Board asks LAFCO to consider annexing Castro Valley Canyonlands to Castro Valley Sanitary District to preserve trash service

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 6 to ask the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to begin proceedings to amend the Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSAN) sphere of influence and to consider annexing all or some of the Castro Valley Canyonlands so those residents could receive refuse and recycling services under the district’s franchise agreement.

Liz McEllicott of the Community Development Agency presented the staff report and recommended moving the matter to LAFCO after Waste Management informed canyonland customers of a planned service discontinuation; Waste Management agreed to continue service through March 31 to give agencies time to pursue options. McEllicott described the proposed application and said LAFCO requires a board resolution to initiate proceedings and that the CVSAN board would consider a supporting resolution the same evening. She estimated LAFCO application fees at $5,000 for annexation plus $2,500 for a sphere amendment (total $7,500) and said the county could request a fee waiver under the state government code.

McEllicott summarized benefits and next steps: annexation would bring Canyonlands customers under CVSAN’s existing franchise with Waste Management, which staff said would require Waste Management to provide the same level of service at the same rate as in the rest of the district. She cautioned that Waste Management might challenge that interpretation in contract language, and supervisors said county council and CVSAN counsel were reviewing details.

Public testimony was mixed. Several Canyonlands residents urged selective annexation or additional community outreach rather than a blanket solution. Dan Devaney, who identified himself as a Canyonlands resident, said he opposed annexation as a broad measure and warned it could impose an unnecessary high level of service and cost on many rural households. "We're only talking about 260 customers... one size fits all does not work for this group," Devaney said. Other residents, including Pence Gerber, urged annexation to avoid losing garbage service and said many households would welcome district coverage.

Board members and staff reviewed the LAFCO process: written protests are allowed and, depending on the type and percentage of protests (property‑owner or registered‑voter protests), LAFCO can either order the annexation, require an election (roughly a 25% threshold), or terminate the action if protest levels exceed a higher threshold. LAFCO staff estimated the normal process could take about two months, longer if a protest triggers an election.

Supervisor Miley moved — and Supervisor Chan seconded — a resolution requesting LAFCO "to initiate proceedings for amendment of the Castro Valley Sanitary District sphere of influence to include all or some of the Castro Valley Canyonlands, and the annexation of the same territory to Castro Valley Sanitary District for the purpose of the provision of refuse collection and recycling services." The motion passed; the transcript records, "Motion passes. 4 ayes, 102." The board instructed staff to proceed with the LAFCO application and to work with CVSAN, StopWaste and LAFCO staff on outreach and technical issues.

Next steps: CVSAN was scheduled to consider a resolution that evening; the county will pursue a LAFCO application (and a fee waiver request, where appropriate) and hold a public update to the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council on Feb. 3. If LAFCO accepts an application, it will schedule a protest hearing and evaluate level‑of‑service and financial capability as part of its review.