ANNEX PETITION STARTED CASTAIC HOMEOWNERS GROUP EYES SANTA CLARITA.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer CASTAIC - Saying they want more public services Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly (through the public sector) or by financing private provision of services. , members of a homeowners group within Castaic have started an annexation annexation, in international law, formal act by which a state asserts its sovereignty over a territory previously outside its jurisdiction. Many kinds of territory have been subject to annexation, chief among them those inhabited by settlers of the annexing power, movement to become part of the city of Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, . The Hasley Hills Homeowners Association is circulating cir·cu·late v. cir·cu·lat·ed, cir·cu·lat·ing, cir·cu·lates v.intr. 1. To move in or flow through a circle or circuit: blood circulating through the body. 2. petitions to about 1,800 homes, including those within the Live Oak and Northbluffs neighborhoods, to gather enough signatures to show city officials an intention to annex an·nex tr.v. an·nexed, an·nex·ing, an·nex·es 1. To append or attach, especially to a larger or more significant thing. 2. . ``There's a lot of us who were one-time residents of Santa Clarita, who moved up here to Castaic to get more house for our bucks, but I've noticed a complete change in services and I'd say access to county government,'' said Brian Roney, chairman of the annexation committee with the homeowners association. ``When I lived in Newhall I was able to go to City Council and talk to them. If I want to do that now, I have to go to downtown'' Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. to county offices. Roney said he and other Castaic residents want the same kind of recreation opportunities as in Santa Clarita as well as to take part in similar beautification beau·ti·fy tr. & intr.v. beau·ti·fied, beau·ti·fy·ing, beau·ti·fies To make or become beautiful. beau projects under way around the city. ``They've really done a lot of work keeping the city up,'' he said. The group's interest in annexation comes as Santa Clarita is vying vy·ing v. Present participle of vie. vying vie for the Valencia Commerce Center at the junction of Interstate 5 and state Highway 126, and Lyon Canyon west of I-5 near Calgrove Boulevard in Newhall. But the city has come under scrutiny by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich Michael Dennis Antonovich (born 1939 in Los Angeles, California) is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors representing the Fifth District, which covers northern Los Angeles County, the Antelope, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, and parts of the San Fernando and San , who opposes the city stretching west of the I-5. Antonovich took positions against Santa Clarita's intent to annex the 1,600-acre Commerce Center and Lyon Canyon, in part because both proposals have met opposition from local town councils. Also, the properties lie outside the city's ``sphere of influence'' set during incorporation in 1987. But members of the Castaic Town Council have said the city has moved too fast, offering them little time to discuss the issue or understand the ramifications ramifications npl → Auswirkungen pl of annexation of the Commerce Center. The Town Council is awaiting word from the county to set up several community meetings to discuss more annexation issues. ``We're looking into it,'' said John Kunak, president of the Town Council. ``We're very much exploring options. We're very happy with the services from the county, but we'd like to explore it more.'' Santa Clarita officials have said the city is responding to the desires of property owners and has the right to push the city limits west of I-5. Roney said inclusion of Hasley Hills, Live Oak and North Bluffs would create a contiguous boundary with the Commerce Center and the city limits. City officials said they would need 60 percent of the residents within the neighborhoods to sign the petition, followed by a fiscal analysis. Last month, Santa Clarita submitted an application to the Local Agency Formation Commission, which oversees municipal boundary changes in Los Angeles County, for the Northpark neighborhood on the east side of the I-5 north of city limits. If approved, the development would become the city's 25th successful annexation since incorporation, officials said. Northpark includes 5,916 residents, and the majority have expressed interest in annexation. Northpark lies just north of the city boundaries and is on the east side of the I-5. Once annexed to the city, Northpark residents would receive the same services as Santa Clarita residents and would no longer pay the 5 percent utility tax. ``We're not bad-mouthing the county, but there's the realization that they have a tough job to do,'' Roney said. Susan Abram, (661) 257-5257 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com |
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