SANTA CLARITA / ANTELOPE VALLEY : County Residents Petition for Annexation to Santa Clarita

Some 920 Los Angeles County residents north of the Saugus community have petitioned the Santa Clarita City Council to have their area become part of the city of Santa Clarita.

Organizers of the effort collected signatures showing about 61% of the 1,500 households in the neighborhood--along Seco Canyon Road, north of Copper Hill Drive--favor annexation, enough to demonstrate community support for the move.

Supporters said annexation into Santa Clarita will provide them with better police and fire services and allow the residents greater input into government decisions.

It would also lower their tax bills a bit. City residents do not pay the 5% utility tax assessed to those in unincorporated county areas.

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“To become residents of the city means we would finally receive the benefits and services provided by Santa Clarita,” said resident Louis Emmer.

“We really want an identity. Residents want to become a part of the community and we’re missing out on that opportunity now.”

City officials generally welcome annexations of adjoining areas, but they ask that a petition drive be held before they get involved.

“We don’t want to force anybody,” said city public information officer Gail Foy. “They have to make the first move.”

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The formal annexation will probably take about two years, said Don Williams, city annexation coordinator.

“The next step is for (city) staff to look at the area to determine what would be a logical boundary for the city to extend to,” Williams said.

The annexation request and a city review of the financial impact of the annexation will go before the City Council in 60 to 90 days.

If approved by the council, the request will then be forwarded to the county Local Agency Formation Commission for final approval.

LAFCO officials have approved all 10 of Santa Clarita’s annexation requests since 1987.