CSA No. 29 Sphere of Influence Review

Agenda Item 11 VENTURA LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: January 21, 2026 TO: LAFCo Commissioners FROM: Andrea Ozdy, Deputy Executive Officer SUBJECT: Sphere of Influence Review: LAFCo 26-01S Ventura County Service Area No. 29 Recommendation: Adopt Resolution LAFCo 26-01S (Attachment 2) making determinations and reviewing the sphere of influence for Ventura County Service Area No. 29 (CSA 29 or District) pursuant to Government Code Section 56425(g), including that a sphere of influence update is not necessary. District Information: CSA 29 is a dependent special district formed in 1978 that, through the Ventura County Water and Sanitation Department, is authorized to operate and maintain a sewer system throughout its service area that includes the County’s North Coast communities along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) corridor, northwest of the City of San Buenaventura (i.e., Solimar Beach, Faria Beach, Mussel Shoals, and Seacliff). All other services are considered to be latent.1 The Ventura County Board of Supervisors is the governing body of the District. CSA 29’s service area is approximately 740 acres (1.16 square miles) and its sphere is 62 acres smaller at approximately 678 acres. Its service area extends beyond its sphere of influence boundary, as the sphere does not include the area north of the La Conchita community, inclusive of the PCH corridor and Rincon Point community located at the Ventura/Santa Barbara county line (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 1 Pursuant to Government Code Section 56050.5, “‘Latent service or power’ means those services, facilities, functions, or powers authorized by the principal act under which the district is formed, but that are not being exercised, as determined by the commission pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 56425.” COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF COUNTY CITY DISTRICT PUBLIC Jeff Gorell Jenny Crosswhite Raul Avila, Chair Gene Talmadge Janice S. Parvin, Vice-Chair Bert E. Perello 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 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 for CSA 29 first on December 12, 2003, and again on February 16, 2022. Both MSRs are available on the LAFCo website. LAFCo’s past sphere of influence reviews resulted in the following: • On February 18, 2004, the Commission reviewed, but did not update, the District’s sphere of influence. • On January 21, 2009, the Commission reviewed, but did not update, the District’s sphere of influence. • On July 16, 2014, the Commission updated the District’s sphere to exclude the approximately 11-acre Ventura County portion of the Rincon Point residential community located at the Ventura-Santa Barbara County line. The update eliminated overlap of CSA 29’s sphere with that of the Carpinteria Sanitary District, which is the district that provides wastewater collection and treatment for the Rincon Point community. Rincon Point is the northernmost coastal residential community in Ventura County, and was annexed by the Carpinteria Sanitary District in 2008 as part of a larger annexation that included the Rincon Point community on both sides of the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line. Pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Section 56066, Santa Barbara County is the principal county for LAFCo purposes, as it relates to the Carpinteria Sanitary District’s service in Ventura County. • On February 16, 2022, the Commission updated the District’s sphere to remove an area designated by the County General Plan as Open Space that was not being served and is not anticipated to be serviced by the District in the foreseeable future. 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 2026. 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. Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 26-01S – Ventura County Service Area No. 29 January 21, 2026 Page 2 of 4 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 2022 (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 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 District’s sphere of influence consists of a range of uses, specifically existing development along the County’s unincorporated north coast, including residential, commercial, and open space land. Based on the land use designations and characteristics of land within the District’s sphere of influence, 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’s sphere of influence consists of a range of uses, specifically existing development along the County’s unincorporated north coast, including residential, commercial, and open space land. The existing need for District services 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 District’s sphere of influence consists of a range of uses, specifically existing development along the County’s unincorporated north coast, including residential, commercial, and open space land. Based on the evaluation contained in the MSR accepted by the Commission on February 16, 2022, the District has the ability to continue to provide municipal services within its 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. Staff Report – Sphere of Influence Review LAFCo 26-01S – Ventura County Service Area No. 29 January 21, 2026 Page 3 of 4 (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. (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. 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 CSA 29 2. LAFCo 26-01S 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 26-01S – Ventura County Service Area No. 29 January 21, 2026 Page 4 of 4 CARPINTERIAAV }þ }þ CREEK RD 150 £¤ 150 101 D R A N A A TN A S }þ 33 }þ 1 £¤ 101 PPaacciiffiicc OOcceeaann V A A R U NT E V T S E V LI O ST R A D E C POLI ST }þ MAINST Legen Sp d here of Influence Boundary - 678.07 acres 33 HARBOR T B H L OM £¤ PSON BL 101 District Boundary - 740.56 acres / Ventura County Service Area No. 29 Current as of February 16, 2022 Prepared by County of Ventura - Information Systems Department - GIS Division 0 3,750 7,500 15,000 Feet 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. The County does Copyright 2022 County of Ventura. 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