YORBA LINDA : Measure on Council Districts to Be Drawn

In an effort to ensure equal representation of the east, west and central parts of town, the City Council voted to draft a ballot measure that would create council districts.

Under the plan, the city would be divided into three districts in which voters would choose their own council representatives. Two seats would be left to be chosen by the city at large.

In a 3-1 vote Tuesday, council members endorsed placing the proposal on the June, 1992, ballot and making it effective, if it is approved, for the general election in November of that year.

Councilman John M. Gullixson, who made the proposal, said he found “overwhelming” support for the idea when he campaigned for his seat last year.

“People on the west end of town felt like the council was dominated by people on the east and people on the east end of town felt like it was dominated by people on the west,” Gullixson told the council.

“People felt like there was not one particular councilman they could take their problems to,” he added.

Still, Councilman Irwin M. Fried criticized the plan and warned that it would bring “urban, big city politics” to Yorba Linda.

“In my view, councilmanic districts are a disaster,” he said. “You logroll, you trade, you make deals. Not for the city as a whole, but for your own district.”

Among Orange County cities, Santa Ana, Seal Beach and Newport Beach divide their councils into districts, but none has at-large seats. Gullixson said that having two at-large seats would prevent deep divisions in the council.

“The biggest complaint I have heard is the parochialism,” he said after the meeting. “This will eliminate the wheeling and dealing.”

Over the next 60 days, the city staff will attempt to draw up proposals for district boundaries using information from the county registrar of voters and the U.S. Census Bureau. In addition, the city might hire an independent consultant to help form the plan, said City Manager Arthur C. Simonian.

City officials also said that the plan could have an impact on council members who seek reelection, depending upon where the lines are drawn. Under the proposal, the east and west districts and an at-large seat would be on the November, 1992, general election ballot, and the central and other at-large seat would be up in November, 1994.

Fried, Gullixson and Councilman Henry W. Wedaa live in the center of the city, Councilman Gene Wisner in the west end and Mayor Mark Schwing in the east end. Fried, Wisner and Schwing face reelection next year.

Wisner said the plan would guarantee equal representation. He noted that from 1982 to 1988, four of five councilmen lived within half a mile of Fairmont Boulevard, which is at the center of town.

“I would like . . . better representation,” Wisner said.

Wedaa, who sits on the board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, was at an air quality meeting in Sacramento and missed the council meeting.