Sacramento LAFCO Meeting - November 12, 2024
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Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission Meeting - November 12, 2024
The Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) met on November 12, 2024, from 5:31 PM to 6:00 PM. The meeting focused on the midpoint report of the Del Paso Manor Water District (DPMWD) regarding its remediation efforts, updates on LAFCO executive officer reclassification, and routine consent items.
Consent Calendar
- Items 2 through 4 were approved unanimously. These included routine approvals and actions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kathy Lauer thanked the commission for improvements in fireworks control and encouraged continued vigilance against illegal fireworks during holidays.
- Emily Hathaway, a resident of Del Paso Manor and an environmental hydrogeologist, expressed support for merging DPMWD with the Sacramento Suburban Water District (SSWD). She stated she believes remaining independent brings greater uncertainty and that dissolving the district on its own terms offers more control and keeps water a public utility. She noted that recent election results showed a strong lead for pro-merger candidates.
Discussion Items
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Del Paso Manor Water District Midpoint Report: Carl Dolk, Vice President of the DPMWD Board, presented the district's midpoint response to LAFCO's 11 identified deficiencies. Key findings:
- Most items (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7) had no remedial action taken.
- Item 4: Well #4 motor replaced, but 70-year-old casing not replaced.
- Item 8: $52 million cost of infrastructure rehabilitation; district approved task orders for steel pipeline replacement (close to five miles) and a Prop 218 study leading to a rate increase effective July 2024.
- Item 9: District jointly applied with SSWD for a grant dependent on consolidation, and completed hydraulic modeling.
- Item 10: Same joint grant application.
- Item 11: Additional Prop 218 rate increase to fund $9.23 million in projects.
- Dolk also provided supplemental context: 7 joint board meetings with SSWD since May 2024, hosting a public workshop, and exploring paths to remain independent (12 board meetings, approval of a backup generator installation for $400,000, and pipeline design for $150,000). He clarified that fire flow is currently met via an intertie with SSWD and that SB 552 allows mutual aid agreements to meet capacity requirements by 2032.
- Public commenter Emily Hathaway supported merger, citing her professional expertise and community concerns.
- Chair Desmond directed staff to prepare a sphere of influence amendment to facilitate the reorganization, aiming for a December commission meeting. Commissioner Kaplan expressed support.
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Update on LAFCO Executive Officer Reclassification: General Counsel D'Angillick reported that the county is processing the reclassification, with the Civil Service Commission scheduled to consider it on December 13, 2024. Chair Desmond and Commissioner Frost confirmed follow-up discussions with county officials. Commissioner Carter suggested keeping the item on future agendas to maintain pressure.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved unanimously.
- The commission received and filed the Del Paso Manor Water District midpoint report and directed staff to bring a sphere of influence amendment for the DPMWD to the next meeting (December 2024) to support the proposed reorganization with SSWD.
- The commission will continue to monitor the executive officer reclassification and retained the item on the agenda for future updates.
- The meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
You know, he's really looking forward to meeting. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay, that's okay. Uh Commissioner Frost. It is 531, and I'm calling this meeting of the local agency formation commission to order. Uh Madam Clerk, please read the opening statement. Uh may I take a roll call please? Oh, plan. Take a roll call. Excuse me. Commissioner Frost. Here. Commissioner Jones. Here. Commissioner Carter? Here. Commissioner Murphy. Here. Vice Chair Kaplan. Here. Commissioner Walton. Here. And Chair Desmond. Here. You have a quorum. Okay. Want to do roll. Can you read the statement? Sure. The meeting of the Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission is live and recorded with closed captioning. Excuse me. It is cable cast on Metro Cable Channel 14, the local government affairs channel on the Comcast and Direct TV Uverse Cable Systems. It is also live streamed at Metro 14Live.SatCounty.gov. Today's meeting will be plays Sunday, November 10th at 2 p.m. on Metro Cable Channel 14. Once posted, the recording of this meeting can be viewed on demand at YouTube.com forward slash Metro Cable 14. The Sacramento Local Agency Formation fosters public engagement during the meeting and encourages public participation, civility, and use of courteous language. The board does not condone the use of profanity, vulgar language, gestures, or other inappropriate behavior, including personal attacks or threats directed towards any meeting participant. Each speaker will be giving two minutes to make a public comment and are limited to making one comment per agenda or off agenda item. Please be mindful of the public comment procedures to avoid being interrupted or disconnected while making your comment. To make a comment in person, please fill out a speaker request form and hand it to the clerk. The chairperson would open public comments for each agenda or off agenda item and direct the clerk to call the name of each speaker. When the clerk calls your name, please come to the podium and make your comment. If a speaker is unavailable to make a comment prior to the closing of public comments, the speaker waives the request to speak, and the clerk will file the speaker request form in the record. The clerk will manage the timer and allow each speaker two minutes to make a comment. You may make a written comment send written comments by email to board clerk at SAC County.gov. Your comment will be routed to the board and filed in the record. If you need an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act or for medical or other reasons, please see clerk staff for assistance or contact the clerk's office at 916 874 5451 or by email at board clerk at SAC County.gov. Thank you in advance for your courtesy and understanding of the meeting procedures. This concludes your announcement.
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