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​Municipal Servi​ce Review and
Sphere of Influence Updates

MUNICIPAL SERVICE REVIEWS

Municipal service reviews were a centerpiece to the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 and are comprehensive studies of the availability, range, and performance of governmental services provided within a defined geographic area.   LAFCos generally prepare municipal service reviews to explicitly inform subsequent sphere determinations.  LAFCos also prepare municipal service reviews irrespective of making any specific sphere determinations in order to obtain and furnish information to contribute to the overall orderly development of local communities.  Municipal service reviews vary in scope and can focus on a particular agency or governmental service.   LAFCos may use the information generated from municipal service reviews to initiate other actions under their authority, such as forming, consolidating, or dissolving one or more local agencies. 

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE UPDATES

LAFCo establishes, amends, and updates spheres for all cities, towns, and most special districts in California to designate the territory it independently believes represents the appropriate and probable future service area and jurisdictional boundary of the affected agency. Importantly, all jurisdictional changes, such as annexations and detachments, must be consistent with the spheres of the affected local agencies with limited exceptions. Further, an increasingly important role involving sphere determinations relates to their use by regional councils of governments as planning areas in allocating housing need assignments for counties and cities, which must be addressed by the agencies in their housing elements. 

As of January 1, 2008, LAFCo now must review and update as needed each local agency’s sphere every five years.  In making a sphere determination, LAFCo is required to prepare written statements addressing five specific planning factors listed under G.C. Section 56425. These mandatory factors range from evaluating current and future land uses to the existence of pertinent communities of interest.  The intent in preparing the written statements is to orient LAFCo in addressing the core principles underlying the sensible development of each local agency consistent with the anticipated needs of the affected community.  The five mandated planning factors are summarized in the following table.

STUDY SCHEDULE

Municipal Service Reviews, and their concurrent Sphere of Influence updates are supposed to be completed roughly ever 5 years, although this isn't heavily mandated. Marin LAFCo has had 3 Study Schedule rounds and is currently in the process of completing its fourth Study Schedule round, which should be completed in Fiscal Year 2022-23. The published final drafts of all of LAFCo's previous studies are listed below in reverse chronological order. 

Current Study Schedule

 

Study Schedule Round 4 [in progress] | FY 2018-2023

 

Southern Marin Wastewater Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - December 2023Golden Gate Corridor Region Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - April 2023 West Marin Region Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - June 2022Twin Cities Reigon Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - June 2021Novato Reigon Supplemental Flood Zone 1 MSR - April 2021Upper Ross Valley Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - October 2020San Rafael Reigon Supplemental Flood Zone 6 and 7 MSR- October 2020Tiburon Peninsula Municipal Service Review - June 2020Novato Regional Municipal Service Review - January 2020San Rafael Regional Municipal Service Review Final - October 2019

 

Study Schedule Round 3​​ | FY 2016-2018

North Marin Water District Sphere of Influence Update - October 2017Central Marin Wastewater Municipal Service Review - August 2017Marin Countywide Water Study - January 2016
 

Study Schedule Round 2 | FY 2007-2011

Southern Marin Sewer Agencies Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update Appendices to Correspondence by Bonner Beuhler, Almonte Sanitary District - October 2011Southern Marin Sewer Agencies Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update Comments - October 2011Southern Marin Sewer Agencies Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - July 2011Marin Healthcare District Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - January 2011Southern Marin Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - September 2010Tomales Area Service Review And Sphere Of Influence Update - September 2009 Marin Resource Conservation District Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - August 2009Stinson Beach Area Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - December 2007
 

Study Schedule Round 1 ​​ | FY 2004-2007

Muir Beach Area Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update- October 2007 Bolinas Area Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - August 2007 Inverness Area Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - May 2007Ross Valley Area Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - April 2007San Rafael Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update - January 2006Southern Marin Sewer Service Alternatives Study Report by PB Consult - July 2005Novato Area Service Review and Sphere of Influence - Febuary 2002