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Many residents in low-income, unincorporated neighborhoods across California are living in substandard conditions: These poor, dense communities lack some combination of safe drinking water, sidewalks, streetlights, functioning gutters and sewer systems. What’s more, community members are left not knowing whom to hold responsible and how to effectively demand improvements. Here, we’ve collected contact information for key players in each community featured in “Neglected for decades, unincorporated communities lack basic public services,” as well as officials, government agencies and organizations that serve the entire state. Within this React & Act, you’ll also find answers to frequently asked questions and more resources for the more than 1 million people living in California’s unincorporated communities.
But first, do you live in an unincorporated community? Please share your insights with California Watch health and welfare reporter Bernice Yeung by clicking here.
The unincorporated communities profiled in “Neglected for decades, unincorporated communities lack basic public services” are facing uphill battles to improve their living conditions. Big questions loom and, as we explain here, the answers are often complicated.
Frequently asked questions
How do you create a voice for unincorporated communities?
Residents can ask their county supervisor (see key players contacts below) to create a municipal advisory council, which represents unincorporated communities and advises the county board of supervisors on issues like public health, land-use planning and sidewalks. The municipal advisory council collects comments and recommendations from community members and shares them with the county board and other relevant agencies. Before establishing the municipal advisory council, you must:
- Decide the council’s name, responsibilities and represented area.
- Determine how many members the council will include, as well as the selection process and qualifications. Members typically are appointed by the board of supervisors, but residents also can opt to elect them.
- Draft bylaws.
How do you overcome language barriers?
Public agencies that serve communities with large numbers of people who do not understand English are required to provide information in the language or languages they speak. (See the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.) If you need interpretation at a meeting or translations of documents, the agency must supply it unless it would create extreme financial hardship. The same applies to public records.
How do you achieve annexation?
Annexation occurs when a city, county or state takes in more land. This newly incorporated community will then be provided with access to services including but not limited to water and sewer systems. In return, the newly incorporated community is subject to the land-use laws and policies of the city, county or state that annexed it.
To begin the process, community members can work together to petition, or ask for, annexation, or the process can be started by public agencies. Every county has an independent local agency formation commission, or LAFCO, which makes the final decision on annexations, as well as the provision of services and evolution of the presiding government. According to California Rural Legal Assistance, the purpose of LAFCOs is to “prevent bad planning like creating new communities instead of improving existing ones, protect land used for agriculture and open space, to ensure that communities are receiving services like water, sewer, and law enforcement in an efficient manner, and encourage the development of local agencies based on the needs of communities.” Scroll up to the key players section for contact information for each region’s LAFCO.
React & Act
Become a Source
How can unincorporated communities get access to safe drinking water?
The state Department of Public Health’s Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund provides money to improve drinking water infrastructure and access to safe water. Funding extends to planning, design and construction of treatment plants, pipes, wells and storage.
Are you eligible? Communities with a water or utility district can push such agencies to apply for the funds. If your community does not have one of those agencies, then the county can apply on your community’s behalf. The Department of Public Health determines which projects receive funding. Drinking water projects are on a priority list, and disadvantaged communities may receive up to 80 percent of the project’s cost as a grant. According to California Rural League Assistance, projects with more community support and collaboration have a better chance of being funded.
What can you do if you live in an unincorporated community and have sewage problems?
Residents can petition the county board of supervisors to create a public utility district, which provides unincorporated communities with sewer, garbage, lighting, water and other services. The petition is then sent to the local agency formation commission for review and approval. Voters in the district then vote.
California law also allows for the creation of county service areas, which must be approved by the local agency formation commission and can provide sewer, water and trash services, police and fire protection, libraries, and more. You can petition the board of supervisors to create the community service area. The petition must include how the services would be financed, provided and named. Then you need to circulate the petition and gather signatures.
There is a petition process, which will require gathering signatures; thepetition must include how the services would be financed, provided and named. The State Water Resources Control Board also oversees the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which is similar to the Department of Public Health’s Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund but focuses on the planning, design and construction of wastewater improvement projects.
How do you navigate the governmental process?
Learning how to navigate the processes required to effectively demand changes in your community is not easy, but there are resources that break down issues like land use (the decisions, actions, policies and laws that determine how land is used), planning commissions and safe drinking water. California Rural Legal Assistance has informative publications available in English and Spanish, which can be ordered online or by phone at 415-777-2752.
What are your rights when it comes to participation in government meetings?
The Brown Act (download here) protects community members’ participation and access to the decisions made by public agencies. All government boards must make almost all decisions in public meetings. They are required to inform the public when these meetings will be held and what information will be discussed.
According to the Brown Act, boards must post notices and agendas three days before a regular meeting, one day before a special meeting and one hour before an emergency meeting. They must provide the public with the same documents available to the board, hold meetings locally in a free and accessible space, allow the media, and allow for public comments during the meeting and public comment period.
Closed meetings are allowed when employees, legal cases and negotiations are to be discussed. If you think a board has violated the Brown Act, you can write to the agency and request it to correct the action. The agency has 30 days to do so. If it does not, you have 15 days to file a legal claim against it.
Key players
Parklawn | Lanare | Matheny Tract | Thermal
Parklawn (Modesto)
Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors
Write: 1010 10th St., Suite 6500
Modesto, CA 95354
Call District 5 Supervisor Jim DeMartini: 209-525-4470
E-mail DeMartini: demartinij@stancounty.com
Website: www.stancounty.com/board
Most board meetings are held at 9 a.m. Tuesdays. The complete schedule can be found here.
Modesto Mayor Garrad Marsh
Write: P.O. Box 642
Modesto, CA 95353
Call: 209-571-5597
E-mail: mayor@modestogov.com
Website: www.modestogov.com/council/mayor
Modesto City Council
Write: P.O. Box 642
Modesto, CA 95353
Call: 209-571-5169
E-mail: council@modestogov.com
Website: www.modestogov.com/council
Council meetings are held on the first, second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the basement at 1010 10th St. The complete schedule can be found here.
State Assemblyman Bill Berryhill
Write: 4557 Quail Lakes Drive, C-3
Stockton, CA 95207
Call: 209-473-6972
E-mail: Assemblymember.Berryhill@assembly.ca.gov
Website: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/26/
State Sen. Anthony Cannella
Write: 918 15th St.
Modesto, CA 95354
Call: 209-577-6592
E-mail: Senator.Cannella@senate.ca.gov
Website: http://cssrc.us/web/12/
Stanislaus County Local Agency Formation Commission
Write: 1010 10th St., 3rd Floor
Modesto, CA 95354
Call: 209-525-7660
E-mail Executive Officer Marjorie Blom: blomm@stancounty.com
Website: www.stanislauslafco.org
Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources
Write: 3800 Cornucopia Way, Suite C
Modesto, CA 95358
Call: 209-525-6700
E-mail Director Sonya K. Harrigfeld: harrigfeld@envres.org
Website: www.stancounty.com/er
Stanislaus County Health Services Agency
Write: 830 Scenic Drive
P.O. Box 3271
Modesto, CA 95353
Call: 800-834-8171
E-mail: http://user.govoutreach.com/stanislaus
Website: www.schsa.org
*Scroll down for statewide contacts.
**Tell us: Which key players are we missing for Parklawn and Modesto?
Thermal/Rancho Garcia Mobile Home Park (Coachella)
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Write: 4080 Lemon St.
Riverside, CA 92501
Call District 4 Supervisor John Benoit: 951-955-1040
E-mail Benoit: district4@rcbos.org
Website: www.countyofriverside.us/government/boardofsupervisors.html
Board meetings are held at 9 a.m. most Tuesdays. The complete schedule can be found here.
Coachella City Council
Write: 1515 6th St.
Coachella, CA 92236
Call: 760-398-3502
Website: www.coachella.org/index.aspx?nid=29
Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. Information about the meetings is available at 760-398-3502.
Coachella Mayor Eduardo Garcia
Write: 1515 6th St.
Coachella, CA 92236
Call: 760-398-3502
E-mail: edgarcia@coachella.org
Website: http://ca-coachella.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=55
State Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez
Write: 45-677 Oasis St.
Indio, CA 92201
Call: 760-342-8047
E-mail: Assemblymember.Manuel.Perez@assembly.ca.gov
Website: http://asmdc.org/members/a80/
State Sen. Juan Vargas
Write: 45-149 Smurr St., Suite B
Indio, CA 92201
Call: 760-398-6442
E-mail: Senator.Vargas@senate.ca.gov
Website: http://sd40.senate.ca.gov/
Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission
Write: 3850 Vine St., Suite 110
Riverside, CA 92507
Call: 951-369-0631
E-mail Executive Officer George Spiliotis: gspiliotis@lafco.org
Website: www.lafco.org
Riverside County Department of Environmental Health
Write: 47-950 Arabia St., Suite A
Indio, CA 92201
Call: 760-863-8287
E-mail Indio Area Supervisor Tyler Skrove: tskrove@rivcocha.org
Website: www.rivcoeh.org/opencms/rivcoeh/index.html
Riverside County Department of Public Health
Write: 4065 County Circle Drive
Riverside, CA 92503
Call: 951-358-5000
E-mail Director Susan D. Harrington: sharrington@co.riverside.ca.us
Website: www.rivcoph.org
*Scroll down for statewide contacts.
**Tell us: Which key players are we missing for Thermal and Rancho Garcia?
Matheny Tract (Tulare)
Tulare County Board of Supervisors
Write: 2800 W. Burrel Ave.
Visalia, CA 93291
Call District 2 Supervisor Pete Vander Poel: 559-636-5000
E-mail Vander Poel: pvanderpoel@co.tulare.ca.us
Website: www.co.tulare.ca.us/government/board/default.asp
Board meetings are held at 9 a.m. every Tuesday.
Tulare City Council
Write: 411 E. Kern Ave.
Tulare, CA 93274
Call: 559-685-2300
Website: www.ci.tulare.ca.us/local_government/city_council.htm
Council meetings are held at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 491 N. M St. Information about the meetings is available at 559-685-5656, ext. 194.
Tulare Mayor Wayne Ross
Write: 411 E. Kern Ave.
Tulare, CA 93274
Call: 559-685-2300
E-mail: wross@ci.tulare.ca.us
Website: www.ci.tulare.ca.us/welcome/mayor.htm
Self-Help Enterprises
Write: P.O. Box 6520
Visalia, CA 93290
Call: 559-651-1000
E-mail: info@selfhelpenterprises.org
Website: www.selfhelpenterprises.org
State Assemblywoman Connie Conway
Write: 113 N. Church St., Suite 505
Visalia, CA 93291
Call: 559-636-3440
E-mail: Assemblymember.Conway@assembly.ca.gov
Website: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/34/
State Sen. Jean Fuller
Write: 5701 Truxtun Ave., Suite 150
Bakersfield, CA 93309
Call: 661-323-0443
E-mail: Senator.Fuller@senate.ca.gov
Website: http://cssrc.us/web/18/
Tulare County Local Agency Formation Commission
Write: 210 N. Church St., Suite B
Visalia, CA 93291
Call: 559-624-7274
E-mail Executive Officer Ben Giuliani: bgiuliani@co.tulare.ca.us
Website: http://lafco.co.tulare.ca.us/
Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency
Write: 5957 S. Mooney Blvd.
Visalia, CA 93277
Call: 559-624-8480
E-mail: www.tularehhsa.org/index.cfm/administration/agency-contacts/e-mail-healt...
Website: www.tularehhsa.org
*Scroll down for statewide contacts.
**Tell us: Which key players are we missing for Matheny Tract and Tulare?
Lanare (Fresno County)
Fresno County Board of Supervisors
Write: 2281 Tulare St., Room 300
Fresno, CA 93721
Call District 4 Supervisor Judy Case: 559-600-4000
E-mail Case: district4@co.fresno.ca.us
Website: www.co.fresno.ca.us/Departments.aspx?id=122
Board meetings are held at 9 a.m. most Tuesdays. The complete schedule can be found here.
State Assemblyman David Valadao
Write: 1489 W. Lacey Blvd., Suite 103
Hanford, CA 93230
Call: 559-585-7170
E-mail: Assemblymember.Valadao@assembly.ca.gov
Website: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/30/
State Sen. Michael J. Rubio
Write: 2550 Mariposa Mall, Suite 2016
Fresno, CA 93721
Call: 559-264-3070
E-mail: Senator.Rubio@senate.ca.gov
Website: http://sd16.senate.ca.gov/
Fresno Local Agency Formation Commission
Write: 2607 Fresno St., Suite B
Fresno, CA 93721
Call: 559-600-0604
E-mail Executive Officer Jeff Witte: jewitte@co.fresno.ca.us
Website: www.fresnolafco.org
Fresno County Department of Public Health
Write: 1221 Fulton Mall
Fresno, CA 93721
Call: 559-600-3200
E-mail: dph@co.fresno.ca.us
Website: www.co.fresno.ca.us/Division.aspx?id=2553
Fresno County Division of Environmental Health
Write: P.O. Box 11867
Fresno, CA 93775-1867
Call: 559-600-3357
E-mail: environmentalhealth@co.fresno.ca.us
Website: www.co.fresno.ca.us/DepartmentPage.aspx?id=908
*Scroll down for statewide contacts.
**Tell us: Which key players are we missing for Lanare and Fresno County?
State
Gov. Jerry Brown
Write: State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Call: 916-445-2841
E-mail: http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php
Website: http://gov.ca.gov
California Department of Public Health
Call: 916-558-1784
E-mail: cdph-lnc-hfcis@cdph.ca.gov
Website: www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/facilities/Pages/LCDistrictOffices.aspx
California State Water Resources Control Board
(Financial assistance for infrastructure projects)
Write: P.O. Box 100
Sacramento, CA 95812-0100
Call: 916-341-5700
Website: www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/
State Assembly Committee on Local Government
Write: 1020 N St., Room 157
Sacramento, CA 95814
Call: 916-319-3958
E-mail: alcl.committee@assembly.ca.gov
Website: http://alcl.assembly.ca.gov/
California Rural Legal Assistance
Write: 631 Howard St., Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94105-3907
Call: 415-777-2752
E-mail: www.crla.org/contact-us
Website: www.crla.org
Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Call: 916-447-2854
E-mail Loan Fund Director Michael Carroll: mcarroll@rcac.org
Website: www.rcac.org
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