Notice of LAFCO Protest Hearing – November 21, 2024, at 9:00 AM

Board of Supervisors Chambers

County Government Center

1055 Monterey Street

San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

Notice is hereby given that the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will hold a Conducting Authority (Protest) Hearing regarding the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) Divestiture of Fire Protection Service and Designation of the County of San Luis Obispo (County) as the Successor Agency for Fire Protection Service on November 21, 2024, at 9:00 AM at the Board of Supervisors Chambers in the County Government Center at 1055 Monteret Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. The proposal was conditionally approved by LAFCO at a noticed public hearing on October 17, 2024. If you oppose this approval, you have the right to protest, see below.

Historically, OCSD has provided fire response services through a contract with Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA). However, as the cost of providing fire service has grown, OCSD is unable to fund fire service at the prior levels of service. As a result of two failed ballot measures intended to raise revenue for fire service, OCSD Board of Directors passed a Resolution of Application to LAFCO to divest OCSD’s fire service authority. Under this proposal, the County will assume responsibility for providing fire service within the Community of Oceano. As approved, the County will enter into a contract with FCFA to provide fire service to the Community of Oceano. The contract will provide for delivery of all fire protection and emergency services in Oceano out of the Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande fire stations, at a minimum of two personnel per engine. This contract maintains the level of service currently provided to the Community of Oceano. Additional details on the proposal, including a map of the affected territory, are available online at slo.lafco.ca.gov by accessing the “Meetings” page and staff reports for the October 17, 2024 meeting.

If you are not in favor of LAFCO’s approval of the above-described divestiture, commencing on October 31, 2024, LAFCO will accept written protests filed by landowners and/or registered voters within the affected territory up and until the close of the protest hearing set for November 21, 2024. Written protests filed before the formal hearing may be submitted by mail to 1042 Pacific Street Suite A, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, by email to mbing@slo.lafco.ca.gov or via the LAFCO website at slo.lafco.ca.gov so long as forms are received by LAFCO by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Otherwise, all protests must be submitted in person at the noticed hearing. Each written protest shall state whether it is made by a qualifying landowner or registered voter. It shall also identify the property location or assessor’s parcel number(s) or residence address and be signed and dated. All signatures must be dated after the publication of the protest hearing notice.

Protest forms for landowners and registered voters are available below. All questions should be directed to LAFCO Analyst Morgan Bing by telephone at 805-781-5795 or by email at mbing@slo.lafco.ca.gov