L.A. BOROUGH BACKERS PUSH FOR CONSENSUS GREUEL SAYS SHE, HERTZBERG 'ON THE SAME PAGE' IN TALKS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

The main backers of a borough system of local government for Los Angeles held a strategy session Tuesday in City Hall in an effort to place a single plan on the Nov. 5 ballot to counteract secession.

Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, who has developed a detailed borough system, met for nearly two hours with Councilwoman Wendy Greuel and aides to Councilwoman Janice Hahn. Councilwomen Greuel and Hahn are the two principal council supporters of the borough concept but have not signed on to the former Assembly speaker's plan.

``What we found is that we are on the same page in looking at local control and the best way to provide services,'' Greuel said. ``What we have to do now is sit down and try to agree on one proposal that we can, hopefully, submit to voters.''

Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, agreed with Greuel's assessment, saying they have similar philosophies.

``We are trying to find common ground, and I think we will,'' Hertzberg said. ``We are trying to move the process along and come up with a real borough proposal, with real local control. We have had a series of meetings, and we are moving at a quick pace to look at the tough questions and get something on the ballot.''

Hertzberg said he will hold other meetings with city officials, including Mayor James Hahn.

Under the Hertzberg proposal, nine boroughs - each one run by five elected officials - would be created. The president of each borough would serve on a Board of Borough Presidents that would replace the City Council.

Greuel has not tied herself to any specific borough proposal; instead, she has suggested that voters be asked to approve the borough concept and create a panel that would have a year in which to develop specifics.

``We are not that far apart and are doing some drafting to incorporate both proposals,'' Greuel said. ``There are still some specifics to discuss, and we are making major progress.''

The City Council's Education and Neighborhood Committee has been holding a series of hearings on the borough concept and has heard general support for the idea.

Hertzberg said his interest focuses on presenting a plan to voters.

``This has to be the real deal,'' Hertzberg said. ``That's the only way I'm interested.''

The mayor has been noncommittal on the issue, with aides saying he would want to see a detailed study of any measure to be placed on the ballot.

Leaders of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment have acknowledged that, if such a measure were on the ballot, it would make it more difficult for them to persuade San Fernando Valley voters to secede.