Translate4.1 Staff Report
| Meeting Date: | July 3, 2019 |
|---|---|
| Agenda No.: | Item 4.1 |
| Agenda Item Title: | File No. 2019-01 – Palm Drive Health Care District Bodega Bay Detachment (Martin/Garza) Protest Hearing: Involving Detachment of the Bodega Bay area from the District |
| Proposal: | None |
| Environmental Determination: | Not a project under CEQA |
| Staff Contacts: | Mark Bramfitt |
Analysis
Background
At its May 2019 meeting, the Commission approved a proposal for detachment of the Bodega Bay area from the Palm Drive Health Care District and set a protest period that concludes on July 3, 2019.
Staff requests that the Commission conduct a public hearing to receive any testimony from interested parties and, most importantly, to collect any written protests of the detachment from registered voters or landowners within the detachment area.
Discussion
Based on the volume of written protest petitions received as of June 26, 2019, staff anticipates that there will not be sufficient protests to warrant verification of either registered voter or landowner petitions and that the Commission’s approval of detachment will therefore stand. A resolution has been prepared (attached) for the Commission’s consideration for this eventuality.
If, however, written protest petitions are delivered to LAFCO prior to the close of the public hearing such that the thresholds listed in state law are reached (25% or more of registered voters or 25% or more of landowners owning 25% or more of the assessed land value within the detachment area), staff recommends that the Commission seek validation of the petitions, through the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters or the Sonoma County Assessor, or both.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Commission conduct a public hearing to receive testimony from interested parties regarding protests of the Commission’s decision granting detachment of the Bodega Bay area from the Palm Drive Health Care District. Registered voters and landowners within the detachment area may file written protest petitions prior to the close of the hearing.
If, as expected, the written protests do not approach the thresholds enumerated in state law, staff recommends that the Commission adopt the attached resolution.
If it appears that written protest petitions may be sufficient to meet the thresholds, staff recommends that the Commission direct staff to undertake activities to determine the validity of petitions.
Attachments
- Draft Resolution