BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                                                          SB 122


                       SENATE THIRD READING

         SB 122 (O'Connell) - As Amended:  March 20, 1995

SENATE VOTE:    26-6 

ASSEMBLY ACTIONS:

COMMITTEE        L. GOV.VOTE   9-0COMMITTEE                   VOTE      
   

 DIGEST

 Existing law prescribes the purposes and powers of community  
services districts.

 This bill permits the board of directors of the Ahmanson Ranch  
Community Services District (CSD) to resolve and find that it is  
economically sound, and in the public interest to exercise the  
following specified powers:  
1) Coordinating affordable housing programs; 

2) Maintaining and repairing bicycle and multipurpose trails; 

3) Maintaining slopes adjacent to public or private rights-of-way;  


4) Providing the maintenance, operation and capital replacement of  
   community facilities including, but not limited to, government  
   buildings such as a town hall and a community maintenance  
   facility that provides capabilities for servicing the equipment  
   used to maintain public areas; 

5) Maintaining entry and monument lighting; 

6) Installing or planting and maintaining landscaping within  
   public street rights-of-way or easements within the district; 

7) Modifying wildfire fuel on publicly-owned lands; 

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8) Providing library services; and

9) Providing transportation programs, including school busing.

 FISCAL EFFECT

Unknown

 COMMENTS

1)  According to Maggie Kildee, a Supervisor from Ventura County,  
in November 1993, "Ventura County approved the creation of the  
Ahmanson Ranch CSD, a 2,800-acre area to develop over the next 25  
years into a community including commercial centers, parks,  
shopping areas, community facilities and more than 2,700 single  
family homes.  To circumscribe governance and the costs for the  
proposed development it is necessary that the Ahmanson CSD be  
given additional powers . . . ."  

   The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) in Ventura County  
   notes that the Ahmanson Ranch CSD's approval is contingent on  
   passage of the additional powers conferred through this bill.   
   On this point, the Legislature should consider inserting  
   language providing for LAFCO approval of these additional  
   powers, consistent with existing law (e.g., the Mountain House  
   CSD).

   The additional powers sought are listed under "This bill:"  
   above.

2)  CSDs can provide numerous services, including water and sewer  
services, police and fire protection, airports and transportation  
services, and libraries and ambulance services.

   There is a question as to whether the Legislature should  
   continue to grant additional powers to CSDs as opposed to just  
   expanding existing law.  The trend is for counties to use CSD  
   law to create what are effectively cities.  This results in  
   CSD's taking on the characteristics of small cities.

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3)  a)  According to the Senate Local Government Committee  
analysis, "CSDs finance their services with special taxes, standby  
and availability charges, service rates, general obligation bonds,  
and revenue bonds.  CSDs' improvement districts may also levy  
benefit assessments to acquire and maintain facilities." 

   b)  The Ahmanson Ranch CSD is to be financed through an annual  
   special tax levy with a maximum parcel charge.  This charge is  
   determined by a majority vote of the board of directors of the  
   Ahmanson Ranch CSD on the basis of estimated revenues required.

        The special tax will be noticed to each purchaser prior to  
       the purchase of property.

4)  "Coordinating affordable housing programs" language may need  
further clarification with respect to existing programs.

5)  If "modification of wildfire fuel on public lands" means fire  
prevention, this should be clearly stated.  The word  
"modification" is somewhat unclear.  

   Additionally, the term "on publicly-owned lands" raises a  
   potential infringement on the jurisdiction of a fire protection  
   district.  This issue could be taken up by the LAFCO, but may  
   be addressed here.

6)  "School busing" is typically undertaken by a school district;  
the necessity of this provision should be addressed.  It is  
unclear why this service would be funded through special tax  
revenues instead of services charges. 
                                                                    
  FN 015487







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