Linda Craig of Menlo Park is joining San Mateo County’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) — for the second time — just as it undertakes a major review of public services provided by almost 50 cities and special districts in San Mateo County.
Ms. Craig, a longtime League of Women Voters stalwart, was appointed alternate public member of the seven-member commission at its May 17 meeting. She served in the same capacity from 1974 to 1976.
Ms. Craig replaces Joe Zucca of Belmont, who has served since 1982. Howard Jones continues as the public member.
Formed in 1963, LAFCo oversees changes of boundaries and services of government agencies. Its mission is to prevent urban sprawl and promote efficient and orderly growth of urban services.
Ms. Craig joins the commission just as it is beginning a major new project — the systematic review of municipal services by the county’s 20 cities and 24 independent special districts, which provide services ranging from fire protection and sewage disposal, to hospitals and mosquito abatement.
“It will be an exciting couple of years; there’s an aggressive timetable to complete the reviews,” Ms. Craig said.
The reviews examine the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of the agencys, and ways of changing how they are governed, according to a LAFCo staff report.
The commission is starting its municipal service reviews in the South County, said LAFCo Executive Officer Martha Poyatos. It will work on Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley together this summer, as well as the Skyline County Water District and several other districts. The deadline to complete all reviews is January 1, 2008.
LAFCo has completed several reviews, including the San Mateo County Mosquito Abatement District and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. It is completing work on the Los Trancos County Water District.
Next to be reviewed are the five cities from Belmont to East Palo Alto, including Menlo Park; and five special districts, including the Menlo Park and Woodside fire protection districts, the West Bay Sanitary District, and the Ladera Recreation District.
Review of the Sequoia and Peninsula health care districts is under way.
Starting in November, LAFCo will conduct reviews of cities and districts in Central San Mateo County, followed next April by North County.
Ms Craig brings extensive government experience to her new position. Besides serving on LAFCo 30 years ago, she was chief administrative officer for Portola Valley from 1976 to 1981. Now she is president of the League of Women Voters of the Bay Area.
Among LAFCo members from the South County are Supervisor Rich Gordon. Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson is an alternate. Marguerite Kaufmann of the Skyline County Water District is one of two members representing special districts.
For more information call 363-4224, or go to sanmateolafco.org.
