(8)AR 041911 LAFCO's Island Annexation Policies

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DATE: TO: FROM: PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: STAFF REPORT APRIL 19, 2011 HONORABLE MAYOR AND CIT ROD FOSTER, CITY MANAGER MARK TOMICH, DEVELOPMENT ITEM NO. �r VICES DIRECTOR�e LAFCO ISLAND ANNEXATION POLICY RECOMMENDED ACTION Authorize staff to prepare a letter on behalf of the City to San Bernardino LAFCO, expressing the City's opinions pertaining to the LAFCO Annexation Policy and supplemental questions, as discussed in the Issues/Analysis section of this report. GOAL STATEMENT The proposed action will support the City's goal to promote the City's interests at a regional level and work cooperatively with intergovernmental agencies. BACKGROUND The San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) is revisiting its Island Annexation Policy and is soliciting feedback from member cities prior to either reaffirm the existing Policy, or amend the Policy. A letter from LAFCO, dated December 10, 2010, is attached. LAFCO was scheduled to take up this issue at their January 19, 2011 hearing; however, due to requests for continuance from the City of Colton and other cities, this item has been continued to the May 18, 2011 LAFCO hearing. The current Island Annexation Policy, which has been in effect since October 18, 2006, reads as follows: 1. For the purpose of applying the provisions of Government Code Section 56375.3, the territory of an annexation proposal shall be deemed "substantially surrounded" if 52% of its boundary, as set forth in a boundary description accepted by the Executive Officer, is surrounded by (a) the affected City or (b) the affected City and adjacent Cities, or (c) the affected City and a service impediment boundary as defined by the Commission to include, but not be limited to, a freeway, a flood control channel or forest service land.