Ventura LAFCO accepts municipal service review and keeps sphere of influence for Channel Islands Beach CSD unchanged

The Ventura Local Agency Formation Commission accepted a municipal service review (MSR) for the Channel Islands Beach Community Services District and adopted determinations that no update to the district’s sphere of influence is necessary.

Staff explained that LAFCO conducts MSRs and sphere reviews every five years to evaluate present and probable service needs, the capacity of public facilities, and the existence of disadvantaged unincorporated communities. The presentation summarized the district’s history, service footprint and recent capital work and concluded that the district’s sphere reflects its current and probable service area.

The Channel Islands Beach Community Services District, formed in 1982, provides retail water distribution, wastewater collection, refuse collection and limited park maintenance to the unincorporated communities of Hollywood Beach, Hollywood By The Sea and Silver Strand and to the land portions of Channel Islands Harbor adjacent to the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme. Staff told the commission the district’s retail water supply is a blend of groundwater supplied through the United Water Conservation District and imported water provided through the Port Hueneme Water Agency via a joint powers arrangement. Wastewater collected in the district’s system is transferred into the City of Oxnard’s collection system and conveyed to Oxnard’s treatment plant under the existing sewer-use agreement between the district and the city. Solid-waste service is provided under a contract with a private hauler. The district also maintains a small public park, Wanda Park, and has completed recent infrastructure projects including the replacement of about 2,000 meters with advanced meters, sewer system repairs and water line improvements, and construction of an operations building.

“No comments have been received regarding the draft MSR,” staff reported. General Manager Pete Martinez of the district joined staff in the hearing and was available to answer questions. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the district’s service area and how service areas map to jurisdictional boundaries.

A commission member asked why city and district boundaries extend into ocean waters; staff responded that state jurisdiction extends three miles offshore, and that city and district boundaries were aligned with state jurisdiction. The commission voted to accept the MSR and to adopt the determinations concluding no sphere update is necessary. Both motions passed on unanimous roll-call votes.

The commission directed staff to make any non-substantive edits to the report and to distribute the final MSR to affected agencies.