City, Valley Submit Secession Scenarios

The two camps haggling over Valley secession offered sharply divergent blueprints Friday for splitting up Los Angeles.

Valley VOTE, the group leading the breakaway bid, and the city of Los Angeles stumbled over the same sticking point that muddles many divorces: how to divide assets.

Proposing next Dec. 16 as the prospective new city’s birthday, Valley VOTE insisted that the fledgling city assume ownership of police, fire, animal services, streets, parks and library buildings and equipment from the beginning. But Los Angeles wants to keep those assets at least through the first few years after the breakup, and relinquish them only under certain conditions.

Both sides submitted their proposals Friday afternoon to the Local Agency Formation Commission, the county agency considering whether breakup should be put to voters citywide in 2002. LAFCO will use the dueling documents to draft terms for both parties to evaluate.

The plans mark the first time that Los Angeles, which has doggedly fought secession, has offered a blueprint showing how the city could be broken apart if voters approve a split. Six months ago, the city released a 925-page report contending that a breakup could wreak severe financial damage on both parties.

Tim McOsker, chief of staff for Mayor James K. Hahn and a lead negotiator for the city, accused Valley VOTE of “backpedaling” from a tentative deal on assets reached earlier this week.

But Valley VOTE President Jeff Brain said his group never agreed to a key condition proposed by Los Angeles negotiators: that if a new Valley city hires Los Angeles to provide municipal services, Los Angeles would keep whatever assets needed to do the job.

“We have repeatedly said at the table that we want the assets turned over at the start,” Brain said.

The city and Valley VOTE also disagree over regional utilities such as water and power systems and sewage treatment plants. The city intends to hold all those networks, but secessionists want a proportional share for the Valley. Valley VOTE also lays claim to Van Nuys Airport.

The breakup plan offered by Los Angeles also stipulates that the Valley would take on its share of outstanding citywide liabilities, such as construction debts or legal judgments.

“We would not transfer over assets until the city is satisfied that . . . the Valley will pay its share,” McOsker said.

Both parties agreed that should voters approve a breakup, a transition period will be necessary. Valley VOTE suggested that the period end on June 30, 2005, but the city favors a year or less.During that time, Los Angeles would continue to provide municipal services for the Valley.