A Conversation with LAFCO ...
How to Best Protect Yucca Mesa from Future Attempts to Annex Yucca Mesa

Kathleen Rollings-McDonald is LAFCO's Executive Director.  She prepares all the documentation that will be presented to the LAFCO Commissioners at the LAFCO Hearing.  The Commissioners will act upon her documentation.

The following is an e-mail conversation between Elizabeth Karman and Kathy McDonald regarding various forms of organized services for unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County.  Ms. McDonald's responses are in red.

From: Elizabeth Karman <elizabeth.karman@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Subject: Question Please
To: "Rollings-McDonald, Kathleen" <kmcdonald@lafco.sbcounty.gov>


Good Morning, Kathy:

Yucca Mesa residents are having a conversation about MACs, CSDs, CSAs, Special Districts, etc. In particular, Mesans want to protect against future annexations.

Please advise:

Can having a MAC protect the Mesa from future annexations?

A Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) is an advisory body to the County Supervisors and acts as a liaison or voice for the local community to its Supervisor. It is not an agency which provides services and has no impact on the discussion of future annexations to the Town, which is what I believe your reference is to.

Can having a CSD protect the Mesa from future annexations?

LAFCO utilizes CSDs to define communities for potential incorporated cities in the future. An example of this is the formation of the Phelan Pinon Hills CSD which defines that community and provides a division between it and the communities of Victorville and Hesperia. That CSD provided for water, park and recreation, and streetlighting services. The Helendale CSD recently formed provides the services of water, sewer, park and recreation, streetlighting and graffiti abatement. The protection against future annexation is through the protection of communities for the future. Depending upon the services anticipated for a CSD in the Mesa, the Town could annex and retain the CSD in the territory for service or propose the detachment of the area. I am not sure about the specifics of what you would anticipate for the Mesa so my response is general in nature.

Can having a Special District protect the Mesa from future annexations?

You already have a number of special districts which overlay the Mesa. If you are talking about another type of special district, my response would be that it depends. As you are aware through our previous discussions should a future hypothetical annexation take place some of the current districts would be retained and others would be removed.

Can Incorporating Yucca Mesa protect the Mesa from future annexations?

Incorporating how? If you are talking about incorporating as a City, the Mesa does not have a sufficient sales tax base to support such a change. Please review the Commission’s incorporation guidelines on our website for specific details. 

Are there any other means by which the Mesa can protect itself from a SOI or Annexation?

I believe your other questions address the various avenues available on this. 

I appreciate any light you can shed on this.

Thank you.

Elizabeth Karman, Co-Founder
Stop Yucca Mesa Annexation Coalition

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