What is LAFCO?

HISTORY

The end of World War II saw California experiencing a tremendous population increase, which resulted in the sporadic formation of cities and special service districts. The results of this development boom became evident as more of California's agricultural land was converted to urban uses. Premature and unplanned development created inefficient, expensive systems of delivering public services using various small units of local government. Governor Edmund G. Brown, Sr. responded to this problem in 1959 by appointing the Commission on Metropolitan Area Problems. The Commission's charge was to study and make recommendations on the "misuse of land resources" and the growing complexity of overlapping, local governmental jurisdictions. The Commission's recommendations on local governmental reorganization were introduced 'in the Legislature in 1963, resulting in the creation of Local Agency Formation Commission, or "LAFCOs," operating in each county except San Francisco.

OBJECTIVES

TO ENCOURAGE THE ORDERLY FORMATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES

LAFCOs review proposals for the formation of new local governmental agencies and changes of organization in existing agencies. In California there are 57 LAFCOs working with nearly 4,000 governmental agencies in 57 counties, 500+ cities, and 3,000+ special districts. Agency boundaries are often unrelated to one another and sometimes overlap at random, often leading to higher service costs to the taxpayer and general confusion regarding service area boundaries. LAFCO decisions strive to balance the competing needs in California for affordable housing, economic opportunity, and conservation of natural resources.

TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LAND RESOURCES

LAFCO must consider the effect that any proposal will produce on existing agricultural lands. By guiding development toward vacant urban land and away from agricultural preserves, LAFCO assists with the preservation of our valuable agricultural resources.

TO DISCOURAGE URBAN SPRAWL

Urban sprawl can best be described as irregular and disorganized growth occurring without apparent design or plan. This pattern of development is characterized by the inefficient delivery of urban services (police, fire, water and sanitation) and the unnecessary loss of agricultural resources. By discouraging sprawl, LAFCO limits the misuse of land resources and promotes a more efficient system of local governmental agencies.

AUTHORITY

BOUNDARY CHANGES

LAFCOs regulate, through approval or denial, the boundary changes proposed by other public agencies or individuals. LAFCOs do not have the power to initiate boundary changes on their own, except for proposals involving the dissolution or consolidation of special districts and the merging of subsidiary districts.

Typical applicants might include:

o         Individual home owners requesting annexation to a sewer district due to a failing septic tank.

o         Developers seeking annexation to cities in order to obtain more favorable development and urban      services extended to the new housing.

o         Cities wishing to annex pockets or "islands" of unincorporated land located within their borders in order to avoid duplication of services with the county.

o         Special Districts or cities seeking to consolidate two or more governmental agencies into one, thereby streamlining their services and reducing the cost to local taxpayers.

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE STUDIES

One of the most important charges given LAFCO was the adoption of "Spheres of Influence" for local governments (1972).

A "Sphere of Influence" is the physical boundary and service area that a local governmental agency is expected to serve. Establishment of this boundary is necessary to determine which governmental agencies can provide services in the most efficient way to the people and property in any given area. The Sphere of Influence requirement also works to discourage urban sprawl by preventing overlapping jurisdictions and duplication of services.

Commissions cannot tell counties or cities what their planning goals should be. Rather, LAFCOs coordinate the orderly development of a community through reconciling differences between city and county plans so the most efficient urban service arrangements are created for the benefit of area residents and property owners.

SPECIAL STUDIES

Through special studies, LAFCOs encourage governments to evaluate their current operations and options for reorganization. Local agencies often overlap and have the potential of duplicating services. LAFCOs conduct service studies and consolidation feasibility studies. These studies provide general information about local governments and present alternatives for improving services and reducing operational costs.

INITIATION OF SPECIAL DISTRICT CONSOLIDATIONS

As of July 1, 1994, LAFCOs have the authority to initiate proposals that include the dissolution or consolidation of special districts, or the merging of an existing subsidiary district. Prior to initiating such an action, LAFCO must determine that the district's customers would benefit from the proposal through adoption of a sphere of influence or other special study.

0UT OF AGENCY SERVICE AGREEMENTS

Cities and districts are required to obtain LAFCO's approval prior to entering into contracts with private individuals or organizations to provide services outside of the agency's boundaries.

RESPONSIBILITIES

LAFCO's are responsible for coordinating logical and timely changes in local governmental boundaries, conducting special studies that review ways to reorganize, simplify and streamline governmental structure and preparing a Sphere of Influence for each city and special district within each county. The Commission's efforts are directed to seeing that services are provided efficiently and economically while agricultural and open-space lands are protected.

COMPOSITION

Commissions are usually composed of two county supervisors selected by the Board of Supervisors; two city council representatives selected by a majority of the mayors in the county; and one public member selected by the four members. Commission members serve four-year terms. There is an alternate for each category - city, county and public. Composition of Local Agency Formation Commissions may vary in other counties. Several LAFCOs have independent special district representation on the Commission, thereby expanding to seven members. Also some LAFCOs including Los Angeles, Sacramento, Santa Clara, and San Diego, have, through special legislation, reserved a seat on the Commission for a representative from the county's major city.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Citizens are welcome and encouraged to attend regular LAFCO meetings and state their views during public hearings on proposals before the Commission. In addition, the meetings provide an excellent opportunity for citizens to familiarize themselves with the growth, development and inter-jurisdictional issues facing their county. Copies of the minutes, meeting agendas, and staff reports are available by contacting the Local Agency Formation Commission on 831.637.5313.  Notices and agendas of LAFCO meetings are posted on this Web site for public viewing.

LEGISLATIVE ACT

A section of the California Government Code exists to provide LAFCO with its powers, procedures and functions. This law gives LAFCO power to "approve or, disapprove with or without amendment, wholly, partially or conditionally" proposals concerning the formation of cities and special districts, and other changes in jurisdiction or organization of local governmental agencies.

In reviewing proposals, LAFCO is required to consider certain factors such as the conformity between city and county plans, current levels and need for future services to the area, and the social, physical and economic effects that agency boundary changes present to the community.

LAFCO is also given authority to make studies of existing governmental agencies in an effort to improve the efficiency of urban services.