McFarland council asks LAFCO to study city takeover of Recreation and Parks District

McFarland City Council on Monday, June 16, voted unanimously to ask the Kern Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to start a feasibility study on creating a subsidiary district that the city would manage to provide recreation and parks services.

City Manager Diego Villamontes told the council the move is aimed at “enhancing recreation and park services in McFarland” and responding to what staff call an urgent financial situation in the McFarland Recreation and Parks District. The council approved Resolution No. 2025-78 by a 5-0 vote; the motion was made by Vice Mayor O'Connell and seconded by Council Member Perez.

The measure triggers a LAFCO feasibility review, not an immediate transfer of authority. Blair Knox, executive officer of Kern LAFCO, told the council the feasibility study will examine multiple options, including the city taking over the district, reorganizing the district board, or forming a joint powers agreement. “It could be reorganizing the board of the district. It could be creating a JPA between the district and the city. There's multiple multiple ways that a project like this could be handled,” Knox said.

Why it matters: council and…