COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:

Vern Cooney, Roy Curless, Richard Leonard, Marty McClelland, Mervin Moe, Bonnie Neely (9:13), Roger Rodoni, & Bill Strickland

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:

Cherie Arkley, Jeff Farley, & John Woolley

STAFF PRESENT:

Kirk Gothier, LAFCo Staff

Kirk Girard, LAFCo Executive Officer

Carolyn Ruth, LAFCo Counsel

Mandi Coburn, LAFCo Clerk

The meeting was called to order at 9:02 a.m. in the Board of Supervisor's Chambers, County Courthouse, Chairman McClelland presiding.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 23, 2002

THE MOTION WAS MADE (Rodoni/Curless) to approve the Minutes from the January 23, 2002 meeting.

Kirk Gothier, LAFCo staff, summarized the expenditures to date, their relation with the adopted budget, and explained the work plan progress.

Humboldt County LAFCo has made great strides in the completion of AB2838 legislation. Humboldt County has been noted in the CAL-LAFCo newsletter for its efforts in implementing AB2838. Further implementation will be pursued once the State has come up with the guidelines, originally expected in July of 2001.

The work on the General Plan Update has continued to take place. The Building Communities Report has been handed out to the Commission and was the focus of a workshop held on February 28, 2002. Many of the mapping processes brought about by the GPU have caught the eye of the service districts. The maps will be useful tools in overlaying parcels with service boundaries, spheres of influence, and a number of other development information.

Staff continues to work on the Master Service Elements. In reviewing the data needed for the Master Service Elements, many districts have needed to clean up needed annexations or extensions of service. The two projects before the Commission today are such clean-up projects.

Supervisor Rodoni asked if the maps for the GPU are readily available for the public for use? Kirk Gothier answered that presently the maps are in an infancy stage, but eventually they will be able to be used by the public. Chairman McClelland said the maps would have been a helpful addition to the hearings today.

Chairman McClelland accepted the reports into the record.

Kirk Gothier said the budget is set to go to hearing before May. A hearing notice will be sent to all participating agencies for their input. Staff recommends that LAFCo adopt a budget similar to last years and concentrate its work plan on updating the Master Service Elements for the Fire Districts. Three alternatives have been included for LAFCo's review. Alternative #1: Discontinue working on the Spheres of Influence reports until all local agencies complete their Master Service Elements. Staff believes continued work on the Master Service Elements is important for updating the General Plan. Alternative #2: Increase the LAFCo budget to hire a consultant to prepare the required Master Service Elements. Staff does not recommend this alternative because of the increased expense and the districts’ desires not to have any significant increases to the LAFCo budget. Alternative #3: Complete Sphere of Influence Reports for those districts that are at capacity and do not have plans for expansion. Staff believes the majority of the work should be directed to those districts who have a need for expansion, and therefore staff does not recommend Alternative #3.

Kirk noted the recommended work program identified on page 10 of the staff report.

Commissioner Curless suggested that staff work closely with the smaller fire districts, especially those with volunteer departments. Staff time for these departments is limited and at a high demand.

Chairman McClelland asked LAFCo staff to describe what encompasses the Master Fire Plan? Kirk Girard summarized the funding sources, the three phases of the plan, and how the Fire Safe Councils are formed.

Chairman McClelland asked that the Alternative #3 include the number of districts at their service capacity. He accepted the preliminary budget into the record. The public hearing is scheduled for April 24, 2002.

Kirk Gothier gave a brief overview of the project. According to the City of Trinidad General Plan, County General Plan and LAFCo Sphere of Influence Report. The Negative Declaration included in the project concludes there will not be significant impacts to the environment. The document has been prepared by the City of Trinidad and Bob Brown, City Planner, is here to answer questions. The major issue is the area is not desirable for annexation due to the road maintenance needs. A long term solution for the road needs to be worked out between the County, the City, and the Rancheria. Staff recommends LAFCo adopt the resolution that certifies compliance with CEQA and approve the requested extension of water.

Chairman McClelland asked if the City of Trinidad has adopted the Negative Declaration? Bob Brown, City Planner, said that the Notice of Determination has already been filed on the project. Chairman McClelland asked if the project had been referred to the Rancheria and the County's Public Works Division? Bob Brown answered Public Works was referred, but no referral was made to the Rancheria. Chairman McClelland asked if LAFCo Counsel has reviewed the environmental document and staff report? Carolyn Ruth said she did not review the project because she had not received a staff report. Chairman McClelland opened the public comment period.

Chi-Wei Lin, City council member for Trinidad, noted the extension of water service has been a historical practice encouraged by the City. The small City of Trinidad believes the outlying areas just beyond the city limits are part of the community and therefore should be provided services if needed. The extension of water service also allows for increased fire protection.

Carl Ratner, resident within 25 yards of the city limits, supports the approval of the project. The extension of water provides needed revenue for the City. The plan proposed provides for minimal impacts and gradual implementation.

Chairman McClelland closed the public comment period and asked that the hearing be continued to April 24, 2002 (and to be re-noticed if needed) to allow for the following items to be addressed: traffic concerns on Westhaven and Scenic Drives, water rights for Luffenholtz Creek, authorization to extend services to the north as well as the south, any water needs by the Rancheria, the City’s evidence for future annexation, the mapping of parcels outside the Sphere’s boundaries, and the conversation of land for development.

6B. GARBERVILLE SANITARY DISTRICT NEGATIVE DECLARATION & ANNEXATIONS

Kirk Gothier summarized the project. The parcels now being served with services were thought at the time to be within the Service Boundary. There is no potential for future development of the area. It consists of steep terrain and a very narrow roadway. Staff believes this project to be a straight-forward annexation and that all the findings can be made. Once approved the project can be scheduled for a reconsideration period and then a protest hearing.

Chairman McClelland inquired about the noted 5678 acres proposed annexation on page 74. Kirk answered the correct number of acres is 46. The Chairman opened the public comment period.

Mark Bryant testified that the annexation was a clean up of the district’s boundaries. The majority of the property owners are in agreement as to the annexation. It was too hard to secure all the signatures for the Waiver of Protest Hearing due to the large number of renters and multiple dwelling on each parcel.

Chairman McClelland closed the public comment period and called for a motion.

THE MOTION WAS MADE (Rodoni/Neely) to adopt the resolution certifying compliance with CEQA and approve the annexations. The Commission then directs staff to schedule the required protest hearing following the LAFCo reconsideration period of 30 calendar days.

THE MOTION PASSED 6-0 WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE. Alternates Cooney & Strickland present, but not voting.

7. PUBLIC APPEARANCES

Bob Brown stated the Master Service Element for the City of Blue Lake will be completed soon. The City is considering some possible annexations and will be holding a Town Hall meeting to discuss the possible lands affected.

Bob Higgons, North Coast Home Builders Association, attended the February 28^th General Plan Update Workshop. He and the Association are concerned that the net buildable land noted in the Building Communities Report is misleading and incorrect.

The meeting adjourned at 9:58 A.M.