Proposal Overview
LAFCo has received a proposal submitted by resolution of application from the Kneeland Fire Protection District (Kneeland FPD or District) for annexation of approximately 61,846 acres (503 parcels) of land located adjacent to the District boundary and generally within its current Sphere of Influence (SOI). Minor changes to the SOI are proposed to accommodate the entire annexation area and maintain logical boundary lines. The proposed annexation will extend the District boundary to cover its current “Goodwill Response Area” located between the existing District boundary, the Arcata Fire Protection District boundary, and the Bridgeville Fire Protection District boundary.
The Commission approved the annexation on May 21, 2025 with adoption of Resolution 25-03. A protest hearing has been scheduled as noted below.
Protest Hearing
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Executive Officer of the Humboldt Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) will hold a public hearing on:
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Kneeland Fire House
6201 Greenwood Heights Drive
Kneeland, CA
The hearing will be conducted by the Commission’s Executive Officer who has been delegated authority to conduct this hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to provide for the submission of written protests against the Commission’s approval of the Kneeland Fire Protection District (FPD) Goodwill Response Area Annexation by affected landowners and registered voters within the territory, which may be filed with the LAFCo Executive Officer at any time prior to the conclusion of the hearing.
How to file a Protest: To be considered valid, protests must be written and filed by either a landowner or a registered voter within the annexation area. The protest must be signed and dated, must state whether it is made by a landowner or a registered voter or both, and must include the name and address of the protestor. An Assessor’s Parcel Number identifying the location of the land is acceptable for a landowner. A registered voter’s protest must show the name and address appearing on the affidavit of registration.
If you are a landowner or registered voter within the annexation area, and would like to submit a protest as part of the protest hearing process, you can use the form below (recommended):
Protests may either be hand delivered at the protest hearing, mailed to Humboldt LAFCo at 670 9th Street, Suite 202, Arcata, CA 95521, or emailed to the LAFCo Executive Officer (colette@humboldtlafco.org). Only written protests that are received prior to the conclusion of the hearing on June 24, 2025, will be accepted as timely.
If you have any questions regarding the protest hearing process, please contact the LAFCo office at (707) 445-7508 or colette@humboldtlafco.org (preferred).
How Protests will be Evaluated: Pursuant to State law, an election would be called if 25-50% of registered voters protest or 25% or more of landowners protest. The 25% threshold for landowner protest refers to both the number of owners and the assessed value of land. Furthermore, the annexation would be terminated if 50% or more of registered voters protest. The annexation will be confirmed and ordered if the above thresholds are not reached.
Mailed Landowner/ Registered Voter Protest Hearing Notice
Reasons for Proposal
The Kneeland FPD has provided the following justification for the proposed annexation:
“The Kneeland Fire Protection District has provided fire protection services to what it considers its “goodwill out-of-district response area” for many years and now proposes to annex this area into its boundaries. The proposed annexation would establish district boundaries that clearly define service responsibilities for the benefit of land use authorities, the public, and other service providers within this area.
The annexation would support the continued delivery of essential fire protection services to the Butler Valley, a portion of Maple Creek, Mtn View, Kneeland Rd, Showers Pass, and Upper Fickle Hill. It will also allow the Kneeland Fire Protection to collect special tax revenue from this area. This area currently receives services from the Kneeland Fire Protection District on a “goodwill” basis with no defined responsibility or funding because there is no other available fire protection service provider. A successful annexation would make Kneeland FPD responsible for service, establish ongoing funding, and define a contiguous fire district coverage between the Kneeland FPD, Arcata FPD, and Bridgeville FPD.”
Annexation Application
Resolution of Application
Description of Annexation Areas
The proposed annexation area is located on the north, east, and south sides of the Kneeland FPD and includes the Butler Valley area; a portion of the Maple Creek area; the Mtn View Road area between the existing District and Jack Straw Road; Kneeland Road and Showers Pass Road between the existing District boundary and the Bridgeville FPD boundary; and Upper Fickle Hill Road between District boundary and the Arcata FPD boundary. Of the 61,846 acres proposed for annexation, 777 acres are designated improved residential, 18,996 acres are 100% timber production zone, 34,697 acres are partially timber production zone, and the rest is various improved and unimproved uses.
Provision of Public Services
Currently, there is no designated provider of fire protection services within the proposed annexation area. The area is considered a “Goodwill Response Area” and is served by the Kneeland FPD or other agencies as time and resources allow. Upon annexation, Kneeland FPD 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.
Water service in the proposed annexation area is provided by onsite wells. Wastewater services are generally provided by onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Additional services provided to the annexation area include police services provided by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, road maintenance and drainage/stormwater provided by Humboldt County Public Works, and ambulance services provided by City Ambulance Eureka and Arcata Ambulance for the Maple Creek Road area.
Special Tax
In November 2024 voters approved Measure D, a special tax for fire protection and emergency medical services to support the Kneeland FPD. This special tax replaces two prior special taxes approved by voters in 1990 and 2014. Based on the newly approved measure, a vacant parcel receives an annual tax of $100 per year; an improved parcel, $180; vacant contiguous parcels under common ownership, $220; commercial and industrial parcels, $300; and multi-family parcels, $250. There is also a hardship waiver process which allows landowners with very low incomes to apply for an exemption. Upon annexation, the special tax would be extended to all parcels within the new district boundary.
Property Tax Exchange Agreement
Section 99 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code provides that prior to the effective date of any jurisdictional change, the affected agencies of such change shall negotiate the amount of property tax revenues to be exchanged. On May 9, 2019 (File No. 19-501), the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors directed that different tax exchange agreements be offered in exchange for fire protection districts improving other sources of revenue, improving administrative capacity, and pursuing annexation/formation/consolidation. The Kneeland FPD was formed after Proposition 13 and therefore does not currently receive a share of property taxes. As part of the tax offers, Kneeland FPD proposes that they are eligible for tax exchange agreement Offer #4 which requires the district to meet the following expectations.
The annexing district does not currently receive property tax and is willing to:
- Establish new and or update revenue sources;
- Pursue reorganization/consolidation;
- Annex realistic out-of-district response area; and
- Commit to planning for the future.
If the above expectations are met the county will:
- Transfer county property tax revenue to the district in an amount equal to the application of a 3% tax allocation factor (TAF) to the growth (no base) in property tax revenue within the annexation area as well as the existing district area.
The proposed annexation will be requesting use of the County’s Tax Exchange Agreement Offer #4 set by the County Board of Supervisors on April 9, 2019.
Environmental Review
All matters that involve discretionary action are subject to the applicable provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Kneeland 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 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.