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Item No. 5

LAFCO

I Agency Formation Commission of Santa Clara County

LAFCO Meeting:

December 8, 2004

TO:

Local Agency Formation Commission for Santa Clara County

FROM:

Neelima Palacheria, Executive Officer
Dunia Noel, LAFCO Analyst

SUBJECT:

Changes to Service Review Boundaries and Priorities
Agenda #5

'-of

RECOMMENDATION
1. Service Reviews Boundaries

Authorize staff to combine the four established sub regional service reviews
into two sub-regional service reviews(See Attachment B for map):

South Cormty and Central Coimty sub-region
North County and West Valley sub-region.(The City of Campbell
will be included in this region)
A comprehensive review of all services(excluding fire protection and water
services) within these two regions will be conducted.
1.

2.

2. Service Reviews Priorities

Following the Countywide water service review that is currently in
progress, establish sub-regional service review priorities as follows:
Priority #1-South Covmty and Central County Service Review

Priority #2- North County and West Valley Service Review
BACKGROUND

In August 2002,the Commission established boundaries and priorities for how
service reviews should be conducted in Santa Clara County. The Commission
authorized staff to conduct four sub-regional service reviews(one each for the
south county, west valley, north coimty and central county)upon completion of
the two countywide service reviews for fire protection and water services. At that
time,LAFCO staff and the Commission recognized that as the reviews proceed,it
might become necessary to take into consideration current circumstances and
revisit how future service reviews should be organized and prioritized.
So far, LAFCO has completed a countywide service review for fire protection
services and LAFCO's consultant is half way through completing a countywide
70 Wes' > ledding Street • I Ith Floor, East Wing • San Jose, CA 95110 ■ (408) 299-5127 ■ (408) 295-1613 Fax • www.santaclaraJafco.ca.gov
COMMISSIONERS: Blanca TWarado, Don Gage, John Howe, Linda J. LeZotte, Susan Vicklund Wilson EXECUTIVE OFFICER; Neelima Palacheria

service review for water services. LAFCO's next priority is to begin conducting

sub-regional service reviews(North County,South County, West Valley, and
Central County).

Based on the experience of conducting these first two service reviews and the
current events, staff is proposing that the priorities for and the organization of the
remaining service reviews be modified. Staff is recommending that the remaining
four sub regional service reviews be combined so that only two sub regional
service reviews will be needed. That is, staff is recommending that the South and

Central Coimty service reviews be combined into one sub region and be conducted
as the first sub regional service review and the West and North county service

review be combined and be conducted as the second. As we have seen, the service

review process can be complex and time consunaing,since it involves several
phases including selecting appropriate consultants,establishing an advisory group
of stakeholders,formulating questionnaires, collecting information,and seeking

input from affected agencies, preparing the reports and holding public hearings.

Staff believes that the remaining service reviews will be more efficient and timely
if the number of service reviews were reduced from four to two.

Staff is expecting to receive some major applications from the South County and
Central County region in the near future. Major applications such as an application
for incorporation of the San Martin corrunrmity or the upcoming USA expansion
request from San Jose to accommodate development of Coyote Valley would
require service reviews to be conducted.In addition, there are landuse or
boundary and service issues in the region that should be addressed,such as the
Holiday Lake Estates area in Morgan Hill and Milpitas's urban service area
retraction to be consistent with its urban growth boundary. Recently,issues and
concerns have been raised about the ability of small special districts to continue to

function under increased state requirements and shrinking boundaries. For these
Service review
reasons, staff is recommending that the South and Central County
be given first priority.

Lastly,in August 2002,LAFCO received a letter(Attachment C)from Sharon
Fierro, City of Campbell Community Development Director,requesting that the
City of Campbell be included in the West Valley Sub-Region rather than the
Central Coimty Sub-Region as they were more affiliated with the West Valley
region. The request was received after LAFCO had adopted boimdaries for Service
Reviews.LAFCO staff contacted City staff and stated that LAFCO would consider
their request prior to beginning the West Valley Sub-Regional Service Review.
Therefore we now recommend that the City of Campbell be included in the North
Coimty and West Valley Sub-Regional Service Review as requested.

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LAFCO staff estimates that the first sub regional service review will begin in early
2005.

INFORMATION ON PROPOSED SERVICE REVIEW SUB-REGIONS

Central and South County Sub-Region

This region consists of the Cities of Milpitas,San Jose, Santa Clara, Morgan Hill,
Gilroy, the unincorporated rural community of San Martin,and other
unincorporated lands(both rural lands and "County Pockets").

The City of Santa Clara is fully developed and landlocked. The Cities of San Jose,
Morgan Hill and Milpitas have an urban growth boundary that lirfiifs their ability
to further expand their boundaries. This is the region in Santa Clara County that is
likely to experience the most long-term growth. The Coyote Valley,located at the
southern end of San Jose's Sphere of Influence, is likely to see significant land use
changes. The City of San Jose is in the process of developing a specific plan for the
area to include a new community consisting of 80,000 persons with 50,000 jobs and
25,000 housing units.

The cities in the sub-region provide sewer services to lands under their

jurisdiction. In addition,small sanitary districts such as the Burbank Sanitary
District, Sunol Sanitary District and the Cormty Sanitation District 2-3 provide
service to unincorporated areas within San Jose. Sewer service is generally not
provided to unincorporated lands in South County. The South County Regional
Waste Authority operates a sewage treatment plant that serves the cities of
Morgan Hill and Gilroy.
For a complete list of cities/areas and special districts located within this region
see Table 1.

North County and West Valley Sub-Region

This region consists of the Cities of Los Altos, Mountain View,Palo Alto,

Sunnyvale,Campbell, Cupertino,Saratoga, Monte Sereno and the Towns of Los
Altos Hills and Los Gatos, and unincorporated lands that are under the
jurisdiction of the County of Santa Clara. Stanford University, which is primarily
located in the unincorporated area,is also a large landowner in this sub-region.
The sub-region is mostly fully developed, with the cities of Mountain View and
Sunnyvale landlocked. The unincorporated communities of Redwood Estates,
Aldercroft Heights and Lake Canyon are located in this sub-region.

The three sewer service providers in the sub-region are the Cupertino Sanitary

District, West Valley Sanitation District and the West Bay Sanitary District. These
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districts provide services to cities in the sub-region as well as parts of the
unincorporated county.

Land-use planning efforts in the sub-region include the recently completed general

plan/use permit update for Stanford University's land. The Plan and Use Permit
are now being implemented. A major planning effort is also underway for the
Moffett Field Area that is located in both Mountain View and Sunnyvale. The

Federal GovemmenL who has jurisdiction over the area,is directing this planning
effort.

For a complete list of cities/areas and special districts located within this SubRegion see Table 2.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:

Local Jurisdictions Within Each Sub-Region

Attachment B:

Map of Service Reviews Sub-Regions

Attachment C:

Letter from Sharon Fierro, City of Campbell Community

Development Director, dated August 28,2002.

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Item No. 5
Attachment A

TABLE 1: Local Jurisdictions in the Central and South County Region

Gilroy

Burbank Sanitary District

Milpitas

Central Fire Protection District

Morgan HiU

County Sanitation District No.2-3

San Jose

County Library Service Area

Santa Clara

Guadalupe Coyote Resource Conservation District

Unincorporated

Lion's Gate Community Services District

Coyote Valley

Loma Prieta Resotuce Conservation District

San Martin

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Pacheco Pass Water District

San Martin County Water District

Santa Clara County Open Space Authority
Santa Clara Coimty Vector Control District
Santa Clara Coimty Lighting Service Area
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Sunol Sanitary District
South Santa Clara County Fire Protection District
South Santa Clara Valley Memorial District

West Valley Sanitation District
)Please note that some special district boundaries cover both service review sub-regions and therefore review and
analysis of the services that the special district provides may be covered in rtwre than one service review.
Viater andfire protection services have been covered in the countywide service reviews. That information, as
necessary, will be included in the sub regional service reviews.

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TABLE 2: Local Jurisdictions in the North County and West Valley Region
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Campbell

Aldercroft Heights County Water District

Cupertino

Central Fire Protection District

Los Altos

Coimty Library Service Area

Los Altos Hills

Cupertino Sanitary District

Los Gatos

El Camino Hospital District

Monte Sereno

Guadalupe Coyote Resource Coi\servation District

Motmtain View

Lake Canyon Community Services District

Palo Alto

Los Altos Hills County Fire District

Saratoga

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

Sunnyvale

Purissima Hills Cormty Water

Unincorporated

Rancho Rinconada Recreation and Park District

Moffett Field

Santa Clara Coimty Vector Control District

Stanford

Santa Clara County Lighting Service Area

y

V

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Santa Clara Valley Water District

Saratoga Cemetery District
Saratoga Fire Protection District
West Bay Sanitary District
J Please note that some special district boundaries caver both service review sub-regions and therefore review and
analysis ofthe services that the special district provides may be covered in more than one service review.
Water andfire protection services have been covered in the countywide service reviews. That information, as
necessary, will be included in the sub regional service reviews.

6

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U£l Z OOp

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Item No. 5

A.

Attachment C

CAMPBELL

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CITY OF CAMPBELL
ComniunUy Development Dcptsrtmcnt
August 28, 2002

Ms. Dunia Noel, AlCP

LAFCO Analyst
Local Agency Formation Commission

70 West Hedding Street, 11'” Floor, East Wing
San Jose, CA 95110

Dear Ms Noel,

Thank you for considering Campbell’s request to be placed in the West Valley Cities Service Boundary

Area. Below please find a list of affiliations that Campbell participates in that reflect conunon interests

with our smaller neighbors in the West Valley vicinity, which include Los Gatos. Saratoga, Monte

Sereno, Cupertino and Campbell.
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.

7.

The West Valley Sanitation District.

West Valley Clean Water Program (stormwater)

Congestion Management Agency -represented by the West Valley delegate
West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority (solid waste Joint Powers Association)

Valley Transportation Agency (Their Board of Directors includes representatives from groups of

Cities with common transportation interests. Campbell is a key member of the west valley grouping.)
West Valley Community College

West Valley Mayor and Managers Association - This organization meets monthly to discuss common

issues.
8.

9.

Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority - consists primarily of West Valley Cities of Campbell, Los
Gatos, Saratoga. Cupertino, Monte Sereno (with the addition of Santa Clara and Sunnyvale who may

opt out to join San Jose’s animal control program.)

League of Women Voters of Southwest Santa Clara Valley - This group covers Los Gatos, Saratoga,
Monte Sereno and Campbell.

10. Santa Clara County Water District - West Valley Lower Peninsula Watershed

11. Fire Protection Services in Campbell are provided by Santa Clara County Fire Department, who also
serves the West Valley Cities of Saratoga, Los Gatos, Cupertino and portions of Saratoga.
Please let me know if I can provide additional information.
Sincerely,

Sharoit Fierro

Community Development Director

70 North First Street n Campbell, California 95008-1436 •

ITU 408.866.1 I 40

MX 403.87 1 .5 I 40

TOD 408.866.2790