Boundary Updates and LAFCo Analysis

We offer various services to special districts, cities, counties, and LAFCos to make changes in the structure of public agencies through MSRs, SOI updates, studies, programs, and actions. We have a thorough knowledge of the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act, laws governing agency boundaries and Special Districts, and LAFCo procedures. We offer the following LAFCo-related services:

• Preparing MSRs that project future growth, examine the present and planned capacity for public infrastructure and services, evaluate the financial ability to provide services, assess local accountability and operational efficiencies, review contractual service agreements, and identify possibilities for shared infrastructure and services.
• Developing plans for determining and updating SOIs and other LAFCo adopted boundaries (e.g., Areas of Interest) consistent with MSRs, local plans, and orderly sustainable growth patterns.
• Preparing and executing annexation and detachment applications of territory to or from cities and special districts.
• Conducting studies to evaluate proposals for the formation or dissolution of special districts; incorporation or disincorporation of cities; consolidation or reorganization of cities or special districts; provision of new or different services; and extension of services.
• Facilitating communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution between public agencies.

South San Joaquin Irrigation District Sphere Plan and Municipal Service Review

We are currently working with the San Joaquin County LAFCo to prepare a Municipal Service Review (MSR) and Sphere Plan for the South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID).  Located in southern San Joaquin County, SSJID provides irrigation water service to farms: domestic water to the Cities of Escalon, Manteca, and Ripon; and drainage service to agricultural and urban areas.   In conjunction with the Sphere Plan and MSR, SSJID is preparing an application to provide retail electricity to areas within its boundary. The Sphere Plan confirms SSJID’s existing Sphere of Influence (SOI) and District boundary and requests that San Joaquin LAFCO approve an epansion of the SOI. The MSR assesses SSJID’s ability to provide its existing services and retail electric service within the expanded SOI. This is the first MSR and Sphere Plan for SSJID.  It is being prepareed to comply with the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 and to support San Joaquin LAFCO’s decision related to SSJID’s application to provide retail electricity.

City of Stockton Sphere Plan and Municipal Service Review

We worked with the San Joaquin County LAFCo to prepare two Sphere Plans and Municipal Service Reviews (MSR) for the City of Stockton.  In 2007 we prepared the first Sphere Plan and MSR to comply with the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000. The 2007 Sphere Plan and MSR confirmed the City’s Sphere of Influence (SOI) and City Limits and assessed the City’s ability to provide water, wastewater, drainage, and law enforcement services to existing residents and businesses and to future growth anticipated under the City’s 1992 General Plan.  Shortley after updating the City’s General Plan in 2008, we updated the 2007 Sphere Plan and MSR.  The updated Sphere Plan expanded the SOI to include additional areas to the south and east of the City Limits that were identified for urban development under the 2008 General Plan and created and Area of Interest for areas to the north of the City Limits identified for urban development under the General Plan. The Updated MSR evaluated the City’s ability to provide services to existing and future residents and businesses under the new General Plan within the expanded SOI and within the Area of Interest.