2011 Annual
CALAFCO Conference
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice Issues
and Case Studies
 Only in recent years have LAFCOs
been required to consider
“environmental justice” in their
decisions.
 In some situations, social equity issues
in conjunction with changes to city
boundaries are, or are expected to be,
a major determinant in LAFCO
decisions.
• Tulare
• Sonoma
Overview






Environmental Justice
Santa Rosa’s Unincorporated Islands
Roseland Demographics
Sonoma LAFCO Policy
City of Santa Rosa and County
Negotiations
Next Steps
What is
Environmental Justice?
Environmental Justice in California
California is one of the first states in the nation to codify
environmental justice in state statute
“Environmental Justice” is defined in the Government
Code as: "The fair treatment of people of all races,
cultures, and incomes with respect to the development,
adoption, implementation, and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations and policies."
(§65040.12)
How does the concept relate to LAFCO?
Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg includes, as a factor that
LAFCOs must consider in their review of proposals:
The extent to which the proposal will promote
environmental justice.
In CKH, since 2009, “Environmental Justice" means the
fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and
incomes with respect to the location of public facilities
and the provision of public services.
LAFCO’s Expanded Role
 Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg goes further
than the original concept of
environmental justice by including “the
provision of public services.”
 LAFCOs need to ask in our reviews and
studies:
Do residents get clean water, have
adequate sewage facilities, remain
free from health hazards, AND do
they get libraries, hospitals, fire,
parks, and police services equal to
what their neighbors have?
Unincorporated Islands within
the City of Santa Rosa
 There are 51 unincorporated urban pockets, or
county islands, within the boundaries of the City
of Santa Rosa that are either completely, or
substantially, surrounded by the City. Roseland
is the largest in size and population.
 The islands are a by-product of land use policies
adopted in Sonoma County and elsewhere in
California during the 1950s and 1960s.
 The continued existence of county islands:


Gives little forethought or consideration of the
difficulties and costs, to the county and
special districts, of delivering acceptable
levels of service to unincorporated islands
Creates needless confusion for the public and
agencies as to jurisdictional boundaries and
service responsibilities
Unincorporated Islands in
Santa Rosa
Unincorporated Islands in
Southwest Santa Rosa
Roseland and Southwest Santa
Rosa Islands
Roseland’s Challenges
Roseland Demographics
(United States Census Bureau, 2000, 2010)
2000
2010
Area (sq. miles):
1.06
0.94
Population:
6,369
6,325
Median Age:
29.8
30.2
<18
24%
29%
19-65
68%
64%
65
7%
7%
1,847
1,724
Owner Occupied:
52%
51%
Rental
48%
49%
Age Range:
Households:
Roseland Demographics
(United States Census Bureau, 2010)
2000
2010
African-American
2.7
2.1
Asian
5.3
4.4
Native American
2.7
3.5
Pacific Islander
0.5
0.2
White
57.6
51.1
Other Races
25.2
32.9
6.1
5.8
Persons of Hispanic/ Latino
Origin of Any Race
43.2
59.7
Persons of Non-Hispanic/
Non-Latino Origin of Any Race
56.8
40.3
Race (percentage)
Two or More Races
Ethnicity
Public Services in Roseland
 Police – Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office
 Fire – Roseland Fire Protection District
contracting with City of Santa Rosa for service
 Water – Wells or City of Santa Rosa either by
56133 agreements or interagency agreements
 Sewer – South Park County Sanitation District
under agreement with the City of Santa Rosa
 Redevelopment – Joint Redevelopment
Project Area
 Parks – City-owned parks and joint projects
with County and non-profits
 Schools- Four Santa Rosa-area school districts
Sonoma LAFCO Policy
Since 2005, Sonoma LAFCO has had a
moratorium on all annexations in area until there
is a plan for annexing Roseland and the
southwest area to the City.
In 2010, the Commission adopted a restrictive
policy on outside service area authorizations
(extensions of service) for new construction.
The Commission has encouraged the City and
County to enter into an annexation agreement for
Roseland and other islands in the southwest
area.
City of Santa Rosa and County
Discussions and Negotiations
Joint Roseland Sub-Committee



Formed in mid-1990s
Comprised of two members of the Board of
Supervisors and three members of the Santa Rosa
City Council
Meets quarterly to discuss issues of mutual interest
City-County Staff Discussions – Beginning in 2006

Purpose - to investigate feasibility of annexing the
Roseland area to the City
Hiring Economic Consultants – Beginning in 2008


City and County hire separate consulting firms to
project fiscal impacts of annexation of Roseland &
other areas in southwest Santa Rosa
Result – Consultants agree that deficit would result;
City estimates cost as $1 million higher than County
City of Santa Rosa and County
Discussions and Negotiations (cont.)
Hiring Economic Consultants – Beginning in 2008, cont’d


2009 – City-County agree to revise phasing concept
and choose mutually agreeable economic consultant
to project fiscal impacts;
2010 – Draft report completed but final report not
released
Further Discussions/Negotiations – 2011

Mayor and Chair of Board of Supervisors become
involved
Barriers

Sonoma LAFCO has no powers to perfect
annexation.

City of Santa Rosa has not pre-zoned territory in
Roseland or in the other islands in southwest Santa
Rosa. Santa Rosa City Council, as a practice over
the years, has not been inclined to force annexations.

The City or the County can decline to enter into a
property tax transfer agreement.

The extent of resident support for annexation is
uncertain (economic and social impacts).
What's Next