clearing equipment from the USFS sites, in preparation for ending or transferring their leases. The Sunny Slopes site distributes internet via Schat.net. 4.3.3 ADMINISTRATION AND STAFFING The Mono County Board of Supervisors is the formal governing body for CSA #1, and County staff performs budgeting and financial work for the district. A five-member Board of Directors communicates with residents when forming plans, develops projects within the district, and works with the County on execution. Board terms last for four years and when a vacancy appears, notices are placed in newspapers, on the community Facebook page, and on flyers. Since the activation of the district’s latent powers, the district has hired one employee, a Wellness Director, who coordinates the slate of classes at the Community Center. The Board Secretary, who undertakes administrative work such as taking minutes at board meetings, is an independent contractor who bills the district an hourly rate. A member of the Mono County Board of Supervisors attends most meetings of the board. 4.3.4 DISTRICT PLANNING CSA #1 sets out its goals in a Ten-Year Plan. Since the passage of R10-02, the district has developed two Ten Year Plans, one ratified in 2012 and the second in 2020. Every October, the Board of Supervisors reviews and revises the 10-year plan. In 2019, while preparing for the 2020 revision, the Board distributed an online survey to members of the community. The survey remained live for at least four monthsxxxvi and garnered at least 72 responses.xxxvii The top three priorities identified in the survey were for trail connectivity between communities, the construction of shade structures at the community center and skate park, and the construction of tennis/multi-use courts. All three priorities were subsequently added to the Ten-Year Plan. These projects are regularly agendized at Board meetings. 4.4 FINANCIAL ABILITY OF AGENCIES TO PROVIDE SERVICES5 The district relies on property tax revenues for funding. The district’s significant revenue base makes it financially stable. Every year, the board has been able to cover ongoing expenses, and reserve excess funds for larger projects. 4.4.1 REVENUE CSA #1 derives revenue primarily from secured and unsecured property taxes, boosted by secondary sources including interest, rents, fundraisers, and others. As property values rise, so do district revenues. As shown in the table below, total revenue from property taxes rose from $139,150 in the 2015-2016 fiscal year to $212,438 in the 2022-2023 fiscal year—an increase of 52.6% percent. Table 1: Revenue from Property Taxes, 2015-2023 2015- 2016- 2017- 2018- 2019- 2020- 2021- 2022- 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Secured $129,000 $134,833 $141,000 $152,858 $161,459 $163,822 $181,627 $199,809 Property Taxes Unsecured $10,150 $10,200 $11,000 $11,174 $12,151 $12,561 $11,308 $12,629 Property Taxes The secondary sources of revenue, not counting transfers from the CSA’s reserve fund, ranged from a total of $7,955 (during the 2015-2016 fiscal year) to $23,500 (during the 2018-2019 fiscal year). The variation is due primarily to swings in fundraising activities. 4.4.2 EXPENDITURES CSA #1 divides its expenses into two categories, expenditures and capital expenditures, and can vary widely from year to year, as summarized in Table 2. Table 2: District Expenditures, 2018-2023 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 Expenditures $32,754.43 $132,941.99 $17,236.76 $71,458.36 $44,841.16 Capital $4,350.00 $14,500.00 Expenditures Total $37,104.43 $147,441.99 $17,236.76 $71,407.88 $44,841.16 Expenditures The district’s annual operating expenses total well below the district’s yearly revenues. For larger projects, the district draws from its reserve funds. 5 District budgets supplied on request by Lorinda Beatty, Board Secretary. CSA #1 has committed to a variety of ongoing expenditures, including maintenance of the Community Center’s landscaping, maintenance of the ballpark and skate park, utilities at the Community Center, secretarial and legal services, and the wellness program. The district also undertakes more costly capital improvements, most notably the Skate Park, which opened in 2018 with a final budget of $690,000. All expenses over $5,000 must be approved by the Mono County Board of Supervisors. The district can spend up to $5,000 annually on any project without seeking Board approval. The five largest ongoing expenses, over the past five years, were the Community Wellness program, secretarial services, landscape improvements at the Community Center, Skate Park maintenance, and Board Member fees, as shown in Table 3 below. Table 3: Ongoing Expenses 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 Community Wellness Program $14,778 $12,345 $1,975 $11,854 $17,881 (Wellness Director, Instructors, misc.) Secretarial Services $6,356 $5,160 $7,440 $9,581 $7,949 Community Center Landscape $4,350 $117,314 - - - Improvements Skate Park Maintenance $776 $955 $969 $12,758 - Board Member Fees $2,300 $1,850 $1,950 $3,966 $2,550 4.4.3 RESERVES CSA #1 must fund its own projects. The activation of latent powers granted by Resolution R10-02 (discussed previously in §3.4) made no changes to the district’s funding, which derives primarily from property taxes within the district. The district’s regular, annual fiscal commitments (since 2016, these commitments have generally totaled between $70,000 and $90,000) total less than the district’s annual revenues. Unused funds are transferred to the district’s reserves. The district draws on its reserve fund when undertaking large-scale projects, such as the Skate Park. The ability to build reserves over the course of several years is an essential prerequisite to undertaking any significant capital improvement. Fluctuations in the balance of the district’s reserve fund reflect the preparation for, and execution of, large-scale projects. Table 4: Reserve Funds 4/30/2015 3/31/2016 4/30/2017 3/31/2018 2019- 5/31/2022 6/30/2023 $508,270.81 $574,890.84 $541,310.19 $175,681.57 2021 $464,640.59 $685,354.14 Skate park: $200,000 Skate park: $31,574.00 4.5 STATUS OF, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR, SHARED FACILITIES. CSA #1 is geographically discrete, limiting opportunities for shared facilities. The district relies upon Mono County for many services, including budgeting and construction. They’ve collaborated with non-profit organizations, such as partnering with IMACA when establishing a community garden at the Community Center and are in regular contact with the Long Valley Regional Planning Advisory Committee (RPAC). While CSA #1 broadcast television stations, CSA #2 relied on CSA #1 facilities. CSA #2 rebroadcast two channels via the McGee site in order to provide service to its district. When CSA #1 voted to end its broadcast services, their decision impacted CSA #2.xxxviii In 2013, the Mono County Health Department approached CSA #1 for assistance in funding repairs to the Crowley Area Information System, which can be used for community announcements. The CSA voted to provide $350 in funding.xxxix 4.6 ACCOUNTABILITY FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE NEEDS, INCLUDING GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES. The Board of Directors meets most months, and meetings are open to the public. The district posts the time and location of meetings in advance on its county website, https://monocounty.ca.gov/csa1, along with minutes and agendas from recent meetings. Mono County manages the district’s funds. For this reason, the district does not commission audits. Mono County audits include CSA #1 as a “blended component unit,” described as “legally separate units for which the Board is financially accountable.”xl The district seeks input from residents when preparing its Ten-Year Plan, and advertises board vacancies across the district and online. The County Department of Public Works reviews all of the CSA’s projects and the Board of Supervisors must approve them. County oversight is built into the district’s operations. 4.7 ANY OTHER MATTER RELATED TO EFFECTIVE OR EFFICIENT SERVICE DELIVERY, AS REQUIRED BY COMMISSION POLICY. No other matters. V. SPHERE OF INFLUENCE DETERMINATIONS California Senate Bill 244 §56425(e) requires the commission to consider and prepare a written statement of its determinations with respect to the following five factors: (1) The present and planned land uses in the area, including agricultural and open-space lands. (2) The present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area. (3) The present capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services that the agency provides or is authorized to provide. (4) The existence of any social or economic communities of interest in the area if the commission determines that they are relevant to the agency. (5) For an update of a sphere of influence of a city or special district that provides public facilities or services related to sewers, municipal and industrial water, or structural fire protection, that occurs pursuant to subdivision (g) on or after July 1, 2012, the present and probable need for those public facilities and services of any disadvantaged unincorporated communities within the existing sphere of influence. These five factors are listed and analyzed in the discussions that follow. 5.1 THE PRESENT AND PLANNED LAND USES IN THE AREA, INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL AND OPEN-SPACE LANDS The majority of Long Valley is publicly owned, either by the BLM, the USFS, or the LADWP. Small residential communities dot the district, the largest in population being Crowley Lake. The district boundaries encompass the Mammoth Pacific Geothermal Plant, Mammoth Yosemite Airport, the Hot Creek Fish Hatchery, business and industrial uses at Sierra Business Park, resort uses at Convict Lake, recreational uses at Whitmore Park, housing and research facilities at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Lab (SNARL), and a Caltrans road maintenance facility and housing. The section devoted to Long Valley in the Land Use Element of the General Plan,xli most recently updated in 2021, focuses on providing for appropriate commercial, residential, and light-industrial development while maintaining the rural residential character of the community. The Land Use Element notes that while residents of Long Valley are interested in improvements such as a regional trail network or a recycling program, they do not “desire to promote or become a self-sufficient community with commercial enterprises such as supermarkets.”xlii Planning objectives in Long Valley focus on improving existing facilities where possible, clustering new commercial development near the Crowley Lake Community Center in order to create a village center, and maintaining large residential lot size minimums. 5.2 THE PRESENT AND PROBABLE NEED FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN THE AREA. The purpose of a county service area (CSA) is to “provide within a specified territory of the County any service or facility that the County itself can provide, as long as that service or facility is provided at a higher level within the CSA territory that the County provides (if at all) on a countywide basis.”6 CSA #1 has focused on providing recreational opportunities to residents. The skate park, ballfield renovations, community center renovations, slate of wellness classes, and seasonal events give residents—and especially youth—opportunities to gather and get to know one another while engaging in a variety of activities. So long as the district remains rural and residential, such recreational opportunities are needed within the community. 6 Letter from Stacey Simon, Mono County Council, to the Mono County Board of Supervisors, September 7, 2010, included as Attachment 1 of this MSR. 5.3 THE PRESENT CAPACITY OF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC SERVICES THAT THE AGENCY PROVIDES OR IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE. Where the CSA has undertaken the improvement of facilities open to the public, capacity is sufficient to meet demand. In the case of recreational opportunities, the district revisits attendance and interest on a regular basis, in order to make sure that the options available match demand. 5.4 THE EXISTENCE OF ANY SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST IN THE AREA IF THE COMMISSION DETERMINES THAT THEY ARE RELEVANT TO THE AGENCY. The California Constitution, Article XXI, §2(d)(4) defines a community of interest as: “a contiguous population which shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation. Examples of such shared interests are those common to an urban area, a rural area, an industrial area, or an agricultural area, and those common to areas in which the people share similar living standards, use the same transportation facilities, have similar work opportunities, or have access to the same media of communication relevant to the election process. Communities of interest shall not include relationships with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates.”xliii Proposition 11, passed in 2008, made maintaining Communities of Interest a key requirement for drawing political districts. Both the Citizens Redistricting Commission and the Legislature are required to take Communities of Interest into account when drawing the boundaries of Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts.xliv The California Citizens Redistricting Commission is instructed to keep communities together whenever possible when drawing new districts. In order to learn about and identify such communities, the Commission encourages the public to draw and submit maps of their own communities in advance of each decennial redistricting.7 The 2011 Citizens Redistricting Advisory Committee Report to the Board of Supervisors grouped communities of interest within the county around watersheds, school districts, racial groups, proximity to medical and retail services, and economic concerns—specifically agriculture, tourism, skiing, fishing, recreation, and the service industry. The report does not identify any interests unique to Mammoth Lakes and the Greater Crowley Lake Area—the region identified in the study that is most analogous to CSA #1’s boundaries. 5.5 FOR AN UPDATE OF A SPHERE OF INFLUENCE OF A CITY OR SPECIAL DISTRICT THAT PROVIDES PUBLIC FACILITIES OR SERVICES RELATED TO SEWERS, MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL WATER, OR STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION, THAT OCCURS PURSUANT TO 7 For example, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission launched the Draw My California page: https://drawmycalifornia.org/drawmycacommunity.html SUBDIVISION (G) ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2012, THE PRESENT AND PROBABLE NEED FOR THOSE PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES OF ANY DISADVANTAGED UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE EXISTING SPHERE OF INFLUENCE. CSA #1 does not provide any services related to sewers, municipal and industrial water, or structural fire protection. VI. ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENT 1: RESOLUTION R10-02 ATTACHMENT 2: 2014 WETLANDS STUDY i 2020 Census data is available from the U.S. Census Bureau at https://data.census.gov. 2010 Census data found in the 2019 Mono County Housing Element for Long Valley. McGee Creek: https://data.census.gov/table?q=mcgee%20creek%20cdp%20california, Crowley Lake: https://data.census.gov/table?q=crowley%20lake%20CDP%20California, Aspen Springs: https://data.census.gov/table?q=Aspen%20Springs%20CDP,%20California, Sunny Slopes: https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0676040 ii “What are Sphere of Influence Studies?” Accessed 2023 from the CALAFCO website, https://calafco.org/lafco-law/faq/what- are-sphere-influence-studies. iii Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. Local Agency Formation Commission Municipal Service Review Guidelines, August 2003. Accessed 2023 and since removed. https://calafco.org/sites/default/files/resources/MSRGuidelines-FINAL.pdf iv Federal Communications Commission. “Universal Service,” accessed May 23, 2024 at https://www.fcc.gov/general/universal- service v Federal Communications Commission. “Digital Television,” accessed May 23, 2024 at https://www.fcc.gov/general/digital- television. Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. LA. No. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56 (1996): https://www.fcc.gov/general/telecommunications-act-1996 vi Image taken from minutes of the Jan 15, 2019 meeting of the Mono County Board of Supervisors. https://monosheriff.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/board_of_supervisors/meeting/29694/01_jan_15_2019_agenda.pd f vii 2020 Census data is available at https://data.census.gov. 2010 Census data found in the 2019 Mono County Housing Element for Long Valley. McGee Creek: https://data.census.gov/table?q=mcgee%20creek%20cdp%20california, Crowley Lake: https://data.census.gov/table?q=crowley%20lake%20CDP%20California, Aspen Springs: https://data.census.gov/table?q=Aspen%20Springs%20CDP,%20California, Sunny Slopes: https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0676040 viii Mono County Community Development Department. Mono County Housing Element, 2019-2027, 6th Cycle Update. Adopted November 5, 2019. Page 72. Accessed May 23, 2024 at https://monocounty.ca.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/planning_division/page/29821/2019- 2027_housing_element_final.pdf ix Mono County Community Development Department. Mono County Housing Element, 2019-2027, 6th Cycle Update. Adopted November 5, 2019. Page 72. Accessed May 23, 2024 at https://monocounty.ca.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/planning_division/page/29821/2019- 2027_housing_element_final.pdf x BBC Research and Consulting. Mono County Housing Needs Assessment and Resident Survey, 2017. https://monocounty.ca.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/planning_division/page/5732/mono_county_housing_needs_as sessment_bos_f.pdf xi Senate Bill No. 2044, Chapter 513, §65302.10(a)(2), https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201120120SB244 xii CALAFCO Statewide DUC Map, using American Community Survey 5-Year Data (2015-2019) Updated March 2022. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=4319a8066745442cbe7de6af1d13f98a xiii Mono County Community Development Department. Mono County Housing Element, 2019-2027, 6th Cycle Update. Adopted November 5, 2019. Page 38. Accessed May 23, 2024 at https://monocounty.ca.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/planning_division/page/29821/2019- 2027_housing_element_final.pdf xiv Amanda Noss, “Household Income for States: 2009 and 2010,” American Community Survey Briefs, Issued September 2011. Accessed May 23, 2024 at https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2011/acs/acsbr10-02.pdf xv California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, CalEPA’s 2022 SB 535 Identification of Disadvantaged Communities using CalEnviroScreen 4.0, retrieved on 12-27-2023 at https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/sb535 xvi Details of CSA #1’s projects and progress sourced from the minutes of the monthly meetings of the Board of Directors, provided on request by Lorinda Beatty, Board Secretary. xvii Email exchange with Lorinda Beatty, 1/24/2024. xviii Mono County Service Area #1. 1-23-18 minutes. Provided on request. xix Minutes of the Jan 15, 2019 Board of Supervisors Meeting: https://monosheriff.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/board_of_supervisors/meeting/29694/01_jan_15_2019_agenda.pd f xx Mono County Service Area #1. 9-23-14 minutes. Provided on request. xxi From the minutes: fire under drinking fountain in 2019; renting out the community center for events has resulted in damages (10-23-19); unauthorized overnight parking (6-28-2022); graffiti at the skate park (5-23-2023) xxii Christmas lights discussed in 10-27-15 and 12-1-15 minutes. xxiii Tree-lighting ceremony first appears in the 10-23-18 minutes. xxiv The minutes record funding for fireworks in 2014, 2016, 2019. The budget records fireworks funding in 2023. xxv 11-20-13 minutes xxvi 10-27-20 minutes. xxvii January 25, 2024 email exchange with Lorinda Beatty. xxviii 6-24-14 minutes xxix 8-25-15 minutes xxx 9-22-15 minutes xxxi 4-30-13 minutes. xxxii 8-22-2023 minutes xxxiii August 22, 2023 letter from CSA #1 to Supervisor Duggan of the County Board of Supervisors. xxxiv 9-25-20 minutes xxxv 10-26-2021 minutes xxxvi The Community Survey was discussed as an ongoing agenda item in monthly meetings from August through November of 2019, as recorded in the minutes. xxxvii November 19, 2019 minutes. xxxviii See discussion in the January 15, 2019 agenda for the Mono County Board of Supervisors. https://monosheriff.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/board_of_supervisors/meeting/29694/01_jan_15_2019_agenda.pd f xxxix 2013 minutes, along with clarification via email exchange with Lorinda Beatty on January 24,2024. xl Mono County, Office of the Auditor-Controller. FY 2021-2022 Audit. Page ii. Accessed May 24, 2024 at FY 2021-2022 Audits | Mono County California xli Mono County Community Development Department. General Plan, Land Use Element. 2021. Accessed May 24, 2024 at: https://monocounty.ca.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/planning_division/page/9617/2021_land_use_element_final_0 8-10-21.pdf xlii Mono County Community Development Department. General Plan, Land Use Element. 2021. Accessed May 24, 2024 at: https://monocounty.ca.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/planning_division/page/9617/2021_land_use_element_final_0 8-10-21.pdf , page 25, Section II-17 xliii §2(d)(4) of Article XXI: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/ xliv 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission, “FAQ,” https://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/transition/faq/