El Rancho Simi Cemetery District SOI Review 2023

Agenda Item 14 VENTURA LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: May 17, 2023 TO: LAFCo Commissioners FROM: Kai Luoma, Executive Officer SUBJECT: Sphere of Influence Review: LAFCo 23-07S El Rancho Simi Cemetery District Recommendations: A. Determine that the action to review the sphere of influence for the El Rancho Simi Cemetery District (ERSCD or District) is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. B. Adopt Resolution LAFCo 23-07S (Attachment 2) making determinations and reviewing the sphere of influence for the District pursuant to Government Code Section 56425(g), including that a sphere of influence update is not necessary. Background: Pursuant to the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (Government Code Section 56000 et seq.), the Commission was required to determine and adopt a sphere of influence (or “sphere”) for each city and special district on or before January 1, 2008. A sphere of influence is defined in Government Code Section 56076 as the probable physical boundary and service area of a local agency, as determined by the Commission. Every five years thereafter, the Commission must, as necessary, review and update each sphere of influence (Government Code Section 56425(g)). In compliance with Government Code Section 56425(g), the Commission accepted a Municipal Service Review (MSR) report on May 16, 2007, for the District, entitled Municipal Service Review – Cemetery Districts. LAFCo’s past sphere of influence reviews resulted in modifications of (i.e., updates to) the sphere in 2007, and reviews without modification in 2013 and 2017. COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF COUNTY CITY DISTRICT PUBLIC Jeff Gorell Jenny Crosswhite, Vice-Chair Raul Avila Pat Richards, Chair Janice S. Parvin John C. Zaragoza Mary Anne Rooney Alternate Alternate Alternate Alternate Matt LaVere Susan Santangelo Mohammed A. Hasan David J. Ross Executive Officer Deputy Executive Officer Office Manager/Clerk Legal Counsel Kai Luoma Andrea Ozdy Richelle Beltran Jeffrey Barnes Discussion: District Information The District owns and operates the Simi Public Cemetery and offers burial and other related services to the City of Simi Valley and surrounding unincorporated areas. A 5-member board of trustees governs the District. The District’s sphere of influence covers approximately 37,086 acres (about 58 square miles), and its jurisdictional area covers approximately 57,078 acres (about 89 square miles) (Attachment 1). Sphere of Influence Evaluation A sphere of influence update is defined in Section 4.1.2(b) of the Ventura LAFCo Commissioner’s Handbook as “a comprehensive review and modification of a sphere of influence that is not associated with a concurrent proposal for a change of organization or an out of agency service agreement.” Based on the work plan established by the Commission, review/update of the District’s sphere of influence was to be initiated during 2022. LAFCo staff consulted with District staff to discuss the sphere of influence, and to determine: (1) if the District has experienced any changes to its service needs or areas since LAFCo’s most recent evaluation of its sphere of influence, and (2) if the District staff anticipates any service changes that would warrant adjustment of the sphere boundaries. The following discussion includes a summary of Commission actions regarding sphere of influence reviews/updates pertaining to the District. The existing sphere of influence boundary continues to reflect the District’s current and probable service area. Therefore, no changes to the sphere of influence for the District are recommended. On September 19, 2007 (consistent with LAFCo’s May 16, 2007, MSR prepared for the District), the Commission updated the District’s sphere of influence to remove territory located north of the City of Simi Valley that is designated for open space uses by the Ventura County General Plan and is only sparsely populated. On January 16, 2013, and November 15, 2017, LAFCo reviewed (but made no updates to) the District’s sphere of influence. Written Determinations Government Code Section 56425(e) requires that, in determining the sphere of influence of an agency, the Commission consider and prepare a written statement of its determinations with respect to each of the following: (1) The present and planned land uses in the area, including agricultural and open-space lands. (Section 56425(e)(1)) Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 23-07S – El Rancho Simi Cemetery District May 17, 2023 Page 2 of 4 The District’s sphere of influence consists of a range of uses, including urban development within the City of Simi Valley, as well as unincorporated very-low-density residential and open space land outside the City. Several residential development projects within the City are anticipated that are located within the District’s service area, and are expected to result in population growth of approximately 3,714. Based on the land use designations and characteristics of land outside the City, unincorporated land uses are expected to remain relatively unchanged. (2) The present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area. (Section 56425(e)(2)) The District owns and operates the Simi Public Cemetery and offers burial and other related services to most of the Simi Valley area, as well as to the surrounding area. The District’s sphere of influence consists of a range of uses, including urban development within the City of Simi Valley, as well as unincorporated very-low-density residential and open space land outside the City. The existing need for District services will remain, with continued demand for services expected. (3) The present capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services that the agency provides or is authorized to provide. (Section 56425(e)(3)) The District has capacity for many years of below-ground cremation vault burials at the Simi Public Cemetery, though capacity for full casket burials is more limited. The District is currently investigating the status of over 100 burial plots that were reserved several decades ago but have remained unclaimed to determine whether any of these reserved plots should be considered abandoned. In addition, the District has determined that removal of a portion of an internal paved road to provide additional capacity is an option, when needed. It appears that the District has the ability to continue to provide services within its service area and sphere of influence, and additional demands would not adversely impact the present capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services that the District 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. (Section 56425(e)(4)) The District’s sphere of influence does not include territory that is known to be a community of interest. No disadvantaged unincorporated communities (defined in Government Code Section 56033.5 as communities having an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income), are located within or contiguous to the District’s sphere of influence. Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 23-07S – El Rancho Simi Cemetery District May 17, 2023 Page 3 of 4 (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. . . the present and probable need for those public facilities and services of any disadvantaged unincorporated communities within the existing sphere of influence. (Section 56425(e)(5)) The review of the District’s sphere of influence is not considered an update (i.e., a modification) to the sphere. Additionally, no disadvantaged unincorporated communities are located within or contiguous to the District’s sphere of influence. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) A project is defined in CEQA Section 21065, in part, as “an activity which may cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.” Staff recommends that the Commission find that the review of the District’s sphere of influence is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, because “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” No change in regulation, land use, or development will occur as a result of the recommended sphere of influence review. Notice of Public Hearing This matter has been noticed as a public hearing pursuant to Government Code Section 56427. Additionally, all affected agencies have been notified of the public hearing. Attachments: 1. Existing Sphere of Influence Map for El Rancho Simi Cemetery District 2. LAFCo 23-07S Resolution LAFCo makes every effort to offer legible map files with the online and printed versions of our reports; however, occasionally the need to reduce oversize original maps and/or other technological/software factors can compromise readability. Original maps are available for viewing at the LAFCo office by request. Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 23-07S – El Rancho Simi Cemetery District May 17, 2023 Page 4 of 4 SYC T A E M R L O D E RE R G D RAPH RIV AV E V R P E A S S T N I S D S A C T E T U D R E S A N T A R D FF A C H A M R R U B E S B iillllmmoorree GUIBE R R D SO TE N LE R G D RAPH HO R W D E BARDSDALEAV G AV SOUTH M R O D UNTAIN MI R G P M A C YD PR B AL C O M C A N Y O N R D C A N Y O N R D B A LC O M G C R A IM N E Y S ON RD SHE MM K R E D L oo L oorr BR pp O a R A a D D rr W k A k Y W N NA O A Y C L N T U D R H A P P C 1 F A A 1 W R 8 M K P U D S R ARR D O R YO ANGEL L E O S S AV L O S T C VV A SS aa N ii ll Y mm l A l O V ee S E ii I N y N M y A I S I DA LA D M R O C TA A P N S O YO T N K S R A T D DO TA LOSAN A G V ELES P E A C H H R D IL S L PR IN G R D ROYAL 1 S T S T LOS C A O N C S H G T RA E N LES AV Y O S E MI T E A V K U E H N E R D R UN F K W 118 FW U R P D LAND SANTA ROSA LA R S RD P D OSAS M OO AP R R K D RR R E D AD 2 3 F W OLS R EN D MA P A R D W K O O D E R R AN A C H RD SI N A L O A AV R D 1 ST ST FITZGERA LDRD S P A A N S T S A B O X C A N Y O N R D S R U D SANA V C AL IR LE B Y LPLU S M T MER T O P A N G A C A N Y O N BL C L A O N N Y G ONRD TThhoouussaanndd L F 1 W 01 OOaakkss YU C C C A A LLE L Y N N D R M O O R P A R K R D 23 F W R D E R B E S LA T K S E E W BL KA R N D AN V A L L EY C B I R E þ} 126 CCoouunnttyy ooff LLooss AAnneeggeelleess RS DC A N YO N þ} 23 þ} T 118 S þ} þ} R D 118 D R A P O þ} 118 118 REJ T A IE D R A R R A D E R RI N G E R O M C S Y A RE U Q O A I A V T E S þ} 23 þ} 27 OL R S D EN PE R D D E R SO H S I U LL N S SE B T L AVENIDADELOSARBOLE N S ROSCOE BL £¤ 101 JANSS SHERMAN RD WY / El Rancho Simi Cemetery District Sphere of Influence as Reviewed by Legend The Ventura LAFCo on November 15, 2017 District Boundary - 57,078.60 acres Prepared by County of Ventura - Information Systems Department - GIS Division Disctrict Sphere - 37,086.55 acres 0 6,000 12,000 24,000 State Plane Coordinate System California Zone V - NAD 27 City Boundary Feet This map was compiled from records and computations WARNING: The information contained hereon was created by the Ventura County Geographic Information System (GIS), Published: December, 2017 which is designed and operated solely for the convenience of the County and related contract entities. The County does Copyright 2017 County of Ventura. Design, maps, index and text of this map are copyrighted. not warrant the accuracy of this information, and no decision involving a risk of economic loss or physical injury should It is unlawful to copy or reproduce, either in digital or paper form, any part thereof for personal use or resale. be made in reliance thereon.