CITY REDISTRICTING STARTS 20 COMMISSIONERS SEATED AS ADVISERS ON DRAWING COUNCIL BOUNDARIES.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Members of a new panel charged with redrawing Los Angeles City Council district boundaries began work Tuesday with assurances of independence and a voice in whatever plans are adopted.

``Thank you for accepting a call to duty for one of the toughest assignments in our democratic process,'' City Council President Alex Padilla told the 20 members of the Los Angeles City Redistricting Commission who met at City Hall.

``The essence of your work is assuring the fair and equitable representation of all parts of the city.''

The new City Charter called for creating the commission, with members appointed by the mayor, City Council, city attorney and city controller. The commission has until March 1 to submit its recommendations to the council.

Commissioner Richard Close, chairman of the Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment secession movement, questioned Padilla on whether the panel's work would significantly influence final boundaries adopted by the council.

``When I was asked to serve on this commission, people would ask me why I was doing it (and say) that we are just advisory, and it will be a waste of time,'' Close said. ``What can I tell people?''

Padilla said the final decision will depend on the work of the commission.

``This is unprecedented,'' Padilla said. ``We have never had an advisory panel on redistricting. It will be up to you and whether you step up to the plate or shy away from the job on what the final plan looks like.''

A similar panel is reviewing boundaries for the Los Angeles Board of Education.

The city commission, which created an ad hoc committee to start immediately looking for an executive director, plans to hold a series of hearings around the city to take public testimony.

Reapportionment - determining which groups are represented and how neighborhoods are divided - is one of the most politically sensitive issues dealt with by legislative bodies.

For instance, there have been complaints in the San Fernando Valley for years about separation of the Valley into seven different districts - with only four of them based in the Valley - and about division of the Van Nuys area among five council members. Residents say there should be five Valley-based districts since more than one-third of the city's population lives in the Valley.

The redistricting commission will have some room to maneuver because term limits will force out four incumbents in 2003: City Council members Hal Bernson, Ruth Galanter, Nate Holden and Mark Ridley-Thomas.