City of Santa Clarita
Annexation Considerations
ADVANTAGES
Accessible Local Government
- The City provides accessible government with local representation. Five Councilmembers are elected at-large so they all represent you. There is essentially one Councilmember for every 34,000 residents. The County’s Fifth District Supervisor (Mike Antonovich) represents nearly 2 million people in twenty-three cities and portions of the City of Los Angeles.
- City Hall is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. There is no need to drive to downtown Los Angeles for local civic issues and services.
- All City Council and Planning Commission meetings are conducted during the evening and on live television. The County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission meet during the day at the County offices in downtown Los Angeles.
Higher Standard of Police Protection / Public Safety
- More police protection is provided in the City than in the County. During the day and in the evening, the City provides substantially more police officers. The following table compares the number of police officers provided by the City and County and the square miles that each patrols:
Day Evening
- Traffic enforcement on County roads is provided by the CHP. Typically, a single CHP officer is dedicated to traffic enforcement for the entire region.
- The City provides extensive “youth-at-risk” programs addressing gang prevention and drug abuse.
Lower Annual Expenses
- Annexation to the City will result in lower annual expenses due to the elimination of the County’s 5% utility users tax on gas, electric and telephone bills. The elimination of this tax more than compensates for new/increased fees required by the City. A typical residence can save about $130 annually, as indicated in the following table:
Streetlight Maintenance Stormwater Utility User Tax LMD Fee Total
- There would be no change to property and sales taxes. The City retains the same property and sales tax rates as in the County.
City Services
- Overall street maintenance is superior: potholes are repaired and streets are resurfaced more frequently, and the hours that construction may take place are regulated (avoiding peak traffic hours). City residents can call or stop by City Hall to discuss street repairs and maintenance.
- Residents receive improved, full service refuse collection including the following additional services:
- Unlimited, weekly recycling
- Curbside telephone book recycling
- Weekly yard trimmings recycling
- On-call curbside used oil collection
- Curbside Christmas tree recycling
- Christmas tree mulch/compost give away
- Reduced heavy truck traffic on residential streets (lower cost for repairs, less neighborhood disruption/noise, and increased safety)
- The City’s stormwater program provides for catch basin cleaning on your street a minimum of once a year, thereby reducing trash, debris, and potential flooding in your neighborhood.
- The City provides bi-weekly street sweeping (weekly in Fall), instead of monthly.
- The City has strong local ordinances to insure that the City’s environment is preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. This includes oak tree preservation, hillside protection, and street tree/median landscape maintenance, among others.
Recreation
- A wide variety of recreation programs are available for youth and adults. Three new neighborhood parks, 12 miles of picturesque trails, a new sports complex with indoor basketball courts, racquetball courts, and a skate park, and a state-of-the-art aquatics complex have been built since incorporation.
Other Advantages
- The City permits residents to operate businesses out of their homes provided they do not disturb their neighbors; the County does not allow this. There are no local business license fees.
- The City monitors and participates in the review process for large development projects outside of the City such as Newhall Ranch, Tesoro del Valle, and Westridge.
- Tax dollars are spent locally which results in highly visible public works projects such as new parks, trails, and road improvements.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
- School district boundaries would not change.
- Fire protection, library, and health services would continue to be administered by the County and would not change.
- Homeowners association fees for services such as the maintenance of common landscaped areas would not change.
- Mello-Roos Community Facilities District assessments would not change.
For further information, or updates on specific annexations you are welcome to call the City’s Planning Division at (661) 255-4330.
City of Santa Clarita
Annexation Process
Annexation is the term used to describe the process where unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County become part of the city of Santa Clarita. This is a lengthy process that the City will consider at the request of property owners. The major steps involved with the annexation process are outlined here. The City Planning Commission, City Council, County Board of Supervisors and the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of Los Angeles County all play key roles in various points in the process.
Step 1: Boundary Determination
This step determines which properties will be included in the annexation. City staff works with residents and property owners to determine an appropriate annexation boundary.
- City staff fields initial inquiry regarding interest in annexation
- residents form Citizen Support Group.
- City staff and residents work with residents/property owners to determine final boundary.
- Residents circulate petition gather the consent of a minimum of 60% of property owners.
Step 2: Community Meeting
This step involves holding a community meeting to discuss all aspects of the annexation process with property owners. Residents are invited to meet with City representatives from the various departments (Sheriffs, Planning Building & Safety, etc.)Step 3: Landscape Maintenance District (if needed)
This step involves holding an election of all property owners within the annexation area to accept the City's landscape maintenance district fees. This is a requirement of state law and City Council.
- Property owners within the annexation boundaries must vote to adopt the City's landscape maintenance district fees for their properties.
- City Council adopts fee.
- Vote must occur prior to City Council action on the LAFCO application.
Step 4: Prezone
This step involves placing a zoning designation on the properties that are proposed for annexation. The City has given General Plan designations for all properties within the Santa Clarita Valley; however, it has not given zoning designations for any properties outside of the City. The prezone is not effective until after the annexation has received its final approvals. Planning Commission and CIty Council approval are required.
- City staff/residents note existing county zoning.
- City staff/residents review City's General Plan for land use designation.
- City Council chooses appropriate City zone classification for annexation site based on General Plan.
Step 5: LAFCO Application
LAFCO is a government agency comprised of representatives from cities, special districts and Los Angeles County. LAFCO makes the ultimate decision on whether property is annexed to a city. City Council action and LAFCO approval are required.
- City Council files a formal application with LAFCO to request annexation.
Step 6: Tax Transfer
State law requires cities and counties to negotiate the transfer of all property taxes when cities annex properties. City Council and County Board of Supervisors approval are required.
- City and County Negotiate property tax transfer. ($10 million is benchmark. Total property taxes under this amount are transferred by a formula. Over this amount may be negotiated).
Step 7: LAFCO Protest Hearing
This step allows registered voters and property owners within pending annexations to protest the entire annexation. ALFCO holds a public hearing.
- Final opportunity for registered voters and property owners to protest annexation.
criteria for suspending or terminating an annexation:
- If 0% to 15% of property owners or registered voters protest, annexation proceeds as usual
- If 15% to 50% protest, then an election determines the annexation outcome
- If 50% + protest, then annexation must be suspended for at least one year
- This hearing may be waived if all property owners are in agreement and sign a waiver prior to LAFCO application.
Step 8: Certificate of Completion
This is the final step in the annexation process and after the Certificate of Completion is filed the annexation is finished.
- LAFCO distributes to affected agencies.
- City distributes notice that the annexation is completed to all utilities, City departments and local agencies.
- Responsibilities for services such as planning and building permits, roadway maintenance, landscape maintenance districts, and stormwater facility maintenance transfer from the County to the City.
For further information, or updates on specific annexations you are welcome to call the City's Planning Division at (661) 255 4330.
Revised 2/15/05
