As reported in the Signal, the City of Santa Clarita is considering easing its rules for annexation after a resident of Stevenson Ranch addressed the city council regarding her desire for annexation to the City. SCVTalk obtained a copy of the City Council meeting from the local library and now provides this in-depth coverage.

A woman identifying herself as a resident of Stevenson Ranch addressed the city council during the public address portion of the meeting on Tuesday, January 9 th. After stating her name and welcoming Tim Ben Boydston to the City Council, she went on to say that although she is excited to hear that the West Ranch Town Council has decided to explore the idea of annexation, she felt it important to come to City Counil to express her strong desire for annexation. She went on to say that she doesn't have much faith in the West Ranch town council. She was dismayed that the town council election held last July was inaccessible for her & other residents, and she didn't feel they took into account the people they represent.

She continued: " I want people to represent me that live with me that are experiencing the good, the bad and the ugly of the Santa Clarita Valley. So I'm just looking forward to opening that dialog. If the WestRanchTown Council truly wanted to legitimately represent me and find out how I really felt about issues such as annexation, they would not have held an inaccessible election on a holiday weekend. " (For a full transcription of the her remarks, click here.)

At the close of the public comments, Ken Pulskamp addressed the issues she raised. He said, "A lot of people from that part of the valley have approached us and said "we're interested in becoming part of the City, or at least having a dialog about becoming part of the City." The standard answer in the past has been to collect 60% of the residents' signatures, but he said "I'm not sure that's the best answer anymore."

He went on to say "What I propose is that staff take a look at alternatives to the 60% so that we work in concert with the members of the West Ranch Town Council and other appropriate groups to see if there is some alternative to that where everybody feels comfortable that the majority of people want to be part of the City and that it is worth pursuing".

Tim Ben Boydston stated that since he has been appointed to the City Council, he has been approached by 3 or 4 people from the Stevenson Ranch & Westridge area regarding annexation. He advised them to come to the City and make their pitch. These residents then advised him they felt there was some resistance from the town council against annexation.

Mr. Boydston stated that he had a meeting with Supervisor Antonovich, and that Mr. Antonovich advised him that if the majority of people wanted to be annexed, he would be supportive of it.

Mr. Boydston went on to say that he was here when the City was incorporated, and that he feels that the best benefit of becoming a city is the ability to speak to your elected officials locally. He encouraged West Ranch residents to form their own committee and come and talk to the City. "This is America", he said. "If you're unhappy with somebody, speak out, get together, organize." He expressed his opinion that annexation would be a great thing for the citizens on that side of the freeway.

Bob Kellar noted that for the residents of the west side, "It is their decision." He went on to say that if the residents are interested in annexation, "Somehow or another, they have to get organized to the extend that they can make themselves come together as a unified group, because up to this point in time, the only people we've been talking to is the town council, and it's been four years, and we're still talking."

He noted that the City has processed 27 annexations to date and that no group of body of citizens that has annexed to the City has asked to withdraw or expressed dissatisfaction being annexed - either by showing up at a meeting or by mail. He ended by noting what a great accomplishment the incorporation of the City was to the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley as everyone has reaped the benefits.

Frank Ferry spoke, stating that "For whatever reason, unincorporated residents see me as being adversarial to the process. That's not true. We just don't represent them."

He noted the difficulties in effectively planning for city services with so many houses being built around the borders in the unincorporated area."In order to plan well for the valley, we need to have a plan. Be your own city, be part of our city, or be unincorporated, but make a decision."

Mayor Marsha MacLean finished the comment period by acknowledging that there was a consensus among City Council members for exploring the avenues that the City can take to ease the rules for annexation.

The City Council then continued with other business.

A copy of this City Council meeting is available on tape at your local library.