Valley VOTE is a diverse, Valley-wide coalition of San Fernando Valley residents, educators, business leaders, community activists and organizations who support a LAFCO study (Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission) on the issue of creating an independent Valley City.

Susan Golding, Chair And Commission Members
Commission on Local Governance
1400 Tenth Street Room 206
Sacramento, CA 95812

March 8, 1999

Re: Commission Testimony

Dear Chair and Commission Members:

Valley VOTE is a coalition of virtually every homeowner and business group in the San Fernando Valley representing the nearly 1.4 million residents and covering 222 square miles.

San Fernando Valley residents are discontent with their level of representation in the City of Los Angeles and have historically been denied their fair share of public services. For this reason, the residents of the San Fernando Valley are following the legal process to explore the feasibility and benefits of becoming their own City. The first step in the process was to collect signatures on a petition from 25% of the total registered voters. In the Valley’s case this would be 131,700 signatures. On December 9, 1998, residents of the Valley handed in 202,514 signatures. We are currently waiting for the verification of signatures which is expected to be completed in mid March, and then we will be entering the LAFCO Study process.

The Mission Statement of Valley VOTE is as follows; Valley VOTE is a diverse Valley-wide coalition of San Fernando Valley residents, educators, business leaders, community activists and organizations who support the LAFCO study on the issue of creating an independent Valley City.

Valley VOTE is following state law governing this process. To our knowledge we are the first organization in over 90 years to attempt to create our own city by detaching from an existing city, and the first under the current set of laws. As such we have real life experience with the process and the problems therein.

This opportunity for testimony allows but only a briefing on very serious and important issues that warrant much greater in depth discussion and background. Additionally, we are at the very beginning of this process and while we have already been able to identify numerous problems with the process, we know there are likely many more which we have not yet uncovered, but which will uncover themselves as we proceed further. Therefore, we ask to have the ability provide additional information to your commission as the process unfolds in a more in depth manner.

Attached is a list of some of the issues we have identified for your consideration. More than any point I would ask you and the members of the commission to remember is the fundamental right of the Citizens involved in the processes you are reviewing. The right of the Citizens to petition, the right of the citizens to define their own government, and even the right of the Citizens to change their own government when government fails to respond or meet their needs. There are interests within existing structures or beauracracies that in the end are resistant to change or reform. And while sometimes some may not like, understand or agree with change and going through the process can be painful, it is the peoples government.

he declaration of independence says it best; … "governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." This is further supported by both the U.S. and California Constitutions which provide Citizens with the right to petition their government for redress of Grievances.

Therefore, whether its an unincorporated part of a county wishing to improve its services, or a discontented portion of an existing city wishing to improve their quality of life, we urge you to improve the processes so that they work for the citizens who’s government it is in the first place. Thomas Jefferson in 1814 said "No government can be maintained without the principle of fear as well as duty. Good men will obey the later, but bad ones the former only. If our government ever fails, it will be from this weakness."

Thank you for your valuable time, consideration and interest.

Sincerely, Jeff Brain President

LAFCO Comments

Opening Comments

Only Group going through process
Process is not complete – many gaps
Only expressly aware of what we’ve experienced to date
Will submit written documentation
Liason with Commission on ongoing basis
Prospect moving forward – more incorporations – local control

Legal Issues

Petition Drive

25% threshold
Election code applies
Verifying signatures process
Opportunity to verify work before 15 day supplemental
15 day supplemental period start date
No limit to turn in after 15 day period

LAFCO Process

No Deadlines
Procedures for dividing assets
Division of Water rights
Retribution
number of council members
Joint power agreements
Charter on the ballot
Who gets to vote?

Funding Issues

LAFCO Funding
LAFCO no ability to demand
County and City should be responsible

Fees

Our experiences
ACLU Letters -
Signature Verification Fee
Application Fee
Study Fee

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