LAGUNA HILLS : Boundary Changes Stall Cityhood Plan

Plans to place the incorporation of Laguna Hills on the November ballot were threatened last week when county officials announced that legal and financial questions remain.

James Colangelo, executive director of the Local Agency Formation Commission, the county group that oversees cityhood proposals, said he would ask for a postponement of next week’s scheduled hearing on Laguna Hills until June 20.

“We’re still lacking some key information at this point,” Colangelo said. “We wrote a letter informing the Laguna Hills cityhood proponents in late April that we needed further information on their financial study.”

A change in the proposed boundaries for the city has not been followed up with updated financial reports on their impact to the county and proposed city, Colangelo said. In addition, Colangelo said he is waiting for a ruling from county counsel on the legality of the new boundaries.

Since a failed cityhood try last year, members of the Citizens to Save Laguna Hills have redrawn the boundaries of their proposed city. First, they excluded Leisure World after election results showed residents of the retirement community overwhelmingly oppose cityhood. Most recently, portions of Aliso Viejo, Iglesia Park and the Forbes Ranch area at the intersection of El Toro Road and Moulton Parkway were excluded after objections were raised by the Mission Viejo Co. and Leisure World’s Golden Rain Foundation.

If LAFCO approves the redrawn boundaries at its hearing June 20, the incorporation of Laguna Hills would be put to a popular vote in November. Any other delays, however, would push the vote back to March, Colangelo said.

“The postponement does put a spot on November’s ballot in jeopardy, but they can still make it, unless we receive an appeal of our ruling,” Colangelo said. After any LAFCO ruling, there is a 30-day period during which anyone can file an appeal for a $750 charge, Colangelo said.

Ellen Martin of the cityhood group said she remains optimistic.

“I’m confident we’ll be able to work through these issues and make the November ballot,” Martin said.