Doolan Canyon Sphere of Influence Amendment and Citywide Poll 

In September 2023, City of Dublin staff informed Livermore staff that they submitted a request to the Alameda County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) to amend the Sphere of Influence (SOI) in Doolan Canyon between the City of Dublin and City of Livermore. The SOI amendment request includes the area shown below in green, known as the "Crosby Properties.” City of Dublin is considering annexing the land for future development within the area shown below in red, or approximately 1,200 feet north of Interstate 580. Development within this area would conflict with the City of Livermore’s General Plan, Alameda County’s General Plan, and Alameda County voter approved Measure D.  

In response to Dublin’s SOI amendment request, City of Livermore staff requested an SOI amendment to include this same area within the City of Livermore’s SOI. This request is consistent with the City of Livermore General Plan goals and policies to maintain a greenbelt buffer between communities. 

At the October 9 Livermore City Council meeting, staff requested City Council discussion and direction regarding the SOI amendment request and a citywide poll related to preserving open space in this area. City Council directed staff to continue discussions with City of Dublin staff regarding the Crosby Properties to reach a compromise between each city’s desired outcome. In addition, City Council directed staff to conduct a citywide poll related to open space preservation within the Doolan Canyon area.  

Citywide Poll Results

The citywide poll was conducted from October 30 through early November 2023. The poll included 18 questions, with a focus on opinions regarding the existing open space area between the Cities of Livermore and Dublin (the Crosby Properties) and the Dublin Boulevard Extension roadway project which will connect North Canyons Parkway to Dublin Boulevard through this area. The poll included email, text message, and telephone response collection. The poll results were presented at the November 13 Livermore City Council meeting and included: 

• High level of support for maintaining open space between the two cities with a majority of residents strongly supporting maintaining this area as open space.
• Majority of respondents strongly support or somewhat support the Dublin Boulevard Extension project.
• Respondents were more likely to support the roadway connection if the surrounding land remained as open space.
• Respondents were much less likely to support the Dublin Boulevard Extension project if commercial and industrial development were constructed.
• Limited support for commercial and industrial development with landscape screening applied to the site.

Priorities for Ongoing Conversations Between Livermore and Dublin 

Staff also presented the preliminary priorities for ongoing conversations with City of Dublin staff, which include:

• Continued collaboration on the Dublin Boulevard Extension project;
• Preserving an adequate open space buffer between the two cities;
• Livermore reviewing and providing input on any open space development contemplated by Dublin; and
• Providing opportunities for public access to Doolan Canyon open space.

On December 26, 2023, the City of Livermore and City of Dublin sent a joint letter to the Alameda County LAFCo informing LAFCo staff that the two cities are working collaboratively to reach a compromise for the Crosby Properties. LAFCo staff plan to present a Public Review Draft of the Municipal Service Review, which includes recommendations to the SOI amendment requests, to the LAFCo Commission at its May 9th meeting, after which there will be a 30-day public comment period. Staff is continuing discussions with the City of Dublin staff to reach a compromise between each city’s desired outcome. 

Resources

For more information on the SOI amendment request and citywide poll, refer to:

• October 9, 2023 City Council staff report and attachments (begins on page 172)
• November 13, 2023 City Council staff report and attachments (begins on page 738)
• December 26, 2023 City of Dublin and City of Livermore Joint Letter to LAFCo