CALAFCO Event Schedule
Annual Conference
Join CALAFCO and our host, Santa Barbara LAFCo, in beautiful Santa Barbara at the Fess Parker DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton. Our theme this year is Orchards to Oceans: Balancing California's Diversity.
2016 Annual Conference Program & Presentation Materials
October 26-28
Santa Barbara, CA
Thank you to all who attended this year's annual conference in Santa Barbara. It was a great program with an array of general and breakout sessions. Take a closer look at the Final Program. All presentation materials received are posted here for your download. CALAFCO also thanks our host, Santa Barbara LAFCo, and all of our sponsors.
Detailed Program & Presentation Materials
Wednesday, October 26
Mobile Workshop - 7:30 am-12:30 pm
Come along on the Mobile Workshop as we tour a greenhouse filled with flowers grown with cutting-edge technology, including robotics, in Carpinteria. The tour then winds up into the Los Padres National Forest offering breathtaking views of the Santa Barbara coastline before arriving at Lake Cachuma, a primary County water source now at 14% capacity, to learn how local water agencies are coping with extended drought. The workshop concludes with lunch at Lake Cachuma County Park before returning to the hotel.
LAFCO 101: Understanding And Applying The Basics - 10:00am - 12:00 pm
Sierra Madre
This informative presentation is intended to assist elected officials and staff members of counties, cities, and special districts who may be new to the LAFCo process. Panelists will discuss the basics: the LAFCo review process; required Spheres of Influence and Municipal Service Reviews; and requirements for Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities. They will also review legal counsel and commissioner perspectives on what makes an effective commission.
Speakers: John Leopold, Commissioner, Santa Cruz LAFCo; Patrick McCormick, Executive Officer, Santa Cruz LAFCo; Nancy Miller, Attorney, Renne Sloan Holtzman Sakai. Moderator: Kate McKenna, Executive Officer, Monterey LAFCo
Presentation Material: LAFCO 101
Conference Opening: Welcoming Remarks (1:30pm – 2:00 pm)
Santa Ynez/San Rafael
John Leopold, Chair, CALAFCO Board; Sblend Sblendorio, Director, CALAFCO Board and CALAFCO Conference Chair; Roger Welt, Commissioner, Santa Barbara LAFCo; Helene Schneider, Mayor, City of Santa Barbara; Pamela Miller, Executive Director, CALAFCO
General Session: The Big Picture: A Water Report From A State, Regional And Local Perspective (2:00 pm-3:30 pm)
Santa Ynez/San Rafael
This session explores the status of California’s water resources from a variety of viewpoints, including implementation of the new groundwater management law known as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the continuing drought, infrastructure challenges, legal challenges, climate change, impacts from population changes, conservation efforts, and more. We will explore where we are today and what the future holds. A panel of experts will explore where California is with water and where LAFCos fit into the discussion.
Speakers: Michael Colantuono, Attorney, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley PC; David Inouye, CA Dep. of Water Resources; Kelley Dyer, Water Supply Manager, City of Santa Barbara; Ron Greenwood, Director, Carmichael Water District; Commissioner, Sacramento LAFCo. Moderator: Gay Jones, Commissioner, Sacramento LAFCo
Presentation materials for Water session: Kelley Dyer, Michael Colantuono, Ron Greenwood, David Inouye
Refreshment Break with Sponsors - 3:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Grand Foyer
General Session: Back To Our Roots: Curbing Sprawl and Preserving Open Space and Agricultural Lands To Ensure Orderly Growth And Development (3:45 pm-5:00 pm)
Santa Ynez/San Rafael
By 2050, California’s population will reach 50 million. In the age of climate change, the question is how best to accommodate this growth in a sustainable manner while preserving our precious farmlands and open space and enhancing our quality of life. As agencies charged with curbing urban sprawl, preserving open space and agricultural lands, and promoting the efficient delivery of services, LAFCos can play a major role in addressing this question. Learn about urban planning and agricultural preservation trends/practices and the analysis and consideration used by one LAFCo to evaluate a controversial city expansion proposal.
Speakers: Neelima Palacherla, Executive Officer, Santa Clara LAFCo; Serena Unger, Sr. Planner/Policy Assoc., American Farmland Trust; Susan Vicklund Wilson, Commissioner, Santa Clara LAFCo; Randall Winston, Executive Director, CA Strategic Growth Council. Moderator: Sblend Sblendorio, Alameda LAFCo
Back to our Roots presentations: Serena Unger; Santa Clara LAFCo
Welcome Reception 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Reagan Room
CALAFCO 10th Annual Beer & Wine Competition
Thursday, October 27
Continental Breakfast Buffet - 7:00 am – 9:00 am - Reagan Room
Regional Caucus Meetings & Elections 8:00 am – 8:45 am
Northern Region – San Miguel
Southern Region – Santa Cruz
Coastal Region - Sierra Madre North
Central Region – Santa Rosa
CALAFCO Annual Business Meeting - 9 am – 10:15 am
Santa Ynez/San Rafael
John Leopold, CALAFCO Board Chair; Jim Curatalo, CALAFCO Vice-Chair; Gay Jones, CALAFCO Secretary; Josh Susman, CALAFCO Treasurer; Pamela Miller, CALAFCO Executive Director; Steve Lucas, CALAFCO Executive Officer
Refreshment Break with Sponsors - 10:15 am – 10:30 am - Grand Foyer
Breakout Session – 10:30 am – 11:45 am - Regional, Legal and Associate Member Roundtables
Northern Region – San Miguel
Southern Region – Santa Cruz
Coastal Region - Sierra Madre North
Central Region – Santa Rosa
Legal Counsel – Vineyard
Associates –Lounge
Luncheon and Keynote Speaker 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Santa Ynez/San Rafael
Jean-Michel Cousteau, Explorer, Environmentalist, Educator and Film Producer
Breakout Session - 1:45 pm-3:15 pm - Cutting Edge Trends And LAFCo: GIS, Public Policy, and Future Challenges
San Miguel/Santa Rosa
New Laws. New Tools. New Beginnings: From the latest features in mapping software to recently- adopted Commission policies, this session will showcase how the hottest trends in local government are assisting with the ever-growing role of LAFCo. Join us as we explore the current and future challenges affecting LAFCos and learn how you can utilize in-house tools already implemented around the State.
Speakers: Sam Martinez, Asst. Executive Officer, San Bernardino LAFCo; Mike Ott, Executive Officer, San Diego LAFCo; Andy Vanderlaan, Commissioner, San Diego LAFCo. Moderator: Joe Serrano, Analyst, San Diego LAFCo
Cutting Edge Technologies Presentation
Breakout Session - 1:45 pm-3:15 pm - Is It Time to Revisit AB 8? – What It Takes to Realign Property Tax Revenues and Services
Sierra Madre North/South
Passed in the early 1980's as a means to implement Proposition 13, AB 8 sets the basic parameters for both the allocation of the property dollar and the means by which that formula may be changed. Thirty years after AB 8, California has a local government funding problem. The discussion will focus on whether it makes public policy sense to re-visit who gets a portion of property taxes and/or the means by which the formula is set.
Speakers: Carolyn Chu, Sr. Fiscal and Policy Analyst for the Legislative Analyst’s Office; Michael Latner, Assoc. Professor of Political Science/Director Masters in Public Policy. Moderator: Allen Settle, Commissioner, San Luis Obispo LAFCo
AB 8 Presentation material: LAO Office
Breakout Session - 1:45 pm-3:15pm - City Incorporations In California: Case Studies And Prospects For New Cities
Reagan Room
Recent changes to state law impacted the prospects for city incorporations. Four experts describe the city incorporation process and provide details of two unsuccessful proposals (Olympic Valley in Placer County and East Los Angeles in Los Angeles County) and one successful proposal (City of Jurupa Valley in Riverside County).
Speakers: Kris Berry, Executive Officer, Placer LAFCo; Jim Simon, Principal/President, Rosenow Spevacek Group, Inc.; Gary Thompson, City Manager, City of Jurupa Valley. Moderator: Paul Novak, AICP, Executive Officer, Los Angeles LAFCo
City Incorporations Presentation
Refreshment Break with Sponsors - 3:15 pm – 3:30 pm - Grand Foyer
Breakout Session - 3:30 pm-5:00 pm - Growth and Development By The Numbers: California’s Demographic And Governance Changes Post-CKH
Reagan Room
For those who like the quantitative side of LAFCos, this session tracks and discusses key demographic and governance changes underlying growth and development in California since the enactment of the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000. We will explore changes in population, household, and economic indicators across the state and within regions as well as corresponding trends in LAFCo activities, such as agency formations, boundary changes, and outside service extensions.
Speakers: Dr. David Lopez Carr, Professor of Geography, UCSB; Keene Simonds, Executive Officer, Marin LAFCo. Moderator: Julie Allen, Commissioner, Tulare LAFCo
Growth and Development by the Numbers Presentations: Keene Simonds; David Lopez Carr
Breakout Session - 3:30 pm-5:00 pm - CEQA - What is a Responsible Agency To Do?
San Miguel/Santa Rosa
LAFCos, which typically serve as responsible agencies under the California Environmental Quality Act, have few options when it comes to dealing with inadequate environmental documents prepared by lead agencies. Can we refuse to accept the document? Doubtful. Can we challenge the document in court? Maybe. Can we prepare our own CEQA document? Perhaps. Can we deny the proposal? Yes. Join us to hear about how three LAFCos used different approaches to address the inadequacy of CEQA documents prepared by lead agencies.
Speakers: Scott Browne, Attorney, P. Scott Browne, Esq.; Malathy Subramanian, Attorney, Best Best & Krieger; Michael Walker, Chief Asst. County Counsel, Ventura County. Moderator: Susan Vicklund Wilson, Commissioner, Santa Clara LAFCo
CEQA Presentations: Scott Browne; Malathy Subramanian
Breakout Session - 3:30 pm-5:00 pm - Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities (DUCs) and SB 244: How Is It Working Out?
Sierra Madre North/South
LAFCo staff will provide a recap of some of the Central Valley LAFCos’ programmatic efforts to identify and evaluate Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities (DUCs), including “lessons learned” following the 2012 implementation of SB 244. We will hear about Census data regarding American Community Survey 1-year estimates and 5-year average estimates and their applicability for identification/mapping of DUCs within different population levels; and, we will discuss the (failed) SB 1318 effort to require inclusion of DUCs in Special District annexations and what to expect for the concept’s anticipated return next legislative session.
Speakers: David Fey, Executive Officer, Fresno LAFCo; Steve Lucas, Executive Officer, Butte LAFCo; Bill Nicholson, Executive Officer, Merced and San Benito LAFCOs. Moderator: Robert Barry, AICP, Chief Analyst, San Diego LAFCo
DUCs and SB 244 Presentations: David Fey; Steve Lucas; Bill Nicholson; Robert Barry
Banquet Reception - 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm - Santa Ynez/San Rafael
Dinner and Achievement Awards Ceremony - 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm - Santa Ynez/San Rafael
Friday, October 28
Breakfast Buffet - 7:30 am – 9:00 am - Reagan Room
CALAFCO Board of Directors Meeting - 7:30 am – 8:45 am - San Miguel/Santa Rosa
General Session - 9:00 am-10:30 am - LAFCo And State Legislative Overrides – What’s That All About Anyway?
Santa Ynez/San Rafael
This informative and highly interactive session will focus on recent trends of legislation impeding LAFCo authority. We will hear from a very diverse and experienced panel on potential reasons for the trends and how these “one-off” bills are chipping away at the foundation of CKH. We will also learn about the perception of LAFCos and CALAFCO in Sacramento from Capitol insiders and how that may be improved. Small group discussions will allow your feedback on what is and can be done locally by your LAFCo and what can be done by CALAFCO in Sacramento to strengthen our legislative position for the future.
Speakers: Harry Ehrlich, Director, Legislative Research, San Diego LAFCo; Anton Favorini-Csorba, Consultant, Senate Governance & Finance Committee; Paula de Sousa Mills, Partner, Best Best & Krieger. Moderator: Pamela Miller, Executive Director, CALAFCO
There are no presentation materials for this session.
Refreshment Break - 10:30 am – 10:45 am - Grand Foyer
General Session - 10:45 am-12:00 pm - CALAFCO Legislative Update – 2016 Legislative Impacts On LAFCos
Santa Ynez/San Rafael
It has been a robust and interesting legislative year! Join us as we recap the 2016 legislative impacts on LAFCos. We will hear from members of the CALAFCO Legislative Committee as well as Consultants for the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. We will also provide a sneak peek at future legislative issues facing LAFCo and potential legislation on which CALAFCO is focusing for 2017-18.
Speakers: Anton Favorini-Csorba, Consultant, Senate Governance & Finance Committee; Pamela Miller, Executive Director, CALAFCO; Paul Novak, AICP, Executive Officer, Los Angeles LAFCo; Keene Simonds, Executive Officer, Marin LAFCo
2016 Greatest Hits Listing of Bills from Senate Governance & Finance Committee
SPONSORS
CALAFCO thanks all of our Sponsors for this year's Annual Conference. We appreciate their partnership in bringing quality educational and networking opportunities to our Members.
Visionary Sponsors include Best Best & Krieger and CV Strategies.
Innovation Sponsors include Cultivation Technologies, Inc.
Horizon Sponsors include Byron-Bethany Irrigation District, Cucamonga Valley Water District, Probolsky Research and Streamline.
Supporting Sponsors include Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley, Mesa Water District, Robert Bernheimer, APLC, Rosenow Spevacek Group Inc., Rowland Water District, Valor Water Analytics and Western Municipal Water District.
Tabletop Sponsors include Dudek.
Keynote luncheon speaker, Mr. Jean-Michel Cousteau, sponsored by Coast Hills Credit Union and Santa Barbara LAFCo.