FAQ
HEMET UNITED CHANGE OF ORGANIZATION PETITION

On March 25, 2025, the Hemet City Council considered a request by Hemet United relating to the group’s proposal that approximately 34,000 acres be annexed to the City of Hemet (“Hemet United Annexation Proposal”).  Since that was publicized, Riverside LAFCO has received a number of inquiries.  However, Riverside LAFCO has not received an application relating to this proposal, so has limited information regarding it that could be provided at this time. 

Because matters relating to the Hemet United Annexation Proposal are currently being evaluated and processed through the City of Hemet, additional questions relating to this proposal should be directed to the City of Hemet: Brenda Chavez, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, City Hall -Executive Office, 445 E. Florida Avenue, Hemet, CA 92543, Phone: (951) 765-2417.

While LAFCO has not received an application for the Hemet Annexation Proposal, in response to the multiple inquiries, here are some facts and a timeline relating to that proposal and associated actions, based on information and/or documentation that LAFCO previously received:

  • July 20, 2020: LAFCO received from Hemet United, signed by Keith Garrison as Chief Petitioner, a Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition for annexation of approximately 34,000 acres to the City of Hemet, as well as concurrent detachments from certain County Service areas, and an amendment to Hemet’s sphere of influence.
  • July 22, 2020: LAFCO sent notice of this petition to the City of Hemet, the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive Office, and several other local agencies. 
  • March 10, 2022: the Riverside County Registrar of Voters rejected the petition as insufficient.
  • March 31, 2022: the Riverside County Registrar of Voters certified the supplemental petition as having 1,089 valid signatures, which was greater than the 1,023 valid signatures required as 5 percent of the 20,456 registered voters residing in the area. 
  • April 4, 2022: LAFCO Executive Officer sent a Certificate of Sufficiency—Registered Voter Petition to Keith Garrison.
  • January 17, 2025: Keith Garrison passed away.
  • January-March 2025: A community group called Hemet Rising assumed the previous Hemet United process upon the passing of Mr. Garrison.
  • March 25, 2025: the City of Hemet City Council considered a request relating to the Hemet Annexation Proposal to: (1) Receive report on Annexation Proposal; (2) Review preliminary City revenue analysis and preliminary expenditure and staffing plan designed to maintain or enhance the level of service to be provided to Petitioner; and (3) Refer the necessary Pre-Annexation Zoning actions to the Planning Commission to Ensure that City Zoning upon annexation reflects current County General Plan Zoning Designations and no change in land use.  After presentations and considerable public comment, the City Council unanimously approved this request.  The City Council meeting can be viewed here.

Again, no application has been submitted to LAFCO for this proposal.  Significant additional work by the proponents of an official application, including confirming or enacting pre-zoning and General Plan land use designations, undertaking CEQA review, developing a certified boundary map and legal description, and developing a fiscal impact report and plan for services would still be required before any application could be submitted to LAFCO and deemed complete. 

To receive direct information from LAFCO as to future pending items, please subscribe to receive website updates/eAlerts from our website here. Recipients will be notified when updates are made to the website, including when the monthly agenda is posted.  Each month our agenda has a section of new proposals received “Information Items: Proposals Received and/or LAFCO Initiated”. (typically Item 7.a.)  This section of the agenda will indicate if a Hemet proposal gets submitted to LAFCO.  Otherwise, please feel free to check our Agenda each month on our website under the Meeting Information tab here.

If an application for the Hemet United Annexation Proposal is submitted to LAFCO, correspondence is appropriately submitted to LAFCO at that time, and it will be provided to the Commission.  Legal issues relating to the application will be evaluated at that time, and there will subsequently be notice and opportunity to comment, including a public hearing on the proposal.  Even if the application is ultimately approved by the Commission, there will be a protest hearing held.  If you are within the annexation boundary, you will have the opportunity to protest the approval on our official protest form. 

*updated as of 4/28/2025