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SPHERE
OF INFLUENCE POLICIES
A sphere
of influence establishes the probably ultimate physical boundaries and
service area of each governmental agency within the county. Once adopted,
these spheres of influence are to be used by the Commission as one factor
in making decision on proposal over which it has jurisdiction and as a
basis for recommendations on governmental reorganization. A proposal shall
not be approved solely because the area falls within the sphere of influence
of an agency.
Sphere
of Influence determinations are to be reviewed periodically and changed
or updated as circumstances may require in the opinion of LAFCO. Such
periodic review should be made approximately every five years.
The Commission
will generally apply the following policy guidelines in spheres of influence
determinations while also taking into account local conditions and needs.
- The plans and objectives
contained within the adopted General Plans of the cities and the county
will be supported. In cases where these plans are inconsistent, the
Commission will adopt findings relative to its decision.
- Community-centered
urban development will be encouraged wherever justified on the basis
of reduced cost of desired levels of community services, energy conservation,
and preservation of agricultural and open space resources.
- Duplication of
authority to perform similar service functions in the same territory
will be avoided.
- Multiple-service
agencies will be preferred to a number of limited services districts.
In this regard, city provision of multiple services will be preferred
where possible because of the substantially broader authority and responsibility
to provide services and controls to their constituencies, including
land-use planing controls.
- Where possible,
a single larger agency rather than a number of adjacent smaller ones,
established for a given service in the same general area, will be preferred.
- An economically
sound base for financing services without including territories which
will not benefit from the services will be promoted.
- Sphere of influence
lines shall seek to preserve community identity and boundaries and will
urge the political and functional consolidation of local government
agencies that cross-cut those affected communities.
- Sphere of influence
lines may be larger or smaller than existing local agency boundaries
and may lead to recommendations for changes of organization.
- Agencies which do not have major impact upon land, road, or capital
facilities planning (such as cemetery districts) shall general have
a sphere of influence which is coterminous with their existing jurisdictional
boundaries.
- Agricultural resources and support facilities should be given special
consideration in sphere of influence designations. High value agriculture
areas, including areas of established crop production, with soils of
high agricultural capability should be maintained in agriculture, and
in general should not be included in an urban service sphere of influence.
- The Commission will consider area-wide needs for governmental services
and evaluate individual districts serving the area as they relate to
the total system of the existing local government in the community and
alternative arrangements.
Environmental Review:
A LAFCO sphere of
influence determination is subject to review under the provision of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In order to enable environmental
considerations to be effectively integrated into a sphere of influence
determination, and environmental review will be conducted concurrently
with the development of the sphere of influence determination.
Inasmuch as a sphere
of influence determination represents the potential extension of the services
of a local governmental agency, the environmental impacts associated with
a sphere of influence are of a long-range nature. Thus the "Degree of
Specificity" of the environmental review reflects the regional nature
of a sphere decision. It is necessary of a general nature, focusing on
the secondary, indirect impacts associates with the future extension of
services within a sphere boundary.
The determination
of whether or not an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is necessary for
a sphere of influence determination, i.e., the "Level of Significance"
associated with a sphere determination, will necessarily vary according
to the environmental resources affected by a sphere designation.
- All environmental
documents shall be prepared in accordance with the California Environmental
Quality Act and implementing CEQA Guidelines, including applicable implementing
guides of LAFCO, and the lead agency preparing the environmental document.
- In cases where
it is deemed appropriate, LAFCO may designate the affected agency as
the lead agency. The level of environmental review shall be determined
through the scoping process as provided by CEQA and shall involve all
applicable agencies.
- If the environmental
document is prepared jointly by two or more agencies, there shall be
a Memorandum of Understanding prepared setting forth the project description,
scope of work to be accomplished and the responsibilities of each governmental
agency involved. Said Memorandum shall be approved by LAFCO prior to
commencing work on the environmental document.
- Environmental documents
prepared for use by LAFCO in the decision making process shall be summarized
in a manner directly related to said process. Procedure shall be set
forth by LAFCO and distributed to all governmental agencies within LAFCO's
jurisdiction.
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