Service Review Updates for Apple Valley Heights, Apple Valley Foothill, and Mariana Ranchos County Water Districts

LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 215 North D Street, Suite 204, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0490 (909) 383-9900 • Fax (909) 383-9901 E-MAIL: lafco@lafco.sbcounty.gov www.sbclafco.org DATE: OCTOBER 8, 2008 FROM: KATHLEEN ROLLINGS-McDONALD, Executive Officer TO: LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION SUBJECT: AGENDA ITEM #8 – Municipal Service Reviews and Sphere of Influence Updates for the Southern Apple Valley Water Districts – Apple Valley Heights, Apple Valley Foothill and Mariana Ranchos County Water Districts STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the Commission adopts the following resolutions reflecting the determinations made for the Municipal Service Reviews and Sphere of Influence Update which provides for a combined sphere of influence for all three waters districts as follows: 1. Resolution No. 3023 – LAFCO 2999 – Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update for Apple Valley Heights County Water District 2. Resolution No. 3024 – LAFCO 3003 – Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update for Apple Valley Foothill County Water District 3. Resolution No. 3025 – LAFCO 3009 – Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update for Mariana Ranchos County Water District BACKGROUND: At the September Hearing the Commission reviewed and considered the Municipal Service Reviews/Sphere of Influence Updates for these three County Water Districts and indicated its position that the three should share a single sphere of influence. Based upon questions raised by the Commission, it continued the consideration for the three southern Apple Valley County Water Districts to the October 15 hearing. The Commission identified its request to hear from representatives of the districts at the October 15th hearing on two items: AGENDA ITEM #8 SOUTHERN APPLE VALLEY COUNTY WATER DISTRICTS OCTOBER 8, 2008 1. A description of their rationale for opposition to consolidation; and, 2. A description of any planning related to inter-ties between the systems for emergency purposes. If the District’s position was that no inter-ties were planned, the Commission noted its interest in understanding the rationale for the position. Following the hearing LAFCO staff sent a written request to each of the Districts to participate in the October hearing and to provide the requested information. To date, LAFCO staff has not heard from these agencies. In addition, LAFCO staff has learned that the Apple Valley Heights County Water District has water production rights in the Centro Sub-basin. Attached to this report is updated information on those production rights. LAFCO staff reiterates its position that the appropriate action would be for the Commission to indicate its direction that these three water districts consolidate and that its method to achieve this outcome would be to assign all three the same combined sphere of influence. Attached to this report are the resolutions which outline the determinations required for the municipal service reviews and the factors for a consolidated sphere of influence. KRM Attachments: 1 -- Resolutions for Adoption 2 -- Updated Water Production Information Sheet for Apple Valley Heights CWD 2