Montalvo Voters Petition Against Annexation

A group of Montalvo residents opposing the city of Ventura’s plan to annex their neighborhood has collected enough signatures to require the City Council either to let the residents vote on the matter or ask county planners to alter the plan’s boundaries, officials said Saturday.

Of the 69 registered voters living on properties involved in the proposed reorganization, written protests were received from 24, or 35%, Community Development Director Everett Millais said in a memorandum Friday.

Mayor Greg Carson said Saturday that city officials probably will recommend that the City Council send the proposal back to the Local Agency Formation Commission, which approved the annexation in March.

LAFCO then could change the boundaries of the so-called Wittenberg annexation to exclude enough of the opposing properties to reduce opposition to 25% and allow the City Council to approve the annexation by itself.

The area the city proposes to annex includes two Saticoy parcels and the 47 Montalvo residences, roughly bordered by Victoria Avenue, Moon Drive and Katherine Avenue.

LAFCO approved the annexation area in March, Executive Officer Bob Braitman said.

The City Council also has the option of holding an annexation election among affected residents, Carson said.

Annexation opponents argue that their taxes and utility fees--including gas, electricity, telephone and cable TV--will increase if they join the city, Braitman said.

But city residents do not have to pay a 70% surcharge levied on water customers who live outside the city, Braitman said.

Dora Kindred, a Montalvo resident for more than 40 years who favors annexation, said of the water surcharge versus the utility fees: “Over a period of time, it’s virtually the same.”

The patchwork that would result without annexation would be ridiculous, Kindred said. “You have to change to make progress. Why pay for duplication of services? It would be simpler if all the city was annexed.”

Carson said many Montalvo residents want to be part of the city. “They would get police and fire protection and also the opportunity to vote,” he said.