Consideration of Service Review & SOI Update for the City of Twentynine Palms

LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION FOR SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY 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: JUNE 11, 2012 FROM: SAMUEL MARTINEZ, Assistant Executive Officer MICHAEL TUERPE, Project Manager TO: LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION SUBJECT: AGENDA ITEM #9: LAFCO 3101 - Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update for City of Twentynine Palms RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Commission take the following actions: 1. Receive and file the service review for the City of Twentynine Palms, and make the determinations related to the service review for the City required by Government Code 56430. 2. For environmental review certify that the expansions and reductions of the sphere of influence for the City of Twentynine Palms (LAFCO 3101) are statutorily exempt from environmental review and direct the Executive Officer to file the Notice of Exemption within five (5) days. 3. Approve the sphere of influence expansions and reductions for the City of Twentynine Palms. 4. Adopt Resolution No. 3164 reflecting the Commission’s determinations as required by Government Code Section 56430 and 56425. BACKGROUND: At the May hearing, staff presented the service review and sphere of influence update for the City of Twentynine Palms (“City”). At the request of City staff, the Commission continued its consideration in order for the City Council to evaluate and respond to LAFCO staff’s recommendations for modifying the City’s sphere of influence. The City Council discussed this matter at its May 22 Council meeting. Attached to this report is the City’s response dated May 23 stating that the City Council supports LAFCO staff’s recommendations. Item 9 City of Twentynine Palms June 11, 2012 Additionally, one item from the staff report remains outstanding. Pursuant to Government Code §56425(b), as a part of the sphere of influence updates for cities conducted by LAFCO, the cities and the County are required to meet and discuss the potential for coordination of land use within the sphere of influence of the city. Additionally, §56425(b) states that the commission shall give great weight to any agreement between the city and county, to the extent that it is consistent with commission policies, in its final determination of the city sphere. The City was made aware of this requirement during the service review/sphere update process initially and again in March 2011 and January 2012. To date, the City and the County have not reached an agreement regarding the City’s sphere. Absent a discussion between the City and the County, the Commission shall consider a sphere for the City consistent with its adopted policies (§56425(d)). The recommendation provided by staff in the original report dated May 7, 2012 are consistent with the Commission’s policies related to spheres of influence and staff reiterates its support for the changes as outlined. As identified above, the City Council supports the sphere of influence recommendations. Therefore, staff recommends that the Commission approve the sphere of influence expansions and reductions for the City as presented and take the necessary actions to implement them. SM/MT Attachments 1. Letter from City dated May 23, 2012 2. Excerpt of City service review and sphere of influence update from Twentynine Palms Community staff report dated May 7, 2012 3. Draft Resolution No. 3164 2