United Water Conservation District SOI Review

Agenda Item 12 VENTURA LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: September 20, 2023 TO: LAFCo Commissioners FROM: Andrea Ozdy, Deputy Executive Officer SUBJECT: Sphere of Influence Review: LAFCo 23-24S United Water Conservation District Recommendation: Adopt Resolution LAFCo 23-24S (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. District Information: The United Water Conservation District is an independent special district formed in 1950 that provides a wide range of services, which include operation and management of the Santa Felicia Dam and Lake Piru reservoir along Piru Creek, the Freeman Diversion along the Santa Clara River near Saticoy and related spreading grounds, and all of which are conducted in support of water conservation and groundwater replenishment. The District also provides water service (i.e., primarily wholesale service and a minimal amount of retail service), recreation services at the Lake Piru Recreation Area, and limited wastewater collection services for wastewater facilities at the Lake Piru Recreation Area. A 7-member board of directors governs the District. The District’s sphere of influence covers approximately 212,690 acres (about 332 square miles), and its jurisdictional boundary is coterminous with its sphere (Attachment 1). 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 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 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 municipal service review (MSR) reports for the District in 2003 (related to water services) and 2005 (related to recreation and park services). Both of the MSRs conducted by LAFCo for the District are available on the LAFCo website. LAFCo’s past sphere of influence reviews resulted in no modifications of the sphere in 2006, 2011, and 2016. Discussion: Sphere of Influence Evaluation Based on the current work plan established by the Commission, an evaluation of the District’s sphere of influence is to be initiated in 2023. LAFCo staff consulted with District staff to discuss the District’s 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. As explained in the analysis below, it appears that the existing sphere of influence boundary continues to reflect the District’s current and probable service area, and is justified based on the MSR report provided for the Commission’s consideration as part of Agenda Item 11 of the September 20, 2023, meeting. The MSR demonstrates that the District has the ability to provide services at acceptable levels. Therefore, no changes to the sphere of influence for the District are recommended. The sphere of influence review involving no changes is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it “will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment” (CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2)). 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)) The territory within the District’s sphere of influence includes a range of uses, including urban development within several cities (i.e., all of Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, and Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 23-24S – United Water Conservation District September 20, 2023 Page 2 of 4 Fillmore, the eastern approximately two-thirds of the City of San Buenaventura, and the southern and western areas of the City of Camarillo), as well as unincorporated residential, commercial, rural, agricultural, and open space land surrounding and between these cities. The District’s sphere of influence and service area is expected to experience population growth of approximately 28,000 between 2020 and 2040, with most of that growth anticipated to occur within the cities. Based on the land use designations and characteristics of the land contained within the District’s sphere, existing land uses are expected to remain unchanged. (2) The present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area. (Section 56425(e)(2)) The District provides a wide range of services, which include operation and management of the Santa Felicia Dam and Lake Piru reservoir along Piru Creek, the Freeman Diversion along the Santa Clara River near Saticoy and related spreading grounds, in support of water conservation and groundwater replenishment. The District also provides water service (i.e., primarily wholesale service and a minimal amount of retail service), recreation services at the Lake Piru Recreation Area, and limited wastewater collection services for wastewater facilities at the Lake Piru Recreation Area. The territory within the District’s sphere of influence includes a range of uses, from urban development within several cities (i.e., all of Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, and Fillmore, the eastern approximately two-thirds of the City of San Buenaventura, and the southern and western areas of the City of Camarillo), as well as unincorporated residential, commercial, rural, agricultural, and open space land surrounding and between these cities. The existing need for District services will remain, and additional demand for services is expected as a result of population growth within the District’s sphere of influence and jurisdictional area. (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 provides a wide range of services, which include operation and management of the Santa Felicia Dam and Lake Piru reservoir along Piru Creek, the Freeman Diversion along the Santa Clara River near Saticoy and related spreading grounds, in support of water conservation and groundwater replenishment. The District also provides water service (i.e., primarily wholesale service and a minimal amount of retail service), recreation services at the Lake Piru Recreation Area, and limited wastewater collection services for wastewater facilities at the Lake Piru Recreation Area. The territory within the District’s sphere of influence includes a range of uses, from urban development within several cities (i.e., all of Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, and Fillmore, the eastern approximately two-thirds of the City of San Buenaventura, and the southern and western areas of the City of Camarillo), as well as unincorporated residential, commercial, rural, agricultural, and open space land surrounding and between these cities. While new residential development projects within the cities are anticipated, based on the evaluation contained in the MSR prepared by LAFCo Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 23-24S – United Water Conservation District September 20, 2023 Page 3 of 4 on September 20, 2023, the District has the ability to continue to provide services within its jurisdictional 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)) A disadvantaged unincorporated community is defined as a community with an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income (Government Code § 56033.5). According to Ventura LAFCo Commissioner’s Handbook Section 3.2.5, Ventura LAFCo has identified Nyeland Acres (within the City of Oxnard’s sphere of influence to the north of the city), the Piru community, and Saticoy (within the City of San Buenaventura’s sphere of influence to the east of the city) as disadvantaged unincorporated communities. The UWCD’s sphere of influence (which is coterminous with its jurisdictional area) includes all three disadvantaged unincorporated communities identified by LAFCo. (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. 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 the United Water Conservation District 2. LAFCo 23-24S 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 23-24S – United Water Conservation District September 20, 2023 Page 4 of 4 MAR IC O 5§¨¦ P A 5 5 }þ 33 }þ 15 E N 0 }þ T 3 U R R A 3 I C E TI C O C LO R E MI E T A K OJA I G R S A A R N N T E D A EV P O A E J U A S L I A SANTA PA ULA OJAI }þ 1 O 5 J 0 A I }þ 126 T S E Y L C A E M G O R R A O E P LD T H ELE V G G C R A N R D E A N P G H G T O U H O O N D E A UR G A UI }þ B 12 E 6 R S O N M A IN T ELEG RA PH V A PECK SA 1 H M N A 2 T R A 6 A V I A P R N A D ULA SOU TH M O UN TAIN R G IM E S C N A 3 3 P 3 3 V O E N T U R M LI AIN £¤ 10 L 1 O F H A R O B O M R L O A I V V O T I A S W E S T T L O A P G E H O A G O L R I R N D 5 E L K O T A Z Y C L R T H P A L V E I J O L H H S U N I A S O N E B N L S E 1 2 J Y 2 H A N J 6 R C D J O }þ D X 1 N C B AR A }þ D 1 R 2 D 6 R O S E H }þ 2 U ESO R 1 3 E 2 }þ 1 N R R I N T 1 C E O S E 8 E A L N S RI C E M T E A E E G CL R }þ AR 3 A A 1 4 PH BEAR P D }þ W O L O D S 1 E V L A A E L Y S L L A E P L A N S P A O Y S T O A 1 S 0 L N 1 O D M E A P RI C E L L R E O O W P S S O M I S A G G E N A I T S }þ S 3 R I 4 O B R A E D N }þ 1 £¤ L R 1 U 1 O E 0 8 A Y 1 O P KS LAN D BO L B S Y A R M L C A O C N Y A O N N C N N H T A A R A D N H 10 P G R I 1 L O E O Y O N T L I T E R L S C R }þ E E 2 A R L R Y 3 R N O S N A E J L S O W T U N A S P A L R S R C N T I A N N O N E Y E G S }þ N J 2 A S 3 W D 1 E S 3 1 2 T A 8 L A E R B K S 2 E 3 E S E R A £¤ M N T L C W 1 A K H E A 0 W O O A 1 D K D G E A R L N O I A N C L D A U C O E A R L O N N N R A O Y R N G O N Y S O A O Y N 1 S T }þ 1 A 18 L E A R N R I N G E K R N A A N GELES C A O P T O £¤ 1 C 0 C A N 1 Y H 1 O 1 R N 8 A L A N S TAPO G E N E S VIR }þ County of 23 Los Angles PA C R IF IC C K E Legend COAST }þ D E 1 District Sphere - 212690.31 acres P ACIFIC C O A ST }þ District Boundary - 212690.31 acres 1 City Boundary United Water Conservation District Current as of January 20, 2016 / Prepared by County of Ventura - Information Systems Department - GIS Division State Plane Coordinate System California Zone V - NAD 27 This map was compiled from records and computations 0 2.5 5 10 Miles WARNING: The information contained hereon was created by the Ventura County Geographic Information System (GIS), which is designed and operated solely for the convenience of the County and related contract entities. 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