L.A. Will Offer Valley City Nearly All It Asks

Negotiators for the city of Los Angeles plan to offer the proposed new San Fernando Valley city nearly all of the parks, police stations and other assets that proponents had requested, according to a document released this week.

The asset list, to be presented to the City Council on Tuesday and used in negotiations with secession supporters, would turn over six police stations, 31 fire stations and 22 libraries to the new city if it is created by voters in November.

The city would also transfer 111 parks, three animal shelters and 13 municipal buildings to the new city, along with 26 maintenance yards and parking lots.

“On 90% of the issues, the city agrees with the Valley,” said former state Assemblyman Richard Katz, who serves on the board of Valley Vote and has been active in its effort to put a secession proposal on the ballot. “It’s the first time they’ve actually done that.”

Katz said his group learned recently that several additional parks, including the popular Hansen Dam recreation center and the Sepulveda Basin area, were not owned by the city, and so could not be transferred.

But, he said, the new city could lease them from the federal government and other owners.

Still in dispute are four fire stations near the proposed new city’s border with Los Angeles. Those fire stations, although in the Valley, were not offered because they service neighborhoods that would remain in Los Angeles.

Katz said the status of those fire stations would be decided as negotiations continue between the two sides. He suggested that the proposed Valley city take ownership of them but agree to service Los Angeles residents in case of fire.

Meanwhile, state Controller Kathleen Connell is expected on Monday to release her review of the financial viability of proposed Valley and harbor area cities.