Bill to Derail Marina del Rey Cityhood OKd

By a narrow margin the Senate approved and sent to Gov. George Deukmejian on Friday a bill aimed at derailing the 1-year-old campaign to make Marina del Rey a city. Deukmejian has not taken a position on the bill.

The 21-9 vote, the exact majority required, climaxed a year of intense lobbying by marina landlords who oppose cityhood for the county-owned marina because they fear rent controls would be imposed.

Although the cityhood campaign was launched a year ago, supporters have waited until final action on the bill to file application petitions with the Los Angeles Local Agency Formation Commission, which must determine the economic feasibility of cityhood.

Would Be Put to Vote

If the commission found cityhood was feasible, the 10,000 marina residents, almost all of whom are renters, would then vote on cityhood.

But under the bill passed Friday, any cityhood petitions filed after Feb. 15 would be subject to an additional hurdle.

After that date, the Board of Supervisors could derail a cityhood drive in areas such as the marina, where more than 50% of the area is publicly owned, merely by objecting to the submission of cityhood petitions to the local agency formation commission.

The 804-acre marina is owned by the county, which leases land for apartments, restaurants and marinas. The county earns $12 million a year from these leases.

County Concerned Over Revenues

The county, which supports the legislation, has expressed fears that a city would impose rent controls and other regulations, which would limit county revenues.

Hy Tucker, president of Marina del Rey Cityhood Inc., said he was still hopeful that cityhood could be achieved.

Tucker said that enough pro-cityhood signatures have been collected and can be submitted before the Feb. 15 cutoff date.

However, cityhood proponents said the bill would hamper their ability to apply again for cityhood if they fail in their attempt this time.

The way was cleared for passage in the Senate when the bill’s author, Sen. Joseph B. Montoya (D-Whittier), abandoned plans to include more hurdles for cityhood.

Times staff writer James Rainey contributed to this story.