DUELING FLIERS TACKLE ANNEXATION AS SIDES START TAKING SHAPE OVER STONECREST, PUBLIC MEETING CALLED.

Byline: Judy O'Rourke Staff writer

SANTA CLARITA - Two Canyon Country men are battling one another over a proposal to annex their neighborhood to Santa Clarita, distributing dueling literature that either extols the virtue of city government or urges residents to force the decision to a vote.

Bob Baida, who lives in the lower Stonecrest neighborhood just outside the city's northeastern edge, circulated a two-page flier that says the benefits of annexation are obvious and that being a part of the city would mean better services.

Steven Huerta's 10-page packet urges residents to bypass the typically low-key annexation process and demand a vote.

"They've heard two different opinions and they don't know who to believe," Baida said of Stonecrest residents.

City officials will attend a public meeting April 20 to answer questions and explain what annexation means.

Huerta isn't opposed to annexation, but says residents should decide themselves through a vote.

Annexing Stonecrest would be a coup for the city because the tract is the nearest to the planned Cemex sand and gravel mine, a project Santa Clarita is battling.

Huerta argues that the mine will be established regardless of Santa Clarita's complaints about added pollution and traffic, but city officials say they hope to influence the scope of the mining and have spent $5.5 million toward that effort.

Baida, who first proposed annexation 5 1/2 years ago, said his neighbors would benefit from annexing.

"I want local government representation; that was my motivation all the way through," Baida said. "I want the protection city and local government representation gives me. The Board of Supervisors represents 8.5 million people. In the city, they represent 175,000 people.

"Residents can sign protest forms to be submitted to the Local Agency Formation Commission to urge a vote. If more than 50 percent of the 1,127 registered Stonecrest voters were to protest, the annexation would die. Between 169 and 564 valid protests would trigger an election.

The figures could fluctuate based on move-ins and new voter registrations, officials note.

Huerta said his aim is to force a vote, not kill the annexation.

"I promise the city and Mr. Baida I will only seek enough signatures to ensure a vote on this matter that will be put before the people," Huerta said. "I will seek 400 registered voters' signatures only."

Sandor Winger, LAFCO's deputy executive officer, said "the ball is totally in the signature-gatherers' court." The agency rules on municipal boundary changes.

The Office of the County Registrar-Recorder would need to verify signatures on the protests before LAFCO would act.

A question has been raised about some wording on Huerta's flier.

Aides to U.S. Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon asked Huerta to revise a passage about the mine that references McKeon. The flier said McKeon's office said the city's actions won't stop the mine from operating.

"I think the categorization of our office was incorrect," said McKeon's spokesman Scott Wilk, adding that Huerta agreed to redraft that portion. McKeon has told city officials that if they work out an agreement with Cemex, he would carry the legislation, Wilk said.

LAFCO had temporarily approved the annexation, but after enough protests were received to potentially trigger a vote - and LAFCO discovered a procedural error - the agency scheduled a new public hearing.

The next hearing is set for 9 a.m. on June 28 in Los Angeles.

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IF YOU GO

Santa Clarita city officials will host a meeting to discuss annexation of the Stonecrest area at 7 p.m. April 20 at Pinetree Community School, 29156 Lotusgarden Drive, Canyon Country.

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IF YOU GO (see text)