Comprehensive Review and Update of LAFCO Policies - Phase 1
Summary
SCH Number
2024120835
Public Agency
Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission
(LAFCO)
Document Title
Comprehensive Review and Update of LAFCO Policies - Phase 1
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/18/2024
Document Description
The first phase of the Comprehensive Review and Update of LAFCO Policies focused on reviewing and updating, as necessary, the key policies that apply to processing typical LAFCO applications. Phase 1 includes seven chapters, specifically: Sphere of Influence (SOI) Policies (Chapter 2), Urban Service Area (USA) Policies (Chapter 3), Annexation, Detachment, and Reorganization Policies (Chapter 4), Out-of-Agency Service by Contract (OASC) Policies (Chapter 5), Island Annexation Policies (Chapter 6), Agricultural Land Preservation and Mitigation Policies (Chapter 7), and Urban Growth Boundaries Policies (Chapter 8). Also includes rescinding the existing Boundary Agreement Lines Policies and the Policies for Gilroy Agricultural Lands, as they are both no longer applicable.
These key policies will be used by Santa Clara LAFCO (Commissioners and Staff) in reviewing LAFCO applications, by affected local agencies in preparing their applications for submittal to LAFCO, by landowners/registered voters in assisting in the preparing or in the preparing/submitting of LAFCO applications, and by the public in understanding LAFCO requirements and processes.
Contact Information
Name
Dunia Noel
Agency Name
Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission
Job Title
Senior LAFCO Analyst
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Other Location Info
Santa Clara County (Countywide)
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The purpose of the comprehensive review and update of the current LAFCO policies is to better enable LAFCO to meet its legislative mandate, make the policies consistent with recent changes to LAFCO law, better document current/historic practices, and provide ease of use and better guidance to affected agencies, public, and potential applicants; and increase clarity and transparency of LAFCO’s policies and expectations.
The proposed Phase 1 LAFCO policy revisions include changes to the overall organization and structure of the current LAFCO policies; removal of incorrect and/or expired references to State law and inclusion of new references to relevant code sections of State law; text changes to reflect changes in State law or to provide background information.
The approval of the proposed revisions to Santa Clara LAFCO Policies – Phase 1 is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3 Section 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and, Section 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) because the proposed revisions to Santa Clara LAFCO policies reflect existing provisions of the Government Code that are already State law, existing policies of LAFCO that are already under implementation, historic or current Santa Clara LAFCO practice, or are entirely procedural (non-substantive) in nature.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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