Gold Coast Transit District Sphere of Influence Review

Agenda Item 16 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 25-02S Gold Coast Transit District Recommendation: Adopt Resolution LAFCo 25-02S (Attachment 2) making determinations and reviewing the sphere of influence for the Gold Coast Transit District (District) pursuant to Government Code Section 56425(g), including that a sphere of influence update is not necessary. District Information: The District originally provided service as South Coast Area Transit (SCAT), beginning in 1973, subject to a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) among the County and cities of Ojai, San Buenaventura, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme. In 2007, SCAT was renamed Gold Coast Transit, pursuant to an amendment to the JPA. The GCTD is a dependent special district that was formed on October 13, 2013, when Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 664 into law to “develop, provide, operate, and administer public transportation and to protect the public interest, health, and welfare” (Public Utilities Code § 107000 et seq.). The effective date of the formation was July 1, 2014. The District’s mission is “to provide safe, responsive, convenient, efficient, and environmentally responsible public transportation that serves the diverse needs of our community.” Its service area includes all unincorporated areas of Ventura County, as well as the cities of Ojai, San Buenaventura, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme. The District’s sphere of influence covers approximately 1,172,745 acres (about 1,832 square miles), and its jurisdictional area covers approximately 1,083,810 acres (about 1,693 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 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 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)). LAFCo law provides that the Commission must determine a sphere of influence within one year of a district’s formation and that a MSR is required in order to do so. The GCTD was formed through legislation, with provisions in place to accommodate potential expansion of the District into the jurisdictions of any of the currently non-member cities within the County (i.e., Santa Paula, Fillmore, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Simi Valley), upon approval by (1) the City Council of the non-member city that is requesting to become a member of the District, (2) the GCTD Board of Directors, and (3) LAFCo. As such, on July 15, 2015, the Commission accepted an MSR, titled Gold Coast Transit District Municipal Service Review, and established the sphere boundary to include the entirety of the County, which is available on the LAFCo website. LAFCo’s past actions related to the District’s sphere of influence are summarized as follows: 1. On July 15, 2015 (in conjunction with LAFCo’s July 15, 2015, MSR prepared for the District), LAFCo determined (i.e., established) the District’s sphere of influence to include all of Ventura County. 2. On September 16, 2020, LAFCo reviewed (but made no changes to) the District’s sphere of influence. Discussion: Sphere of Influence Evaluation Based on the work plan established by the Commission, an evaluation of the District’s sphere of influence is to be initiated in 2025. 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 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, consistent with the MSR report accepted by the Commission in 2015 (which 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 Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 25-02S – Gold Coast Transit District January 15, 2025 Page 2 of 5 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)) Within its incorporated and unincorporated areas, Ventura County contains residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, parks, open space, and agricultural uses and development. The District's provision of public transit services will not result in impacts on the present and planned land uses within its service area, new development, changes in land use, or impacts to agricultural and open space lands. The sphere reflects both the existing and planned service area of the District. (2) The present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area. (Section 56425(e)(2)) The District provides public transit services within the cities of Ojai, San Buenaventura, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme, as well as to the unincorporated areas surrounding those cities. It currently operates a fleet of 111 vehicles to implement its service, including 61 fixed- route buses, as well as paratransit vehicles and non-service vehicles. Annual ridership exceeded 3.5 million during Fiscal Year 2023-24, which represented the third consecutive year of continuous growth in ridership, and included a ridership increase of 10 percent or more for all routes. The District attributes much of this growth to the implementation of long-term programs that encourage the use of public transportation. The District's 2019 relocation to a new facility in Oxnard from an outdated and undersized facility provides the District with the ability to accommodate additional vehicles and personnel, thereby allowing the District to provide expanded service in the form of increased frequency on existing routes and the option to initiate additional routes within its service area, as needed. (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 public transit services within the cities of Ojai, San Buenaventura, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme, as well as to the unincorporated areas surrounding those cities. It currently operates a fleet of 111 vehicles to implement its service, including 61 fixed- route buses, as well as paratransit vehicles and non-service vehicles. Annual ridership exceeded 3.5 million during Fiscal Year 2023-24, which represented the third consecutive Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 25-02S – Gold Coast Transit District January 15, 2025 Page 3 of 5 year of continuous growth in ridership, including a ridership increase of 10 percent or more for all routes. The District attributes much of this growth to the implementation of long- term programs that encourage the use of public transportation. The District's 2019 relocation to a new facility in Oxnard from an outdated and undersized facility provides the District with the ability to accommodate additional vehicles and personnel, thereby allowing the District to provide expanded service in the form of increased frequency on existing routes and the option to initiate additional routes within its service area, as needed. (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 includes the communities of Nyeland Acres, Piru, and Saticoy, which are known to be disadvantaged unincorporated communities, pursuant to Ventura LAFCo Commissioner’s Handbook Section 2.6.1. The Nyeland Acres community receives fire protection services from both the Ventura County Fire Protection District and the City of Oxnard under a mutual aid agreement, police protection services from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, wastewater collection services from Ventura County Service Area No. 30 (CSA 30), wastewater collection and treatment from the City of Oxnard (through an agreement between CSA 30 and the City whereby CSA 30 discharges to the City’s collection system), and water services from the Garden Acres Mutual Water Company and Nyeland Acres Mutual Water Company. The Piru community receives fire protection services from the Ventura County Fire Protection District, police protection services from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, wastewater collection and treatment services from Ventura County Waterworks District No. 16, and water services from the Warring Water Service, Inc., a mutual water company. The Saticoy community receives fire protection services primarily from the City of San Buenaventura (through a mutual aid agreement between the City and Ventura County Fire Protection District), police protection services from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, wastewater collection and treatment services from the Saticoy Sanitary District, and water services from the City of San Buenaventura). The sphere of influence review does not involve any changes to the District’s sphere, and would not result in a detrimental impact to any social or economic communities of interest. (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, the District does not provide services related to sewers, municipal and industrial water, or structural fire protection. Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 25-02S – Gold Coast Transit District January 15, 2025 Page 4 of 5 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 Gold Coast Transit District 2. LAFCo 25-02S 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 25-02S – Gold Coast Transit District January 15, 2025 Page 5 of 5 }þ 138 §¨¦ 5 }þ 33 Ojai }þ 150 }þ £¤ Fillmore }þ 126 101 }þ 126 150 }þ }þ Santa Paula 23 }þ 33 }þ 1 126 San Buenaventura Moorpark £¤ 101 }þ }þ 118 }þ }þ 118 }þ Simi Valley }þ 118 £¤ 101 232 34 23 Camarillo Thousand Oaks Oxnard }þ 34 £¤ 101 Port Hueneme }þ 1 £¤ }þ 101 27 }þ 23 }þ Legend 1 Sphere of Influence - 1,172,745.22 City Boundaries }þ Gold Coast Transit District Boundary - 1,083,810.70 1 / Gold Coast Transit District Current as of April 24, 2023 Prepared by County of Ventura - IT Services Department - GIS Services 0 3.5 7 State Plane Coordinate System California Zone V - NAD 83 Miles This map was compiled from records and computations 1 inch = 7 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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