COUNTY URGES STATUS QUO BROCHURE TOUTS BENEFITS OF LACK OF CITY TIES.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

In the latest battle in the war over annexing the western Santa Clarita Valley to the city, the county has printed a glossy newsletter touting its services.

The five-page brochure obtained by the Daily News on Tuesday targets the unincorporated communities of Castaic, Stevenson Ranch and Val Verde, and presents Los Angeles County governance as the ``best of both worlds,'' offering residents a ``rural lifestyle'' and ``easy access to commerce and local services.''

It also argues there is no significant difference in cost or level of public services between the county and the city of Santa Clarita, when annexation backers say the city offers better value.

``The intent is to offer information,'' said Paul Novak, a policy deputy for county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, whose Fifth District includes the Santa Clarita Valley. ``What's involved in annexation? What's involved in incorporation? ... It's extremely important (to inform the communities) That's one of the primary functions of our county employees - it's to get information out to our residents.''

The county Chief Administrative Office created the brochure under Antonovich's direction to inform the estimated 26,000 residents in the three communities of their choices in government - to remain with the county, form their own city or join Santa Clarita.

The agency spent about $3,700 to print 10,000 copies - likely the first time the county printed literature to tackle annexation. Some made the rounds at a joint meeting of the Castaic and West Ranch town councils last week and are available at local county offices.

Though the county has long held the stance of allowing residents to choose their government, local town councils - elected advisory panels with no legislative powers - have vocally opposed annexation and threatened to break away and consider cityhood.

``The areas west of (the Golden State Freeway) are becoming an identifiable community,'' said Martin Zimmerman, a county unincorporated- area services and special projects manager. ``What we want to do is to give them the best available information to help them make the best decisions. ... We felt residents were getting peppered with selective information and we want to give them a balanced picture.''

Over the past year, Santa Clarita has pushed for annexing parts of the hotly contested region, including 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. Meantime, Hasley Hills and several other subdivisions are petitioning to join their neighbor to the east, and are planning to meet with city officials Monday.

City officials have said they would like to expand the city west beyond Interstate 5, though city spokeswoman Gail Ortiz insisted they only go where they're invited.

``We are on the reactive mode,'' she said. ``We did a little brochure in-house that we can hand out to people when they ask us. The only money we've spent on outreach was in Valencia Commerce Center, when we did a luncheon there. Everything else has been done in reaction to people coming to us.''

City officials have touted the benefits of annexation - an end to some fees and a 5 percent utility tax levied by the county, along with more policing and recreation services.

The county newsletter countered these claims, insisting there are no significant differences - although last month Antonovich protested the county's proposed budget saying there was not enough money to increase law enforcement in unincorporated areas. Also, it stated communities ``should not be hindered by attempts to fragment logical neighborhoods.'' Annexation opponents have accused Santa Clarita of only pursuing revenue-rich neighborhoods to pre-empt competing cities from developing.

``There was a lot of information out there that was selective, and information about the county was not being provided,'' Zimmerman said. ``I think there has been efforts by the city to focus on certain areas they believe is lucrative without looking at the large community.''

Ortiz said the brochure itself was selectively deployed.

``We at Santa Clarita City Hall like to see government communicating with residents and would appreciate seeing the county expand their communication and newsletters to all county residents, including those within the city of Santa Clarita and those to the east of the city, such as in Agua Dulce and Acton,'' she said in a statement.

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com