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Staff Report to the Mayor and City Council <br />LAFCO — Island Annexation Policy <br />April 19, 2011 <br />Page 3 <br />opportunity to help shape policy for any future island annexation efforts. In addition, due to <br />ambiguities regarding the interpretation of state LAFCO law for island annexations (Government <br />Code, Section 56375.3 et. Seq.), State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod has requested an opinion <br />from the California State Attorney General's office concerning whether Government Code, <br />Section 56375.3 authorizes splitting up islands which exceed 150 acres into smaller parcels for <br />annexation purposes (copy of request attached). <br />In sum, the current Island Annexation Policy provides the City with considerable flexibility in <br />how it proceeds with island annexations in the future, including how it defines "substantially <br />surrounded." Therefore, staff recommends that the Island Annexation Policy remain unchanged <br />until the Attorney General renders an opinion interpreting Government Code, Section 56375.3. <br />We believe it is also prudent to defer the question of defining "entire islands" until after the <br />Attorney General opinion is issued. Finally, we do not recommend support for the current the <br />LAFCO practice of requiring a City to address all of its island areas when proposing annexation <br />of other territories. Such practice impinges on the City's discretion when pursuing individual <br />annexations. <br />FISCAL IMPACTS <br />There will be no fiscal impact to the City General Fund. <br />ALTERNATIVES <br />1. Reaffirm existing LAFCO Island Annexation Policy. <br />2. Provide alternative direction to staff. <br />ATTACHMENTS <br />1. Letter from LAFCO to Member Cities (December 10, 2010) <br />2. Letter from State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod to Office of the Attorney General <br />(September 3, 2010) <br />