There are many terms and abbreviations commonly mentioned in the discussions about incorporation. Below is a list of some of the terms used on this website and throughout the incorporation literature.
| Glossary of Terms |
Definition |
| Incorporated Town |
Under California's Government Code Sections 34500-34504, the terms "city" and "town" are explicitly interchangeable. There is no legal distinction between an incorporated city and an incorporated town. California has 22 incorporated municipalities that are styled "Town of (Name)" instead of "City of (Name)."
An incorporated town in the United States is an incorporated municipality, that is, one with a charter received from the state, similar to a city. An incorporated town will have elected officials, as differentiated from an unincorporated community, which exists only by tradition and does not have elected officials at the town level. |
| CDP |
Alamo is a CDP.
A census-designated place (CDP) is a type of place identified by the US Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages. CDPs are communities that lack separate municipal government, but which otherwise physically resemble incorporated places. CDPs are delineated to provide data for settled concentrations of population that are identifiable by name but are not legally incorporated under the laws of the state in which they are located. |
| CEQA |
California Environmental Quality Act, a California law (California Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq.) passed in 1970, shortly after the Federal Government passed the National Environmental Policy Act. CEQA does not directly regulate land uses, but instead requires development projects submit documentation of their potential environmental impact.
LAFCOs are subject to State environmental policies, procedures, and public participation rules in environmental matters. |
| CFA |
Comprehensive Fiscal Analysis, an analysis of the projected revenues and expenditures resulting from a proposed incorporation. |
| Contract-City |
A term used in the state of California for a city that has a contract with another agency or private organization for various governmental services. |
Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg
Local Goverment Reorganization
Act of 2000 |
LAFCO's responsibilities are defined by this statute that creates the Commission, mandates its activities and grants it legal authority. |
| CSA |
County Service Area: the County Service Area Law was established to provide an alternative method of providing governmental services by counties within unincorporated areas.
There are five County Service Areas in Alamo:
P-2B, P-5 and P-6 (enhanced police services), and R-7A (park and recreation services), and Zone 36 (beautification). |
| Feasible |
A term defined by law as capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, legal, social, and technological factors and assumptions. |
| IFA |
Initial Fiscal Analysis: a preliminary analysis of the projected revenues and expenditures of from a proposed incorporation. This is also known as the Feasibility Study. Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. in Berkeley did the Initial Fiscal Analysis of the Proposed Incorporation of Alamo in May 2007. |
| LAFCO |
Local Agency Formation Commission: The legislature established a LAFCO in each county to be responsible for overseeing most forms of local government boundary change, including incorporation, annexations, and special district formations. |
| MAC |
Municipal Advisory Council: a MAC is a county-appointed advisory committee. It has no legal authority or decision-making power. A MAC is given deference only to the extent that county supervisors are willing to hear what it has to say. A MAC member represents the Board of Supervisors within the community and relates the community concerns and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. |
| Metes and bounds |
A system or method of describing land, 'real' property or real estate. Metes and bounds describe the perimeter of a parcel of land. The system is often used to define larger pieces of property (e.g. farms), and political subdivisions (e.g. town boundaries) where precise definition is not required or would be far too expensive, or previously designated boundaries can be incorporated into the description. |
| P-2B |
Police Services County Service Area. |
| P-5 |
Police Services County Service Area (Round Hill). |
| R-7A |
Alamo Parks and Recreation County Service Area. |
| RHCC |
Round Hill Country Club |
| Shenanigan |
Trickery, skullduggery, machination, intrigue; nonsense; a plot, a trick, a prank. |
| Sphere of Influence |
Sphere of Influence: means a plan for the probable future boundaries and service area of a local agency, as determined by LAFCO.
LAFCO is charged by the State Legislature to determine and update at least every five years the "sphere of influence" of each city and special district.
Factors that LAFCO must consider in determining spheres of influence are:
• The present and planned land uses, including agricultural and open space lands,
• The present and probable needs for public facilities and services in the area,
• The present capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services that the agency provides or is authorized to provide,
• The existence of any social or economic communities of interest in the area if the Commission determines that they are relevant to the agency.
LAFCO is required to review and update spheres of influence every five years. |
| Special District |
An agency of the state, formed pursuant to general law or special act, for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions within limited boundaries. |
| Zone 36 |
Alamo Beautification Assessment District. |
