LAFCO accepts disadvantaged community statement of determination for Rainbow MWD

San Diego County’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) accepted the disadvantaged unincorporated community statements of determination for seven municipal water districts, including the Rainbow Municipal Water District.

LAFCO’s 8-0 vote Feb. 3 accepted the determinations for the water districts for use in subsequent municipal service review (MSR) and sphere of influence (SOI) studies. The action did not update any district’s MSR or SOI. LAFCO made the determinations to comply with recent state legislation which requires county LAFCO agencies to collect information and make determinations about disadvantaged unincorporated communities when updating or establishing spheres of influence for local agencies which provide fire protection, sewer, and water services.

“It’s state law. We have to uphold what the requirements are,” said LAFCO executive officer Mike Ott.

A disadvantaged community is defined as one where the median household income is at or below 80 percent of the statewide median income. The law applies for areas of 12 or more residents. In March 2013, LAFCO staff identified the San Diego County agencies with potentially qualifying disadvantaged communities within or contiguous to an agency’s existing sphere of influence. Twelve cities and 28 special districts were identified as having qualifying disadvantaged unincorporated communities located within or contiguous to their existing sphere.

LAFCO reviewed the county’s sanitation districts Nov. 4. The agency’s Dec. 2 meeting reviewed half of the 30 districts in San Diego County which provide primarily water service, including the Fallbrook Public Utility District. LAFCO’s March 3 meeting will review fire protection districts for statements of determination.

The statement of determination for the Rainbow Municipal Water District indicated that no potentially qualifying disadvantaged unincorporated communities are within or contiguous to the district’s sphere of influence.