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2011 Annual CALAFCO Conference Environmental Justice . Environmental Justice Issues and Case Studies. Only in recent years have LAFCOs been required to consider “environmental justice” in their decisions.
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Environmental Justice Issues and Case Studies • Only in recent years have LAFCOs been required to consider “environmental justice” in their decisions. • In some situations, social equity issues in conjunction with changes to city boundaries are, or are expected to be, a major determinant in LAFCO decisions. • Tulare • Sonoma
Overview • Environmental Justice • Santa Rosa’s Unincorporated Islands • Roseland Demographics • Sonoma LAFCO Policy • City of Santa Rosa and County Negotiations • Next Steps
What is Environmental Justice? Environmental Justice in California California is one of the first states in the nation to codify environmental justice in state statute “Environmental Justice” is defined in the Government Code as: "The fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies." (§65040.12) How does the concept relate to LAFCO? Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg includes, as a factor that LAFCOs must consider in their review of proposals: The extent to which the proposal will promote environmental justice. In CKH, since 2009, “Environmental Justice" means the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the location of public facilities and the provision of public services.
LAFCO’s Expanded Role • Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg goes further than the originalconcept of environmental justice by including “the provision of public services.” • LAFCOs need to ask in our reviews and studies: Do residents get clean water, have adequate sewage facilities, remain free from health hazards, AND do they get libraries, hospitals, fire, parks, and police services equal to what their neighbors have?
Unincorporated Islands within the City of Santa Rosa • There are 51 unincorporated urban pockets, or county islands, within the boundaries of the City of Santa Rosa that are either completely, or substantially, surrounded by the City. Roseland is the largest in size and population. • The islands are a by-product of land use policies adopted in Sonoma County and elsewhere in California during the 1950s and 1960s. • The continued existence of county islands: • Gives little forethought or consideration of the difficulties and costs, to the county and special districts, of delivering acceptable levels of service to unincorporated islands • Creates needless confusion for the public and agencies as to jurisdictional boundaries and service responsibilities
Roseland Demographics(United States Census Bureau, 2000, 2010)
Public Services in Roseland • Police – Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office • Fire – Roseland Fire Protection District contracting with City of Santa Rosa for service • Water – Wells or City of Santa Rosa either by 56133 agreements or interagency agreements • Sewer – South Park County Sanitation District under agreement with the City of Santa Rosa • Redevelopment – Joint Redevelopment Project Area • Parks – City-owned parks and joint projects with County and non-profits • Schools- Four Santa Rosa-area school districts
Sonoma LAFCO Policy Since 2005, Sonoma LAFCO has had a moratorium on all annexations in area until there is a plan for annexing Roseland and the southwest area to the City. In 2010, the Commission adopted a restrictive policy on outside service area authorizations (extensions of service) for new construction. The Commission has encouraged the City and County to enter into an annexation agreement for Roseland and other islands in the southwest area.
City of Santa Rosa and County Discussions and Negotiations Joint Roseland Sub-Committee • Formed in mid-1990s • Comprised of two members of the Board of Supervisors and three members of the Santa Rosa City Council • Meets quarterly to discuss issues of mutual interest City-County Staff Discussions – Beginning in 2006 • Purpose - to investigate feasibility of annexing the Roseland area to the City Hiring Economic Consultants – Beginning in 2008 • City and County hire separate consulting firms to project fiscal impacts of annexation of Roseland & other areas in southwest Santa Rosa • Result – Consultants agree that deficit would result; City estimates cost as $1 million higher than County
City of Santa Rosa and County Discussions and Negotiations (cont.) Hiring Economic Consultants – Beginning in 2008, cont’d • 2009 – City-County agree to revise phasing concept and choose mutually agreeable economic consultant to project fiscal impacts; • 2010 – Draft report completed but final report not released Further Discussions/Negotiations – 2011 • Mayor and Chair of Board of Supervisors become involved
Barriers • Sonoma LAFCO has no powers to perfect annexation. • City of Santa Rosa has not pre-zoned territory in Roseland or in the other islands in southwest Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa City Council, as a practice over the years, has not been inclined to force annexations. • The City or the County can decline to enter into a property tax transfer agreement. • The extent of resident support for annexation is uncertain (economic and social impacts).
