FINAL CONTRA COSTA LAFCO: WEST COUNTY SUB-REGIONAL MUNICIPAL SERVICES REVIEW Prepared for: Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission 651 Pine Street Martinez, California 94553 Prepared by: Dudek 11521 Blocker Drive, Suite 200 Auburn, California 95603 NOVEMBER 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page No. I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................I-1 West County Sub-Regional Municipal Service Review....................................................I-1 Municipal Service Review (MSR) Requirements...................................................I-2 Sphere of Influence (SOI) Determinations ...........................................................I-3 Municipal Service Review (MSR) Approach and Methodology ...........................I-4 Overview ............................................................................................................I-4 Growth and Infrastructure Needs........................................................................I-5 Police Services ...................................................................................................I-6 Growth Management ........................................................................................I-6 Summary of Determinations and Key Issues ..................................................................I-7 Infrastructure Needs and Deficiencies ...............................................................I-7 Growth and Population ......................................................................................I-7 Financing Constraints and Opportunities ...........................................................I-8 Cost Avoidance Opportunities ...........................................................................I-8 Opportunities for Rate Restructuring ...................................................................I-8 Opportunities for Shared Facilities ......................................................................I-8 Government Structure Options...........................................................................I-9 Evaluation of Management Efficiencies...........................................................I-10 Local Accountability and Governance ............................................................I-10 Sphere of Influence (SOI) Recommendations..............................................................I-10 II. CITY OF EL CERRITO.....................................................................................................II-1 Location, Administration, and Operations.....................................................................II-1 City Governance ..............................................................................................II-1 City Operations .................................................................................................II-3 City Budget .......................................................................................................II-7 City Planning Boundaries and Growth.........................................................................II-11 City Boundaries ...............................................................................................II-11 General Plan ...................................................................................................II-11 Population Growth...........................................................................................II-12 Jobs-Housing Balance ....................................................................................II-12 Vacant Land ...................................................................................................II-13 Growth Management .....................................................................................II-14 Annexations ....................................................................................................II-14 Sphere of Influence Reductions and Expansions.............................................II-15 Municipal Services......................................................................................................II-15 Public Safety Services......................................................................................II-15 Community Development Services.................................................................II-17 Transportation and Road Services...................................................................II-18 Water and Sewer Services ...............................................................................II-20 Park, Recreation, Cultural and Library Services ................................................II-20 Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Services..................................................II-22 Contra Costa LAFCO: West County Sub-Regional Municipal Services Review FINAL November 2009 Page TOC-1 Service Review Determinations ...................................................................................II-22 General Statements........................................................................................II-22 Infrastructure Needs and Deficiencies ............................................................II-23 Growth and Population Projections for the Affected Area ...............................II-24 Financing Constraints and Opportunities ........................................................II-24 Cost Avoidance Opportunities ........................................................................II-24 Opportunities for Rate Restructuring ................................................................II-25 Opportunities for Shared Facilities ................................................................... II-25 Government Structure Options........................................................................II-25 Evaluation of Management Efficiencies..........................................................II-26 Local Accountability and Governance ...........................................................II-26 Sphere of Influence Recommendations and Determinations.....................................II-26 Recommendation ..........................................................................................II-28 III. CITY OF HERCULES...................................................................................................... III-1 Location, Administration, and Operations.................................................................... III-1 City Governance ............................................................................................. III-1 City Operations ................................................................................................ III-3 Budget ............................................................................................................. III-5 City Planning Boundaries and Growth.......................................................................... III-9 City Boundaries ................................................................................................ III-9 General Plan .................................................................................................... III-9 Population Growth.......................................................................................... III-10 Jobs-Housing Balance ................................................................................... III-10 Vacant Land .................................................................................................. III-11 Development Projects.................................................................................... III-11 Growth Management .................................................................................... III-11 Annexations ................................................................................................... III-11 Sphere of Influence Reductions and Expansions............................................ III-12 Municipal Services..................................................................................................... III-12 Public Safety Services..................................................................................... III-12 Community Development Services................................................................ III-13 Transportation and Road Services.................................................................. III-14 Water and Sewer Services .............................................................................. III-16 Parks, Recreation, Library, and Cultural Services............................................. III-17 Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Services................................................. III-18 Electrical Services........................................................................................... III-19 Service Review Determinations .................................................................................. III-19 General Statements....................................................................................... III-19 Infrastructure Needs and Deficiencies ........................................................... III-19 Growth and Population Projections for the Affected Area .............................. III-20 Financing Constraints and Opportunities ....................................................... III-20 Cost Avoidance Opportunities ....................................................................... III-20 Opportunities for Rate Restructuring ..............................................................