City of Agoura Hills v. Local Agency Formation Commission

A dispute between a city and a county agency regarding plans for the city’s boundaries brings this case to court. The dispute focuses on the implementation of legislation enacted to discourage “urban sprawl” and to encourage the “orderly formation and development” of local governments in each county.

Petitioner and appellant City of Agoura Hills (City) is a municipal corporation located in the County of Los Angeles (county). Respondent and appellant Local Agency Formation Commission of the County of Los Angeles (LAFCO) is a countywide agency charged with responsibilities under the Cortese-Knox Local Government Reorganization Act of 1985 (Gov. Code, § 56000 et seq.).

The appeals filed by both parties in this case pertain to the adoption by LAFCO for the City of a “sphere of influence,” (hereafter sometimes sphere) which is defined as “a plan for the probable ultimate physical boundaries and service area of a local agency.” (§ 56076.) The City objects that LAFCO refused to adopt the sphere it sought; instead, LAFCO adopted a considerably smaller sphere, virtually coextensive with the City’s existing boundaries with the exception of one additional tract area. On the City’s…