Proposal Overview
LAFCo has received a proposal submitted by resolution of application from the Ferndale Fire Protection District (Ferndale FPD or District) for annexation of approximately 54,546 acres (316 parcels) of land located adjacent to the District boundary and generally within its current Sphere of Influence (SOI). The proposed annexation will extend the District boundary to cover its current “Goodwill Response Area” located generally south, southeast, and southwest of the existing boundaries including the Capetown, Upper Bear River Road, and Bunker Hill Road areas.
The Commission received an informational presentation on the proposed annexation at its July 15, 2026 LAFCo meeting. The associated staff report included a detailed discussion of the proposal.
Public Hearing Notice
Notice is hereby given that the Humboldt Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) will hold a public hearing to consider the proposed Ferndale FPD annexation of goodwill response areas on:
Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
City of Eureka Council Chambers
531 K Street, Eureka, CA
The meeting will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person and virtual participation. Those wishing to participate remotely should consult the meeting agenda for the video conference link or call-in information. The agenda and related meeting materials will be available at least 72 hours prior to the meeting here.
Please direct comments, questions, or requests to review documents to: Humboldt LAFCo, 670 9th Street, Suite 202, Arcata, CA 95521. Phone: (707) 445-7508. E-mail: info@humboldtlafco.org.
Reasons for Proposal
The Ferndale FPD has provided the following justification for the proposed annexation:
“The reasons for the proposed annexation are as follows:
a. To formalize fire protection and emergency response services long provided to
residents in the goodwill response area;
b. To ensure equitable and sustainable funding for services provided; and
c. To align jurisdictional boundaries with actual service responsibilities for the benefit of
neighboring fire service providers, land use authorities, and other service providers.
Ferndale Fire Protection District (FPD) has provided fire protection and emergency response services to its out-of-district goodwill response area for many years and now proposes to formally annex this territory into its jurisdictional boundaries. The proposed annexation encompasses approximately 45,455 acres, and is located generally south, southeast and southwest of the existing Ferndale FPD boundaries, including the Capetown, Upper Bear River Road, and Bunker Hill Road areas.
The proposed annexation would establish clear and enforceable District boundaries, defining service responsibility for the benefit of land use authorities, residents, and other service providers within the area. Currently, the goodwill response area receives fire protection services from Ferndale FPD on an informal basis, without a defined service obligation or dedicated funding source, as no other fire protection provider serves the area. Annexation would formalize Ferndale FPD’s responsibility for service delivery and establish a sustainable funding framework.
Existing revenue sources are insufficient to support the long-term, sustainable delivery of services across the District’s full response area, including both the current District boundary and the goodwill response area. Ferndale FPD is therefore proactively pursuing voter approval of a new special tax, which would repeal and replace the District’s existing benefit assessment. If approved, annexation would allow the District to receive a share of property tax revenues and, consistent with Government Code Sections 56886(t) and 57330, apply the voter-approved special tax within the annexed territory upon the effective date of annexation, thereby supporting ongoing, reliable fire protection services.”
Annexation Application
Resolution of Application
Description of Annexation Areas
The proposed annexation area is located generally south, southeast and southwest of the existing FFPD boundary, including Capetown, Upper Bear River Road, and Bunker Hill Road areas. The territory is located within the remote Wildcat area, where Mattole Road provides the primary transportation corridor connecting Ferndale to Capetown. The proposed annexation area is approximately 45,455 acres (71 square miles) and has a population of approximately 149 residents.
The parcels in the annexation area are subject to the Humboldt County General Plan. Current land use designations include Agricultural Exclusive (AE), Agricultural Exclusive Grazing (AEG and AEG(2)), Agricultural Grazing (AG), Residential Agriculture (RA5-20), Timberland (T), and Coastal Commercial Timberland (TC). These designations reflect the rural and remote nature of the area.
Ferndale FPD Annex Boundary Map 8.5 x 11
Provision of Public Services
Currently, there is no designated local fire protection service provider for the proposed annexation area. The area is served on a goodwill response basis, with FFPD and neighboring agencies responding to emergencies as staffing, availability, and resources allow. Upon annexation, FFPD would be officially designated as the fire service provider for the area with the ability to manage services and collect fees to support the provision of services.
To support the proposed annexation, Ferndale FPD prepared a Plan for Services pursuant to Government Code §56653. The Plan describes how the District would formalize fire protection and emergency response services currently provided on a goodwill basis, identifies the proposed financing mechanisms, and confirms that no new development or public infrastructure improvements are proposed as part of the annexation. Upon receiving the annexation application, LAFCo staff issued a Notice of Filing and distributed referral materials to affected and interested agencies on July 2, 2026. One comment has been received by the Humboldt County Planning and Building Department, requesting that the District coordinate with the appropriate County departments regarding the effective date of the annexation so internal County records can be updated.
Water and wastewater services are generally provided by individual onsite systems. Law enforcement services are provided by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, road maintenance and drainage are provided by Humboldt County Public Works, and ambulance transport services are provided by City Ambulance of Eureka, with air ambulance services available through Cal Ore Life Flight.
Ferndale FPD Plan for Services
Notice of Filing
Referral Comment – Humboldt County Planning and Building Department
Special Tax
Upon annexation, properties within the affected territory would become subject to all applicable charges, fees, assessments, and taxes lawfully enacted by the Ferndale FPD, as well as the District’s rates, rules, regulations, and ordinances. Ferndale FPD has placed a proposed special tax (Measure F) on the November 3, 2026, ballot for voter consideration. If approved by voters, the new special tax would apply to properties within the annexation area upon effective date of annexation. If the special tax is not approved, the District’s existing benefit assessment would instead be extended to properties within the annexation area. In either case, the revenues would support the provision of fire protection services in accordance with the applicable funding measure.
Initial estimates indicate that, if approved, the special tax would generate approximately $116,500 annually in revenue within the existing district and annexation area, including approximately $106,000 from properties within the existing district and approximately $10,500 from properties within the proposed annexation area. The measure would repeal and replace the District’s existing assessment, which currently generates approximately $33,000 annually within the existing district. The proposed special tax includes an annual inflationary adjustment provision and hardship exemption process for qualifying low-income property owners.
Revenue generated through the proposed special tax, together with the Property Tax Exchange Agreement, would provide a reliable and sustainable funding source to support the District’s long-term service objectives within both its existing territory and the proposed annexation area. The District has identified the special tax as its preferred funding strategy.
While the proposed special tax would provide a more robust and sustainable funding source, the existing assessment may provide an alternative funding mechanism if the special tax is not approved. Consistent with Government Code Sections 56886(s)(2) and 56886(t), the Commission may condition approval of the annexation upon implementation of either the proposed special tax or the extension of the District’s previously authorized benefit assessment to the annexation territory, as authorized by applicable law.
Property Tax Exchange Agreement
Section 99 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code requires affected local agencies to negotiate an exchange of property tax revenues before a jurisdictional change becomes effective. On April 9, 2019 (File No. 19-501), the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors adopted a policy establishing standardized property tax exchange offers for fire protection districts that improve financial sustainability, administrative capacity, and long-term service planning through annexation, formation, or consolidation.
FFPD has requested that the proposed annexation be eligible for Tax Exchange Agreement Offer No. 2, which is intended for districts that:
- Establish new and or update revenue sources;
- Annex realistic out-of-district response area;
- Commit to planning for the future;
- Unwilling to pursue reorganization/consolidation.
If the above expectations are met the county will:
- Transfer a portion of the county’s share of the base property tax revenue to the fire district equal to 50% of the district’s average tax allocation factor (TAF), multiplied by the 1% property tax revenue for the current year within the annexation area. The fire district’s property tax base would increase by the amount transferred; the county’s base would be reduced by the same amount.
- In addition, the fire district would receive 100% of its TAF applied to growth in property tax in the annexation area; the County’ share of property tax growth would then be reduced by that amount.
Based on current assessed values, implementation of Offer No. 2 is estimated to result in a permanent transfer of approximately $13,409 in annual base property tax revenue from the county to FFPD beginning in FY 2027-28, and approximately $670 in first-year property tax increment, with annual growth expected to increase over time as assessed values within the annexation area increase.
Approval of the property tax exchange agreement by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors is required before the annexation may become effective.
Environmental Review
All matters that involve discretionary action are subject to the applicable provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Ferndale FPD has determined that the proposed annexation is exempt from CEQA per CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)3 as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question will have a significant effect on the environment – where the activity is the establishment of a local district boundary to include areas that already receive “goodwill” service from the district, and that does not involve development or a change in the manner in which an existing service is provided.