Santa Clarita Proposes Area Council on Issues : Communities: Officials will be invited to a meeting Jan. 22. The city’s sphere of influence plan has strained relations.

Santa Clarita city officials, concerned over friction with nearby communities, are trying to draw together representatives to discuss regional issues.

Santa Clarita Councilwoman Jan Heidt proposed the formation of an areawide council, or round-table, made up of representatives from at least 11 unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, including Castaic, Stevenson Ranch and Agua Dulce. The City Council unanimously ratified Heidt’s idea Tuesday, agreeing to invite representatives of the outlying areas to a meeting Jan. 22.

“Will this meeting be in Madrid or Washington?” joked Mayor Carl Boyer, referring to the contentious Mideast peace talks.

The meeting will be at the Ranch Inn in Santa Clarita.

Relations with the outlying communities have been strained since the city earlier this fall proposed including some of them in its sphere of influence.

Many residents of the unincorporated areas viewed the sphere request as the first step toward annexation. But Santa Clarita officials have said the sphere will merely give the city a stronger voice in county planning matters that affect it.

Among the regional issues that Heidt suggested could be discussed at the round-table are the locations of a proposed general-aviation airport and of a county landfill. But she emphasized that the city will not set the agenda or run the meetings.

“It’s not going to be us up here and them down there,” said Heidt, referring to the council’s position on the dais in City Hall.

Many of the communities either have or are in the process of forming town councils to represent their concerns to the County Board of Supervisors, and community leaders reacted positively Wednesday to the city’s effort.

“When I first heard about the idea, I wondered what Jan Heidt’s motives were, but if the idea is to deal with issues that transcend political boundaries, like traffic congestion and the dump, then I’m all for it,” said Richard Rioux, president of the Stevenson Ranch Master Homeowners Assn.

“It’s absolutely essential to have communication between neighbors,” agreed Peggy Freeman, chairman of the Castaic Town Council Formation Committee.

But Santa Clarita resident Allan Cameron warned the council that some groups may spring up, claiming to represent residents to gain a seat at the round-table discussions.

“It’s a very good idea to reach out and touch each other,” Cameron said. “But don’t confuse a group of dissidents with legitimate government . . . and recognize phony little groups that don’t mean anything.”