Notice of Public Hearing

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission will conduct a public hearing at or after 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in the Sonoma County Administration Building, 575 Administration Drive, Room 102A, Santa Rosa, California, at which time all interested persons may be heard on the following item: 

File No. 2022-01: Sonoma County Fire District Reorganization No. 2022-01 (Bodega Bay FPD) Involving Dissolution of the Bodega Bay Fire Protection District and Annexation of the Same Territory to the Sonoma County Fire District

Please note that this public hearing may be conducted virtually if indicated by public health orders.

The subject territory includes all territory within the Bodega Bay Fire Protection District, generally located along the Sonoma Coast south of the Monte Rio Fire Protection District and west of the Occidental Community Services District. All territory is located in West Sonoma County.

The application was initiated by resolution of the boards of directors of the Sonoma County Fire District and Bodega Bay Fire Protection District. The reason for the proposed reorganization is to achieve greater economy and efficiency in providing fire protection and emergency services for the residents of the district.

At its meeting of December 4, 2019, the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) amended the sphere of influence of the Sonoma County Fire District to include all territory within the Bodega Bay Fire Protection District, in anticipation of the potential dissolution of that district and annexation to the Sonoma County Fire District. Territory must be within an agency’s sphere of influence to be eligible for annexation to that agency. 

Owners of property within the Bodega Bay Fire Protection District would be subject to special taxes, in the form of assessments that have been established by the Sonoma County Fire District, upon annexation. For residential properties, these tax rates are significantly lower than those established by the Bodega Bay FPD.

The proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) and Section 15320 of the State CEQA Guidelines 

At the hearing, LAFCO will hear any relevant oral or written testimony and evidence presented or filed regarding the proposed reorganization.

Should the Commission approve the proposed reorganization, a protest proceeding will be conducted, allowing registered voters and property owners within the Bodega Bay FPD territory to register their disapproval.  If sufficient protests are filed, the reorganization could be placed before registered voters for consideration, or could be vacated outright.

Copies of all documents relating to the proposed action may be reviewed at the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission office, 111 Santa Rosa Avenue, Suite 240, Santa Rosa, California, 95404, by appointment. The documents are also available on the Commission’s web site at www. Sonomalafco.org

Please direct comments, questions, and requests to review documents to our office. To be included with hearing materials, written comments must be received by February 23, 2022. Written comments received after that date will be provided to the Commission immediately prior to the public hearing. 

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE HEREBY INVITED TO BE PRESENT AND HEARD ON THE MATTER DESCRIBED IN THIS NOTICE.

If you challenge the actions of the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission on the subject reorganization in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission at, or prior to, the hearing. 

By: Mark Bramfitt, Executive Officer
Date: January 31, 2022