LAFCO adopts provisional sphere of influence for Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District

The San Mateo Local Agency Formation Commission on a unanimous roll-call vote adopted a provisional sphere of influence (SOI) for the Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District, a staff-led change meant to streamline future annexations and clarify which parcels in the Town of Woodside could be served by Fair Oaks.

Rob Bartoli, LAFCO executive officer, told the commission LAFCO will now process boundary and governance changes for sewer maintenance districts and that the proposed SOI would include parcels in Woodside’s Redwood Creek Assessment District that are eligible for sewer connections. "This is a provisional sphere of influence because the Town of Woodside and the County are currently in ongoing conversations regarding existing capacity to treat any new sewer connections," Bartoli said.

Vice Chair Draper and several commissioners pressed staff for more precise mapping of the “gaps” — parcels that do not clearly fall under a city sewer system or the Fair Oaks district — and asked the agency to return with maps showing which parcels lack an identified sewer provider and how topography or gravity lines might affect service options. Rob Bartoli and staff agreed to a larger mapping project and said they would combine those maps with outside-service agreements to identify which entities currently serve which parcels.

Commissioner Rinaldi said he was comfortable moving forward because the parcels included in the SOI fall within an assessment district established by the county and the town and "we have already accounted for the connections within that area," adding that capacity within the identified parcels is not a concern at this time.

The commission moved to adopt the SOI with a motion described in the public record as "adopt the provisional sphere of influence for the Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District." The motion was moved by Commissioner Spears and seconded by Commissioner Rinaldi and passed by roll call (all members present voted aye).

The SOI is provisional; staff told the commission it expects to amend the designation as the town and county complete further studies and as additional annexation applications come forward. Staff said future municipal service reviews and a planned mapping effort will refine which parcels have no current sewer provider and where annexations might be necessary.