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, December 7, 2022, at the Sonoma County Supervisors Chambers, 575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa, at which time all interested persons may be heard on the following item:

File No. 2022-03: Reconsideration of Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District Reorganization (County Service Area 40 – Fire Services) Involving Detachment of areas within County Service Area 40 and Annexation of those Territories to the Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District

The subject territory includes:

• The Geysers area of Integrated Response Plan 61 (IRP 61)
• The Gray Creek Road area of IRP 61
• The Fitch Mountain area (IRP 63)
• The lower Dry Creek Road and Mill Creek Road areas of IRP 64 (Sotoyome)

The Commission approved the proposed reorganization at its September 7, 2022 meeting; however, two agencies have filed requests for reconsideration of the approval pursuant to California Government Code Section 56895 (a).

 The County of Sonoma seeks to have the entirety of the existing Dry Creek Community Facilities District #5 included in the annexation of territory.  Four parcels of this special taxation district were not included in the proposed reorganization boundaries submitted by the applicant.

 The Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District seeks additional language in the Commission’s resolution indicating approval of the proposed reorganization. The language would specifically indicate that the existing Dry Creek Community Facilities District #5 would be transferred from the County, acting as County Service Area 40 – Fire Services, to the District upon approval of the proposed reorganization.

In order to consider these proposed changes to the prior Commission action, the Commission must find that there is information that was not known and could not have been known that would warrant reconsideration.  Additionally, the Commission would adjudicate the merits of the proposed changes.

The adjudication of these reconsideration requests 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 reconsiderations of the previous approval.

Copies of all documents relating to the action may be viewed at the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission office, 111 Santa Rosa Avenue, Suite 240, Santa Rosa, California, 95404; to make an appointment with staff call (707) 565-2577 or email lafco@sonoma-county.org. Documents are also available on the Commission’s web site at www.sonomalafco.org.

To be included with hearing materials, written comments must be received by November 30, 2022. Written comments received after that date will be provided to the Commission at 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 action 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: October 24, 2022