The California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions has awarded its 2017 “Most Effective Commission” Award to the Local Agency Formation Commission for the county of Los Angeles and its “Outstanding LAFCO Professional” Award to LAFCO Executive Officer Paul Novak.

CALAFCO, a statewide association of the 58 LAFCOs in the state of California, presented these awards at its annual conference on October 26.

LA LAFCO was selected as the “Most Effective Commission” from several nominees from throughout the state.

In granting the award, CALAFCO noted that LA LAFCO was responsible for completing 15 percent of all boundary changes in the entire state of California (the most of any LAFCO in California); completing Municipal Service Reviews of one city, five cemetery districts, and three recreation and park districts; the successful annexation of four cities and one very large unincorporated community into respective vector control districts; more than two dozen successful annexations to cities, fire districts, water districts, and sanitation districts; substantially reducing workers compensation and liability insurance premiums; and substantial involvement in state legislation impacting LAFCOs.

“This award from CALAFCO recognizes LA LAFCO for successfully implementing the State’s mandate to encourage orderly growth and development and to create logical boundaries,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

“This well-deserved award is testament to the on-going diligence, hard work, and professionalism of LAFCO commissioners and staff, as well as LAFCO’s successful collaboration with the county, the 88 cities, and the 91 special districts,” Barger said.

Executive Officer Paul Novak was selected as the “Outstanding LAFCO Professional” amongst several nominees from LAFCOs throughout the state.

In granting the award, CALAFCO recognized Novak’s leadership in processing numerous boundary changes within one of the state’s largest counties and the most populous county in the United States; LAFCO’s completion of multiple Sphere of Influence Updates and Municipal Service Reviews for cities and special districts; LAFCO’s initiation and dissolution of the Huntington Municipal Water District; and the successful annexation of large areas into vector control districts to address vector control deficiencies throughout Los Angeles County.

Novak was also recognized for his two-year service as the Deputy Executive Officer of CALAFCO; and his work to educate the public about LAFCOs as an adjunct lecturer and speaker for the University of California, the University of California Davis, and the University of California Los Angeles.

“Paul Novak’s leadership and knowledge have guided LA LAFCO to make sound decisions with regards to local boundaries throughout Los Angeles County,” LAFCO Chair Jerry Gladbach said. “Paul’s proactive outreach to our colleagues in local government and other stakeholders makes our local communities a better place to live and will make a difference in Los Angeles County for generations to come.”

About LA LAFCO
LAFCOs are State-mandated Commissions charged with the responsibility of providing for the orderly formation and growth of cities and special districts. LA LAFCO reviews and holds public hearings on proposals for changes of organization (most often a boundary change annexing territory) for the 88 cities and 91 special districts in Los Angeles County. The Commission is also responsible for conducting detailed Municipal Service Reviews of cities and districts and periodically updating their Spheres of Influence (a precursor to annexation).

The Commission is composed of nine regular members and six alternate members, including representatives from the county Board of Supervisors, the city of Los Angeles, the other 87 cities, the independent special districts in Los Angeles County, the San Fernando Valley, and the general public.

The Commission generally meets once a month in downtown Los Angeles at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration at 500 West Temple Street.

About CALAFCO
The California Association of LAFCOs, or CALAFCO, was founded in 1971 and is a 501(c)3 membership Association. CALAFCO serves as an organization dedicated to assisting member LAFCOs with educational and technical resources that otherwise would not be available. The Association provides statewide coordination of LAFCO activities, serves as a resource to the Legislature and other bodies, and offers a structure for sharing information among the various LAFCOs and other governmental agencies.

The Association is governed by a Board of Directors composed of 16 LAFCO Commissioners, four representing each of the four regions (North, South, Central and Coastal): four city members, four county members, four special district members and four public members. The membership of CALAFCO consists of all 58 LAFCOs statewide, as well as associate members from firms, agencies and organizations throughout California.