Residents Assess Impact of Incorporation : Government: Panel is exploring combined cityhood for 9 foothill communities. County’s bankruptcy, proposed El Toro airport spurred move.

Residents of the nine foothill communities considering incorporation expressed reservations and optimism about the plan Saturday, questioning leaders about cost, bureaucracy and political power during the first public hearing on the effort.

More than 100 residents met with the Foothill Communities Incorporation Committee, which is exploring cityhood partly in an attempt to avert major service cuts that may result from the county’s financial crisis.

“We are looking for any alternative that will provide us with the voice for local control because we are convinced that the current status of working with the county is totally dysfunctional,” said Steve Coffey, co-chairman of Coto De Caza’s Citizen’s Advisory Council.

But others, still uncertain that they want to form the county’s 32nd city, were concerned about adding another layer of government to their lives and questioned the cost and pace of the incorporation effort.

Committee members assured residents that cityhood would translate into greater efficiency, but one Rancho Santa Margarita resident disagreed.

“You say having a new bureaucracy will get things done, but bureaucracy is bureaucracy,” said Rand Tessler of Rancho Santa Margarita. “You say you will get this (incorporation) done in 13 months. Well, good luck.”

In the last days of January, residents formed the 35-member Foothill Communities Incorporation Committee to discuss cityhood in the hope of averting major cuts in services that could result from the county’s financial crisis.

They also are seeking a more powerful voice in the planned conversion of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station to a commercial airport.

The nine communities are Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Trabuco Canyon, Rancho Santa Margarita, Dove Canyon, Coto de Caza, Robinson Ranch, Rancho Cielo and Trabuco Highlands. About 40,000 people live in those areas.

Committee members must apply for incorporation through the Local Agency Formation Commission, which reviews applications for cityhood. Once a $5,000 processing fee and a petition signed by 25% of the area’s registered voters are submitted, the committee must produce a financial forecast to help determine available revenue to pay for community services.

Committee members, who are trying to achieve cityhood by July, 1996, said they could not answer all fiscal questions because they have not yet received a financial forecast. But they did address most of the residents’ concerns.

“We are not going to add another layer of government, we are going to replace a level of government,” said committee member Michelle Lamb of Rancho Santa Margarita. “It will be local-access government as opposed to distant, inaccessible government.”

Residents cited a need for better police protection and emergency services, more parks and recreational activities and better maintained streets as motivation for the cityhood drive. But the underlying issue, most said, was the desire to govern themselves.

Some who supported incorporation were concerned that the process was moving too quickly, but board members pointed out the advantages to moving as quickly--but as carefully--as possible.

“The two events that have created a sense of urgency are the bankruptcy and, more importantly, the airport,” said Ron Greek, committee chairman. “The (U.S.) Department of Defense will recognize us as soon as we are incorporated.”

As a city, the communities could take advantage of privatization and minimize costs, he added.

The committee plans to hold at least nine more meetings, one in each of the represented communities. The next meeting is expected within 30 days.