Posted by Informed Resident, a resident of another community, on May 1, 2012 at 6:57 pm

While that is a great idea, it doesn't quite work that way.

Posted by [removed], a resident of another community, on May 2, 2012 at 6:37 am

Dear Gina,

Please contact Contra Costa LAFCO and CalLAFCO for confirmation of methods of CHANGE to CSD from individual districts for services. As you build this story now rapidly in progress, you will find that such change does not require the petition and election that would be needed to establish a CSD from scratch. CCC-BOS can sponsor such action resulting in a majority vote by LAFCO commissioners and once approved CCC-BOS can appoint the first board.

Supporters of this action want to consolidate local political power and control all parcel taxes impacting Alamo. An easy option is to appoint the current MAC members as the first board and then pursue elections occording to county election schedules in 2014 or later. The net result would be the end of P-2B and P-5 committees' independence from CCC-BOS and the use of all parcel taxes for parks and recreation, police services, beautification and other special district services by an autonomous board in accordance with the political will of the CCC-BOS.

There are important considerations for Alamo voters and their neighborhood, business district and community groups. The burden of preventing such an administrative change falls on 25% of land owners or 25% of registered voters to petition against such CHANGE to a CSD. The current interest by neighborhoods in the Alamo region, as Saranap to Blackhawk, to annex to Walnut Creek would be challenged by a county-directed CSD in the middle of the region.

Your choice is to report on CSD versus Annexation and allow Alamo region voters to better understand these options prior to any unilateral establishment.

Posted by jjjj, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on May 2, 2012 at 12:55 pm

beware Alamo Incorporation at work again

Posted by Informed Resident, a resident of another community, on May 2, 2012 at 1:06 pm

Don't worry. Hal still doesn't get it. He is wrong about all of his assumptions. This is no different.

Posted by [removed], a resident of another community, on May 2, 2012 at 3:00 pm

Gina, for your story development:

"Government Code, under which LAFCO operates, allows for consolidation of districts without an election under certain situations (see sections 56854 and 57077).

If the Contra Costa County officials were to apply to LAFCO to consolidate CSAs R-7A, P-2B and P-5 into a CSD, it could be done without an election absent the requisite protest either 25% of landowners or 25% of registered voters."

Posted by Informed Resident, a resident of another community, on May 2, 2012 at 4:21 pm

You still don't get it... But keep trying!

Posted by Brian Dawson, a resident of another community, on May 7, 2012 at 9:45 pm

Just thought I would clear this up...

Took the following from:

Web Link

2. How can I form a special district?

District formation follows five steps:

· Application. Registered voters in the proposed district apply to the Local Agency Formation

Commission (LAFCO). The application must detail the proposed district’s boundaries

and services, environmental effects, and financing methods.

· Review and approval. The LAFCO’s staff studies the application, schedules the public

hearing, and presents a public report with recommendations. The LAFCO can approve or

deny the proposal. If the LAFCO approves, it’s time to measure protests.

· Protest hearing. The LAFCO holds a second public hearing, this time to measure formal

protests from voters and property owners. A majority protest stops the proposal, otherwise

there’s an election.

· Election. Only the voters inside the proposed district’s boundaries vote at this election,

which usually requires majority-voter approval. If the proposed new district relies on

new special taxes, the measure needs 2/3-voter approval.

· Formal filing. If the voters approve the proposed district, the LAFCO’s staff must file the formal documents needed to start the new district.

Posted by Informed Resident, a resident of another community, on May 7, 2012 at 10:22 pm

Don't try to confuse Hal Bailey with the rules. In his world, and on this forum, they don't apply to him.

He is special!

Posted by [removed], a resident of another community, on May 9, 2012 at 1:53 pm

Dear Gina,

Brian Dawson, former Discovery Bay CSD Board Member was provided by e-mail the Districts' CHANGE to CSD process from research resources including CALAFCO, CCLAFCO and counsels' specifications for the process from law firms specializing in the process.

Web Link offers research resources for reference in development of information for your readers.

One law firm, Best, Best and Krieger, Web Link, is specifically expert in such changes and has offices in Walnut Creek if you wish expertise in the process as basis for a home page story. You might also contact Morrison & Foerster, www.mofo.com, for additional information on the change process.

Posted by Informed Resident, a resident of another community, on May 9, 2012 at 10:32 pm

Hal, you should put your energy into something that actually could occur…until then you are just jousting at windmills.