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2010 CALAFCO Annual Conference, Palm Springs

Neelima Palacherla

LAFCO 201 Island Annexations in Santa Clara County

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What is an Island?

Unincorporated parcels of land surrounded completely or substantially by incorporated

lands

CITY

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How Islands were Created…

1960s… County approved development at the urban edges gradually became surrounded

as

city expanded and annexed around it

CITY

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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

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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

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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

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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:

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Santa Clara LAFCO’s

Island Annexation Program

1st Step

In cooperation with County, inventoried all islands and prepared maps for each city

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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

Adopted Island Annexation Policies in 2005

• Waive LAFCO processing fees

• Encourage cities to complete island annexations prior to seeking further

expansions

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Santa Clara LAFCO’s

Island Annexation Program

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

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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

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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

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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: ______