Translate4.1 Staff Report
| Meeting Date: | August 7, 2019 |
|---|---|
| Agenda No.: | Item 4.1 |
| Agenda Item Title: | Protest Proceeding: File No. 2019-04: Geyserville Fire Protection District Reorganization No. 19-19-0313.01 (Knights Valley/IRPs) Involving Annexation to the Geyserville Fire Protection District and Detachment from County Service Area No. 40 (Fire Services) |
Applicant: | Geyserville Fire Protection District |
| Location: | Generally located west of Lake and Napa County lines, north of Petrified Forest Road, east of Pine Flat Road, Briggs Ranch Road, and Chalk Hill road, and south of Pine Flat Road and Socrates Mine Road |
| Environmental Determination: | Exemptions pursuant to Sections 15320 and 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines |
| Staff Contacts: | Mark Bramfitt |
Analysis
Background
At its June 2019 meeting, the Commission approved a proposal for a reorganization of the Geyserville Fire Protection District involving annexation of territory formerly served by the Knights Valley Volunteer Fire Company as well as several areas of County Service Area No. 40 (Fire Services) (CSA 40) known as “Integrated Response Plan” areas and set a protest period that concludes on August 7, 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 reorganization area.
Discussion
In accordance with the provisions of state law, notices of the protest proceeding were mailed to owners of land and registered voters residing within the reorganization area. In addition, notice of the proceeding was published in the Press-Democrat and posted on the Commission’s website.
Staff has received only one written protest as of July 30, 2019, and anticipates that there will not be sufficient protests to warrant verification of either registered voter or landowner petitions. As a result, the Commission’s order of the reorganization will stand. A draft resolution has been prepared (attached) for the Commission’s consideration.
If, however, written protests are delivered to LAFCO prior to the close of the public hearing such that the thresholds listed in state law are reached (25 percent or more of registered voters or 25 percent or more of landowners owning 25 percent or more of the assessed land value within the affected territory), staff would recommend that the Commission seek validation of the protests through the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters and/or the Sonoma County Assessor.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Commission conduct a public hearing to receive testimony regarding protests of the Commission’s approval to annex the Knights Valley VFC territory and IRP areas to the Geyserville Fire Protection 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