CALAFCO Annual Conference in San Diego
The 2025 CALAFCO conference was held in San Diego during October 22-24. The conference program provided an excellent opportunity to network and learn from each other. Representing Napa LAFCO were one Commissioner and two staff members. Meetings focused on balancing housing needs with agricultural land preservation, improving governance for Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities (DUCs), legislative updates, and enhancing LAFCO operations through training on communication, policy, and legal frameworks, emphasizing shared learning and strategic collaboration for local governance. There were engaging, interactive sessions designed to educate, inspire, and spark conversation among participants.
Key Themes & Sessions:
- Housing & Land Use: Discussions centered on the complex balance between preserving farmland and increasing housing supply, exploring LAFCO's role in this nexus.
- Equity & DUCs: Sessions focused on embedding equity in boundary decisions, improving infrastructure, and planning for DUCs through Municipal Service Reviews (MSRs) and Spheres of Influence (SOIs).
- Commissioner & Staff Training: Interactive sessions covered essential LAFCO knowledge, leadership skills, and best practices for new and seasoned officials, including a session entitled "How Am I Supposed to Know That?".
- Governance & Operations: Focused training on legislative changes, communication strategies, and enhancing overall LAFCO effectiveness.
CALAFCO's annual magazine The Sphere featured a wonderful article by Napa LAFCO Executive Officer Brendon Freeman entitled “Planning Napa’s Future, One SOI at a Time", linked below.
