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, February 5, 2025, 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. 2024-10: Sonoma Valley Fire Protection District Reorganization 2024-10 Including the Dissolution of the Kenwood Fire Protection District and Annexation of the Territory to the Sonoma Valley Fire Protection District

 The Sonoma Valley Fire Protection District (Sonoma VFPD) has filed a proposal with the Commission seeking the dissolution of the Kenwood Fire Protection District (Kenwood FPD) and subsequent annexation of that District territory to Sonoma VFPD. The affected territory includes the unincorporated community of Kenwood in the northern Sonoma Valley.

 The assets and liabilities of the Kenwood FPD will be taken on by Sonoma VFPD. Sonoma VFPD is currently providing comprehensive staffing services to Kenwood under contract. The proposal indicates that service levels in the Kenwood area would be improved subsequent to the reorganization, in particular with regard to staffing levels.

 Sonoma VFPD has a voter-approved special tax in the form of a parcel tax and assessments on commercial properties; these taxes would be imposed on the territory of Kenwood FPD. Sonoma VFPD’s tax rate structure is essentially equivalent to an existing special tax approved by Kenwood FPD’s constituents, though some properties might see a modest change in tax assessments.

 The proposed action has been evaluated for compliance with the State of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and found to be exempt from CEQA  provisions, in that no new or different services are proposed.

 If the Commission approves the proposal, it will conduct a protest proceeding whereby registered voters and landowners within Kenwood FPD’s territory may indicate opposition to the reorganization. If sufficient levels of protest are received, the Commission may vacate approval or call for a referendum where registered voters will be called upon to vote on the proposed reorganization.

 At the hearing in February 2025, LAFCO will consider any relevant oral or written testimony and evidence presented or filed regarding the proposed reorganization.

 Copies of all documents relating to the actions may be reviewed at the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission office, 111 Santa Rosa Avenue, Suite 240, Santa Rosa, California, 95404, (707) 565-2577. Please direct comments, questions, and requests to the office. To be included with hearing materials, written comments must be received by January 29, 2025. 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 MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THIS NOTICE.

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

 By: Mark Bramfitt, Executive Officer

Date: December 20, 2024