BURDEN ON SECESSIONISTS.

Byline: Michael Coit Staff Writer

The agency overseeing the proposed breakup of Los Angeles made it clear Wednesday that secessionists must do the hard work of figuring out how cityhood will work.

Consultants hired to complete the study that will assess cityhood proposals in the San Fernando Valley and the Harbor area were told Wednesday to change the proposal so there is no appearance that secessionists are being aided in designing the proposed new cities.

The move by the Local Agency Formation Commission follows repeated criticism from city officials, who oppose the breakup, that the agency and its consultants could become secession advocates during the study process.

``Why is the city of Los Angeles, which is driving this whole discussion, trying to restrict the ability of LAFCO to come up with the best plan?'' said Richard Close, chairman of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment.

``I think we all know the reason. The city is hoping a defective, unacceptable plan will be proposed that will be rejected by LAFCO or the voters,'' he said.

The study is a comprehensive financial analysis of the impact of secession on any proposed city and on the remainder of Los Angeles.

LAFCO officials said the agency is only making the roles of secessionists and the consultants more clear.

``The applicant has an obligation to tell us what in the world they envision for this new city. Now, this work plan didn't clearly state it that way,'' said Larry Calemine, the agency's executive officer.

``We're not concerned with what the city says we can and can't do. We're only concerned with what the law tells LAFCO to do,'' he said.

But on two previous occasions, LAFCO officials - responding to city opposition - stated that the agency was acting within its capacity under state law to review and consider terms and conditions for the proposed city.

Valley VOTE leaders said Wednesday's shift puts a burden on applicants. They not only must propose the structure of city services, but also find alternatives to proposals the consultants find are not financially viable.

``This system, if adopted, puts tremendous responsibility on the applicants to propose all of the elements of the sixth-largest city in the nation,'' Close said.

``The applicant has to come up with a plan that is financially viable and politically acceptable,'' he said. ``It's a herculean task.''

But it's a task city officials contend Valley and Harbor-area secessionists took on when they submitted petitions calling for a cityhood study.

Council members have questioned whether LAFCO could remain objective and respond to proposals for new cities rather than help create them.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who chairs a council committee appointed to deal with the cityhood study, has said the city could challenge the LAFCO process if the consultants assist cityhood applicants or develop secession proposals.

Calemine said LAFCO staffers and the consultants will return to the commission in April with a study proposal that begins with a detailed vision by secessionists. LAFCO will make a formal request for any more data it needs from the city and then determine with the consultants whether the vision has any problems financially, legally or otherwise.

``That is not what the city can interpret as our putting together a proposal to help the applicant break up the city,'' Calemine said.

``Then we will send it over to the city and see what they think. But ultimately LAFCO will make the decision on what goes to the voters,'' he said.