The City of La Quinta regularly attends the Vista Santa Rosa Community Council meetings.  On May 29, 2024, the City presented information regarding a brief overview of the annexation process, information regarding infrastructure and services, and fiscal implications relating to the annexation process.  The City indicated additional public outreach including a survey of the Vista Santa Rosa community is planned.

The City Council recently hosted an open public Study Session regarding La Quinta's Sphere of Influence (SOI) to learn more about the annexation process, infrastructure and services, and fiscal implications.

March 19, 2024 City Council Meeting
Agenda Packet, Video Recording, Meeting Minutes

Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) recently undertook a Municipal Service Review (MSR) to review the municipal services and spheres of influence of all cities across Riverside County. The findings of the MSR stated that La Quinta’s Sphere of Influence (SOI) should remain unchanged.

On June 23, 2022, LAFCO held a public hearing to consider these reviews. The City of Coachella submitted proposals to change their SOI boundaries to encroach into La Quinta’s SOI. Coachella’s basis for the request was that their water and sewer agencies provide services to portions of the Vista Santa Rosa area.

June 23, 2022 Meeting:

Agenda

Staff Report

Regional Maps

Meeting Video

 

 

 

LAFCO voted and approved the MSR findings with no change to La Quinta’s current SOI.

July 28, 2022 Meeting:

Agenda

Staff Report

Regional Maps

Meeting Video

In April 2006, the Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) voted unanimously to include Vista Santa Rosa into the City of La Quinta’s Sphere of Influence (SOI).

Leading up to LAFCO’s decision in 2006, the City of La Quinta reached out directly to property owners in Vista Santa Rosa. The vast majority of property owners chose to join La Quinta.

May 2005 Municipal Service Review:

Final Draft Report

La Quinta Boundaries and Facilities Map

April 27, 2006 Meeting:

Agenda

The Riverside County Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO) is an independent State authority that is tasked to prevent urban sprawl, ensures orderly extensions of governmental services, and evaluates boundary and Sphere of Influence areas considering:

• Orderly growth and development

• Logical formation of boundaries

• Affected populations receive adequate, efficient and effective government services

• The prevention of premature conversion of open space and prime agricultural land

 The Riverside LAFCO has 7 members that serve four-year terms:

• 2 members from the County Board of Supervisors

• 2 members from city councils appointed by the mayors of all the cities in the County

• 2 special district board members selected by all the independent special districts in the County

• 1 public member selected by the other six members

LAFCO has both regulatory and planning functions. On the regulatory side, it carries out its legislative mandate through the consideration of proposals for boundary changes. The most common type of boundary change is an annexation (addition of territory) to a local agency, such as a city or a water district.

LAFCO’s planning function is exercised through the establishment and amendment of Spheres of Influence (SOI). LAFCO is required to designate and periodically review a SOI for each local agency in the County.

LAFCO usually meets on the fourth Thursday of each month.

For more information about LAFCO and their scheduled meetings, please visit the LAFCO website.

A Sphere of Influence (SOI) is a planning tool used by local agencies to conduct service and facilities planning for areas it intends to annex and serve in the future.

The SOI usually delineates the area that a local agency could be expected to “grow in to” in the future. A SOI that is the same as the current boundaries indicates that the agency should be considered in its ultimate configuration. However, an SOI can also be smaller than the current agency boundaries, specifying that territory should be detached over time.

LAFCO prepares Municipal Service Reviews (MSRs) as an aid in reviewing SOIs. An MSR will include information relevant to a specific service, local agency, or geographic region. Based on the MSR, the Commission will make determinations with respect to several factors including expected growth, service and facility capacity, the financial ability of agencies to provide services, opportunities for shared facilities and improved efficiency, and governmental structure alternatives.

After extensive community input and planning, annexation is the action taken by LAFCO of adding an area into a city's jurisdiction.

Most annexations are initiated by landowners in order to facilitate development. Annexations are sometimes initiated by a group of voters in order to receive a specific service or an increased level of service.