Bernson Asks Agoura Hills to Withdraw Vote Charges

City council members from one town usually do not get the chance to draw up resolutions for another town’s city council.

But Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson is trying to do just that in the City of Agoura Hills.

Bernson said Wednesday that he has asked the Agoura Hills City Council to issue a formal resolution that apologizes for falsely accusing him of conflict of interest in a land-planning dispute.

Not only that, Bernson wants the resolution issued by Feb. 5--and he wants it unanimously approved by the five-member Agoura Hills council.

Bernson’s unhappiness stems from a yearlong campaign by Agoura Hills to overturn a Jan. 9, 1985, decision by the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission that created a “sphere of influence” for Agoura Hills.

Boundaries Followed

Spheres of influence are state-mandated planning areas intended to reflect the “probable ultimate physical boundaries” of cities. The county commission vote established a sphere that basically follows the boundaries of eight-square-mile Agoura Hills.

Agoura Hills officials had hoped for a larger sphere of influence, however, and they sued to overturn the action. They said the vote was invalid because two commissioners--Bernson and county Supervisor Mike Antonovich--had received campaign contributions from landowners in the potential sphere area.

Agoura Hills contended that the pair’s voting violated a Jan. 1, 1985, state law that requires commissioners to abstain from voting if they have received contributions of $250 or more from people who might have a financial interest in the outcome of a commission action.

Revote Coming

Last month, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge sided with Agoura Hills and ruled that another vote on the sphere issue should be taken.

But Bernson said Wednesday that he was inaccurately accused by Agoura Hills. He said he did not vote on the Agoura Hills issue and was not even present at the Jan. 9, 1985, commission meeting at which the vote was taken.

Bernson, who represents the northern San Fernando Valley on the Los Angeles City Council, predicted that the Agoura Hills City Council will readily approve his proposed resolution. He said Agoura Hills Councilman Ernest Dynda has already called him to apologize.

“It’s simply a matter of accuracy. I’d anticipate they’d do the right thing,” Bernson said.

Michael W. Huse, Agoura Hills city manager, said his city will check Bernson’s claim before taking any action. “If we did err, we’ll apologize,” he said.

Huse said he was surprised that Bernson waited a year to complain about Agoura Hills’ conflict-of-interest charges.

Staff members of the Local Agency Formation Commission were unavailable for comment Wednesday. Huse said the panel is scheduled to vote again Feb. 12 on the Agoura Hills sphere of influence.