Paso Robles council backs LAFCO sphere-of-influence public draft

The Paso Robles City Council on Dec. 2 voted unanimously to forward the public-review municipal service review and sphere-of-influence draft prepared by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).

Staff member Warren told the council the review — conducted every 10 years — evaluates 11 study areas for potential annexation based on services such as water, sewer, roads, fire protection and emergency access. The city’s 2024 recommendation matrix proposed removing several high‑hill West Side areas from the city’s sphere because of steep topography and limited water and sewer capacity; LAFCO agreed with those removals but judged Airport-area “Area 10” premature for inclusion.

“LAFCO concluded that Area 10 is premature for annexation until access and service issues on 46 East and Airport Road are addressed,” Warren said, summarizing the commission’s findings.

Public comments from residents noted long-standing opposition among some rural property owners to annexation and asked whether the city would pursue those areas; staff said the council’s direction to LAFCO was not an annexation action but a comment on the public draft.

Councilmember Tim Gregory moved, and Councilmember Fred Strong seconded, a resolution directing staff to forward the city’s recommendation on the public draft MSR/SOI to LAFCO. The measure passed 5‑0 (Gregory, Strong, Bausch, Beal and Mayor Hammond voting Aye).

Next steps include any additional council comment during the 30‑day public comment window and further action by LAFCO as it finalizes the sphere boundaries.

The council’s vote does not itself annex land; it forwards the city’s position for LAFCO’s consideration.