Next week, a low-profile but powerful government agency will review the operations and services of four obscure special districts that provide services to local communities.
The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will hold a public hearing Wednesday, August 16, at 2:30 p.m. to review services and sphere of influence for the San Mateo County Harbor District, the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District, the Skyline County Water District, and the Los Trancos County Water District.
The meeting will be held in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at 400 County Center, at the corner of Hamilton and Bradford streets in Redwood City.
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.
A major question before LAFCO will be the future sphere of influence of the Los Trancos County Water District. The tiny government agency provided water to 278 customers in the rural communities of Los Trancos Woods, Vista Verde, and Blue Oaks in Portola Valley, until April 2005, when it sold its water system to the California Water Service Co.
In May, LAFCO reviewed the services provided by the district, and suggested it consider dissolving, since it collects taxes, and no longer provides water. On the agenda for August 16 is a decision on the sphere of influence. This has been zero since 1985 because LAFCO believes other agencies could perform its services.
David Smernoff, president of the water board, said he hopes LAFCO will give the district a sphere of influence corresponding to the area it serves. He noted the district provides very local services, such as water conservation, emergency preparedness, and management of half a dozen acres and two small lakes. “We think we have valuable services to provide,” he said. “We are very efficient and very local.”
Martha Poyatos, executive officer for LAFCO, noted that even a zero sphere of influence does not cause the agency to dissolve. There has to be an application for dissolution filed by either a public agency, voters, or property owners within the district, she said.
For information and staff reports, go to www.sanmateolafco.org.
