Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding the Richards Ranch Reorganization [Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) File No. 24-08] and Tax Exchange Update, as follows: (EST. TIME: 40 MIN.)
a) Receive and file a report on the status of negotiations on a tax exchange Agreement between the County of Santa Barbara (County) and the City of Santa Maria (City) as required by the proposed Richards Ranch Reorganization - Annexation to the City, LAFCO File No. 24-08;
b) As permitted by Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 99(b)(8) and 99(e)(2), delegate authority to the County Executive Officer to seek and execute an extension agreement, if needed, with the City to allow the parties additional time to engage in the independent fiscal analysis phase with a third-party consultant, and if needed, the mediation and arbitration processes required by Revenue and Taxation Code section 99(e);
c) Direct staff to continue negotiating a tax exchange Agreement for Board consideration and provide staff with further direction as appropriate; and
d) Find that the proposed actions are administrative activities of the County, which will not result in direct or indirect changes to the environment and therefore are not a “project” as defined for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION: POLICY