BUSINESSES WANT CHARTER REFORM; LEADERS CALL FOR STRONGER MAYOR.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

San Fernando Valley business leaders joined a coalition of Los Angeles business groups Tuesday in calling for charter reform to transfer more power to the mayor to make the city more business-friendly.

The Coalition for Charter Reform, which includes the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, released the first concrete proposals for reform to be put forward by a major group of stakeholders.

``The current city charter does not work well, having been designed in a completely different era, and it has the effect of driving businesses and jobs out of Los Angeles,'' the group said in a written statement about its 18 principles for city government.

``As representatives of the Los Angeles business community, we have a vital interest in city charter reform,'' the coalition said. ``Our purpose is to make Los Angeles a better place to live and work.''

In addition to VICA, the coalition is composed of seven other business groups including the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley and the Central City Association.

``It is time to unshackle the city from its cumbersome governmental structure in which governmental power is dispersed among many agencies of government, resulting in a lack of accountability among government officials,'' said Ezunial Burts, president of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

The coalition's key proposal is to rework the city's current ``weak mayor, strong council'' form of government.

``The charter should establish two coequal branches of government: a legislative branch headed by the City Council, and an executive branch headed by the mayor,'' the coalition said.

City department managers, many of whom report to citizen commissions and get direction from the City Council, should report to the mayor, the group said.

``The council should have more time for its core legislative, policy and budget responsibilities and district representation, with many of its administrative and management responsibilities transferred to the executive branch,'' the coalition proposed.

Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg said she has been told that Mayor Richard Riordan and business groups want a major shift in power.

``I think this is the mayor's proposal,'' she said. ``I think the mayor . . . believes he is a better administrator of things than what we are doing now.''

Goldberg said the proposal would strip the council of its ability to serve as a check and balance to the mayor.

``I think taking all administrative oversight away from the City Council is folly,'' she said.

Mayoral spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez said Riordan still is working on charter reform proposals.

Deputy Mayor Kelly Martin has been asked by the council's appointed Charter Reform Commission to discuss the role of the mayor under a future charter during a hearing scheduled for today.

Officials with the council-appointed Charter Reform Commission said a survey of eight charter studies dating back to 1934 found they consistently agreed that the power of the mayor should be increased.

``Historically, other commissions have consistently been in favor of increasing the mayor's authority,'' said George Kieffer, the chairman. ``However, there has been less agreement on what specific changes to make.''

The panel has scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. today on the 15th floor of the Department of Water and Power headquarters, at 111 N. Hope St. in downtown Los Angeles.

Among the business coalition's other proposals were that business taxes should be limited and competitive with those of other cities, and that the charter should allow for privatization of city services through contracting, an effort Riordan has tried with limited success to implement.

``The system for permitting business and development must be streamlined to allow faster approval of permits and reduce the number of steps and officials involved in the approval process,'' the coalition added.

The coalition's ``guiding principles'' were submitted to both the elected Charter Reform Commission supported by Riordan and the reform commission appointed by the City Council.

Other principles include:

New ways to improve and encourage citizen participation.

A multiyear budget to provide more long-term planning.

Prioritized city services, with public safety No. 1.

A revamped civil service system, with penalties for poor performance and rewards for achievement.