LAFCO to review cemetery districts

At this point the Valley Center Cemetery District only extends as far west as Pala on its north side, but on April 2 the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission will hold a review of the county’s four cemetery districts and may make recommendations regarding future territory annexation.

“What we’re doing is part of our regular update,” said LAFCO executive officer Mike Ott. “That triggers a municipal service review.”

In addition to the municipal service review, a sphere of influence study update will also be part of the April 2 hearing. A sphere of influence study is a prerequisite for annexation or other boundary changes, although the approval of a sphere of influence update does not in itself change territorial boundaries.

San Diego County has four cemetery districts: the North County, Pomerado, Ramona, and Valley Center districts. “They were formed to provide an option to people who needed to use the internment facility on a public basis versus private, so it opens up options for people,” Ott said.

A cemetery district may maintain one or more cemeteries or acquire and maintain a mausoleum if it was built prior to May 1, 1937. A cemetery district is also authorized to conduct business necessary to ensure proper operation of the cemetery. The four cemetery districts have a total of five cemeteries (the North County Cemetery District operates Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido and San Marcos Cemetery). The Valley Center Cemetery District maintains a cemetery covering approximately two acres and also operates an office building.

The recommendations are being prepared by LAFCO staff, and the LAFCO board will be asked to take action on those recommendations. Ott noted that adoption of a sphere of influence update, which could include additional boundary area, would be one of the recommendations.