The Local Agency Formation Commission of San Mateo County on Nov. 20 disapproved a request by the San Mateo County Farm Bureau to reconsider LAFCO's September decision to amend the sphere of influence for and annex the Pescadero Middle and High School into County Service Area 11 (CSA 11), but asked staff to return with an updated municipal service review and a community engagement plan.

The commission's vote came after a multi-hour public hearing that included a staff presentation, a five-minute statement from the Farm Bureau representative, a county response, and more than a dozen public comments from residents, school staff and students. Rob Bartoli, LAFCO staff, told the commission that the Farm Bureau's letter presented seven contentions but did not introduce new facts that would meet the statutory standard for reconsideration.

The Farm Bureau raised several issues in written materials and at the hearing: it contested staff and county statements that certain school property had been "inactive" agricultural land; it argued the LAFCO resolutions contained clerical errors about roll-call votes; it said studies on groundwater recharge and water supply were incomplete; and it disputed whether waiving protest proceedings complied with state notice requirements. Peter Ton, the Farm Bureau representative, said the county's approvals "mischaracterized the property as inactive" and urged LAFCO to vacate and renotice the resolutions so the commission could condition future approvals on "balanced integrated community solutions that prioritize clean water for the school, untying it from the fire station development."

County staff and other presenters told the commission the county had already addressed water issues in prior studies. Mike Schaller, senior planner for San Mateo County, summarized the county's position: the county and the California Coastal Commission previously reviewed the site and the county had determined the on-site well could not reliably support a fire station. Schaller said state and county environmental review informed the annexation proposal and the county had applied for state funding to extend CSA 11 water to the school site.

State drinking-water staff also spoke in favor of moving ahead. Tara Itauwan, senior engineer with the State Water Resources Control Board's Safer program, said the state had awarded funds for the connection and that delays could risk the state funding. "Reconsideration of LAFCO file 24-08 would only further delay the project timeline by adding more years to the project," she said.

Public comment at the hearing included local residents, school staff and students who said the school has lacked reliable potable water for years. Students described discolored water and missed learning time for water deliveries; Puente community organizers and local parents urged an immediate, permanent solution for the school.

After discussion, the commission voted to disapprove the Farm Bureau's request for reconsideration and directed staff to return with an updated municipal service review for CSA 11 that includes a proposed community engagement plan. The public record shows the commission also noted a recusal earlier in the meeting by the county supervisor who had advocated to the Coastal Commission on the county's behalf; that recusal remains part of the administrative record.

The commission's action leaves the September annexation and sphere-of-influence amendments in place administratively while the commission pursues the requested MSR follow-up. County staff told the meeting they expect to break ground on the pipeline extension in spring 2025 under a State Water Resources Control Board expedited grant that requires project completion by March 2027; construction duration was estimated by county engineers at about six months, with additional time required for final connection and post-connection testing.

The commission's motion to disapprove the reconsideration included an explicit direction that LAFCO staff prepare the revised municipal service review with an outreach plan so affected stakeholders and CSA 11 users receive an opportunity to review and comment. Staff said it will report back to the commission with the MSR update and proposed outreach schedule.