Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency Sphere of Influence Review

Agenda Item 15 VENTURA LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: January 15, 2025 TO: LAFCo Commissioners FROM: Andrea Ozdy, Deputy Executive Officer SUBJECT: Sphere of Influence Review: LAFCo 25-01S Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency Recommendation: Adopt Resolution LAFCo 25-01S (Attachment 2) making determinations and reviewing the sphere of influence for the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency pursuant to Government Code Section 56425(g), including that a sphere of influence update is not necessary. District Information: The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency (FCGMA) is an independent special district formed through special legislation in 1982 that is authorized to manage and protect aquifers and groundwater basins within southern Ventura County. A five-member board of directors governs the FCGMA. The FCGMA’s sphere of influence covers approximately 130,979 acres (about 204 square miles), and its jurisdictional boundary covers approximately 117,270 acres (about 183 square miles) (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 five years thereafter, the Commission must, as necessary, review and update each sphere of influence (Government Code Section 56425(g)). COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF COUNTY CITY DISTRICT PUBLIC Jeff Gorell Jenny Crosswhite, Chair Raul Avila, Vice-Chair Gene Talmadge Janice S. Parvin Vacant Chris Stephens Alternate Alternate Alternate Alternate Matt LaVere Susan Santangelo Mohammed A. Hasan Joe Piechowski Executive Officer Deputy Executive Officer Office Manager/Clerk Legal Counsel Kai Luoma Andrea Ozdy Richelle Beltran Jeffrey Barnes In compliance with Government Code Section 56425(g), the Commission accepted a municipal service review (MSR) report for the FCGMA in 2003, which is available on the LAFCo website. LAFCo’s past sphere of influence reviews resulted in an update (i.e., modifications) to the sphere in 2004, and reviews (i.e., no changes) of the sphere in 2010 and 2015. Discussion: Sphere of Influence Evaluation LAFCo staff consulted with FCGMA staff to discuss the FCGMA’s sphere of influence, and to determine: (1) if the FCGMA has experienced any changes to its service needs or areas since LAFCo’s most recent evaluation of its sphere of influence, and (2) if FCGMA 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 FCGMA’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 14 of the January 15, 2025, meeting. The MSR demonstrates that the FCGMA has the ability to provide services at acceptable levels. Therefore, no changes to the sphere of influence for the FCGMA 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 FCGMA’s sphere of influence includes a range of uses, including urban development within several cities (i.e., all of Oxnard and Port Hueneme, and portions of Camarillo, Moorpark, and San Buenaventura), as well as unincorporated residential, commercial, rural, agricultural, and open space land surrounding and between these cities. The FCGMA’s sphere of influence and service area is expected to experience population growth in the foreseeable future, 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 FCGMA’s sphere, existing land uses are expected to remain unchanged. Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 25-01S – Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency January 15, 2025 Page 2 of 4 (2) The present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area. (Section 56425(e)(2)) The FCGMA is an independent special district formed in 1982 that is authorized to manage and protect aquifers and groundwater basins within southern Ventura County. The territory within the FCGMA’s sphere of influence includes a range of uses, including urban development within several cities (i.e., all of Oxnard and Port Hueneme, and portions of Camarillo, Moorpark, and San Buenaventura), as well as unincorporated residential, commercial, rural, agricultural, and open space land surrounding and between these cities. The existing need for services provided by the FCGMA will remain. (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 FCGMA is an independent special district formed in 1982 that is authorized to manage and protect aquifers and groundwater basins within southern Ventura County. The territory within the FCGMA’s sphere of influence includes a range of uses, including urban development within several cities (i.e., all of Oxnard and Port Hueneme, and portions of Camarillo, Moorpark, and San Buenaventura), 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 on January 15, 2025, the FCGMA 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 FCGMA 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 FCGMA’s sphere of influence includes the unincorporated community of Nyeland Acres and a portion of the unincorporated community of Saticoy. Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 25-01S – Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency January 15, 2025 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 FCGMA’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 Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency 2. LAFCo 25-01S 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 25-01S – Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency January 15, 2025 Page 4 of 4 DR A N A N T U R A A V O JAIR D N }þ }þ P V A E SA N D T E U N R A A ST E GUIBERSON RD T AE V 150 126 AV N AS N F W SANTA R PA D U S L T A W WMA S I T N E P E A S U M A L N A A T IN A S T ST SOUTH MOUNTAIN RD R G I M E SC O A Y N }þ3 3 D A P H F N R }þ 33 R E G R BALC O D 23 S E PO TH L O I M S P T SON £¤ B N 1 L H A 0 R O B O G 1 L R O B I L V N A Z L S A O L M W P E A S A £¤ R 1 V R D R I 0 S K S V I C T O R I A A V D 1 T W D I A 5 S N VI C T O RI A R C L C A T N V L A H T U N H E A B D A N J O H S L N R S N O N D D B E R B N L L V E N }þ T U R A 1 R S R J N V S E N T U R A R D 2 S D T I N H S S T S J R 6 T T F D O S T N C S T }þ L O S A V I E R S R D 1 O E T B R }þ 2 A E H E D 3 R H I D 2 N V L R O S E U A V I N L S R O S E A V E E R Y O 5 A N 1 S R T T IC R E 2 E E A D R I C E A V E N RI C E A V V 6 H S S M B A S A L RI C E V N T A E T A V A V U C R S L A G T R L R A I A D S A B V G E A R U R D D P N S W O O D L R D L E E A Y A 5 S R T A D H N O S R A S R D T W A L N U T D S L }þA V A 1 V S P 1 L O A E A S S R D S A 8 L S P T L W L E O L O E Y N M P R I C E R D W D R A I E S D P R A O O R N A G G E N R D V S D T M A L R E I D S W R E S I S I R O R D O N B R L S A O D U O O L M A E K P Y I S S S L R R D B A D O D N R L L N O D R D N A D S B N O A R G R N D T C E A L H E A C S A N R Y E 1 M O I N N S O R R 0 D R D 1 D S W R E R N D A Y D O P V R W S O D }þ A 1 T 1 F H R 8 W I E L R LC O T IE R R R R R D E A S D N L W Y T N N O R D D R L R S R E S P R I E D N J N G £¤ A R 1 E D D 0 O 1 A L N SE }þ W R 2 E N 2 S 3 D T 3 L R S F 2 A D 3 E W A R K E B D R R E D S E R W F R O B Y L E B O K L A N L T S M 1 E W A E 1 D 8 K P E A A R W A R K O O D 1 G A N R F A 0 N C A W H R O 1 N D U R E R D SI N AL O A L A O K R D 1 S A T S S T }þ 1 N A 1 A N 8 R F G N W D E R L D ES AV P S S A }þ }þL 23 Legend 1 County Sphere of Influence Boundary - 130979.71 acres of Los Angeles District Boundary - 117270.43 acres / Fox Canyon Groundwater Managment Agency Current as of March 18, 2015 Prepared by County of Ventura - IT Services Department - GIS Services 0 9,000 18,000 36,000 State Plane Coordinate System California Zone V - NAD 27 Feet This map was compiled from records and computations 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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