CALAFCO Annual Conference, Palm Springs Neelima Palacherla LAFCO 201 Island Annexations in Santa Clara County

2 What is an Island? Unincorporated parcels of land surrounded completely or substantially by incorporated lands

3 How Islands were Created… How Islands were Created… 1960s… County approved development at the urban edges gradually became surrounded as city expanded and annexed around it CITY

4 Why Should Islands Annex? Increased governmental accountability Greater influence over decisions affecting neighborhoods Better neighborhood services Less confusion about services and regulations

Why Should Cities Annex Islands? Inefficiencies resulting from two agencies providing service in one area Residents use city facilities but don’t pay taxes Negative impacts on surrounding city neighborhoods Development not consistent with city policies

Why Should Counties Eliminate Islands? Impossible to deliver services efficiently Difficult to provide a responsive government Municipal Services and urban development responsibilities vs. preserving open space and farmlands responsibilities

7 Why does LAFCO Encourage Island Annexations? LAFCO’s mission is to: Promote logical boundaries and orderly development Preserve agricultural and open space lands Discourage urban sprawl Ensure efficient delivery of services

8 Why don’t Islands Annex? 1.Lengthy, expensive and uncertain annexation process 2.Misinformation about impacts of annexation, negative impressions of city 3.Cities / County lack staff and resources for level of effort required 4.Differences in County standards, satisfaction with status quo 5.No financial advantage for cities

Island Annexation Law 2005 Island Annexation Law Annexation of islands that are less than 150 acres may be approved without protest or elections at a public hearing with notice if annexation proposal meets certain criteria Special provision available until January 1, 2014:

10 Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program  1st Step In cooperation with County, inventoried all islands and prepared maps for each city

11 Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program Encourage County to remove incentives for island residents to remain in county by making its development standards comparable to surrounding city  2nd Step  2nd Step Adopted Island Annexation Policies in 2005 Waive LAFCO processing fees Encourage cities to complete island annexations prior to seeking further expansions

12 Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program  3rd Step  3rd Step Work collaboratively with cities and County Work with County and SBE to reduce annexation mapping / report costs Conduct workshops to provide information on annexation process to cities, help prepare Annexation Answer Books

13 Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program: Results Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program: Results Total population annexed: 11,448 Accomplishments… # of islands annexed:77 # of acres annexed: 1,652 # of cities participated:9

14 Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program: Results Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program: Results …and Challenges # of islands remaining (<150 acres): 79 # of islands remaining (>150 acres): 16 # of cities that did not participate: 5

15 Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program: Costs Santa Clara LAFCO’s Island Annexation Program: Costs LAFCO fees waived: $80,000 Over the last five years…. Costs covered by the County:  SBE fees: $51,650  Annexation maps and reports: $260,253  Road upgrades as incentives in islands slated for annexation: ______