For City Council Meeting April 8, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Colby Cataldi, Director of Community Development
Title
Request the City Council conduct a public hearing and adopt Resolution No. 8338 authorizing staff to initiate the San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) annexation filing process for a reorganization that includes annexation of five (5) parcels of land (APN’s: 0264-431-04, -17, -18, -19, & -20), and appropriate districts, service areas, and right-of-way required by LAFCO, from the County of San Bernardino to the City of Rialto.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution authorizing staff to initiate the annexation filing process with LAFCO to annex five (5) parcels of land (APN’s: 0264-431-04, -17, -18, -19, & -20).
BACKGROUND
On March 4, 2025, the Economic Development Committee (EDC) requested staff to prepare a Resolution to initiate the annexation process for an approximately 101-acre area of land (APN’s: 0264-431-18, -19, & -20) with an existing asphalt plant operation, known as the Vulcan Materials site. The Vulcan Materials site is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Pepper Avenue and Highland Avenue, immediately adjacent to the east side of the River Ranch neighborhood and is in an unincorporated area under the jurisdiction of the County of San Bernardino and within the Sphere of Influence of the City of Rialto.
The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, codified as Government Code Section 56654, requires the City Council to adopt a Resolution to initiate the filing process for an annexation. The City must then submit the Resolution, along with a completed application form to the San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to begin the annexation process.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
At the request of EDC, the Planning Division created Annexation No. 2025-0001 (ANN2025-0001) to annex the Vulcan Materials site and prepared an Annexation Map and a Resolution for consideration by the City Council.
Under LAFCO guidelines, an annexation shall not create any new unincorporated “islands”. To ensure that no new unincorporated islands are created as part of the annexation of the Vulcan Materials site, ANN2025-0001 will also include annexation of APN: 0264-431-17, which is an approximately 0.25-acre parcel of land on the west side of the Vulcan Materials site and is part of the entry into the River Ranch neighborhood, and APN: 0264-431-04, which is an approximately 21.30 acre strip of land on the north side of the Vulcan Materials site, of which a portion is already within the City of Rialto.
An Annexation Boundary Map detailing the extent of the five (5) parcels of land (APN’s: 0264-431-04, -17, -18, -19, & -20) to be annexed under ANN2025-0001 is attached as Exhibit A, and a Draft Resolution prepared with the necessary language to initiate the annexation filing process is attached as Exhibit B.
LAFCO Submittal Requirements
After City Council adoption of the Resolution to initiate the annexation filing process, the staff will begin preparing and coordinating the remaining LAFCO submittal requirements. These include Pre-Zoning, a Plan for Services, and Legal Descriptions and Map Standards.
Pre-Zoning
LAFCO requires the City to pre-zone the proposed annexation area prior to filing the formal application with LAFCO. Section 18.02.080 of the Rialto Municipal Code states that any area annexed into the City is automatically placed in the Single-Family Residential (R-1A) zone unless the Planning Commission and the City Council determine the precise zoning as part of the annexation procedure.
The Planning Division will initiate and prepare a Zone Change application and a General Plan Amendment application to pre-zone the annexation area with a precise zoning designation and a consistent land use designation. The Zone Change and the General Plan Amendment will be brought before the Planning Commission and City Council for consideration prior to filing the official annexation application with LAFCO.
Plan for Services
When a local agency initiates an annexation, it is required to submit a plan for providing services to the intended annexation area. The plan for services must address the type, level, range, timing, and financing of services to be extended, including requirements for infrastructure or other public facilities. Staff will bring a Budget Resolution to the City Council for consideration to authorize funds to prepare the Plan for Services.
Legal Description and Map Standards
Map and legal description standards are set forth by LAFCO, which include basic standards by the State Board of Equalization (SBE) for filing of legal descriptions and maps as well as those additional items required by LAFCO. The maps and legal descriptions must be prepared by a registered Civil Engineer. Staff will prepare a Budget Resolution to authorize funds to pay for these services.
Task Force
A task force consisting of at least one (1) team member from the following divisions and departments will be created to facilitate the annexation process:
• Rialto Police Department
• Rialto Fire Department
• Community Development - Planning
• Community Development - Building
• Public Works Department
• Utilities Department
• Finance
The task force team members will be responsible for responding to inquiries during the annexation process and implementation for their respective fields of expertise.
Additionally, the task force will conduct a series of community meetings to inform stakeholders and the general public about the annexation process.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Adopting a Resolution to initiate the annexation filing process is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is therefore not subject to further environmental review. Pursuant to Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines, a “project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. A project does not include administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. An environmental assessment will be prepared for the Zone Change and General Plan Amendment applications that will be initiated upon adoption of the Resolution initiating the annexation filing process.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The General Plan covers the entire City of Rialto and its Sphere of Influence. The Sphere of Influence is an unincorporated area within the jurisdiction of the County of San Bernardino that may have a bearing on planning activities in Rialto.
The adoption of a Resolution to initiate the annexation filing process is consistent with the following goals and policies of the Rialto General Plan:
Goal 2-6: Encourage the annexation of San Bernardino County
unincorporated areas into Rialto.
Policy 2-6.1: Work with the County of San Bernardino to require that the City of Rialto’s building and zoning regulations be applied to new development within unincorporated County islands and other areas within Rialto’s Sphere of Influence.
Goal 2-7: Encourage all annexations that will provide a positive
benefit to the City.
Policy 2-7.1: Require an approved specific plan for all new large unincorporated areas of vacant land prior to annexation into Rialto.
Policy 2-7.2: Require a fiscal impact statement for any new large, planned development to ensure that Rialto receives financial benefit from annexation.
Policy 2-7.3: Require sufficient impact fees on new planned development to assure timely construction of public facilities and provision of expanded City services.
Policy 2-7.4: Require that land be set aside for community parks and other public facilities as appropriate for any large, planned development.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney reviewed and approved the staff report and the draft Resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Adoption of the Resolution authorizing staff to initiate the annexation filing process will not incur direct costs to the City. Future costs will be required for the preparation of the Plan for Services, Legal Descriptions and Map Standards. Staff will seek those services and prepare Budget Resolutions for consideration by the City Council that indicate the costs for those services, prior to any expenses being made.