NEW CITIES

Five Los Angeles County communities have become cities in the past decade. Three incorporation drives are pending, with a vote scheduled Nov. 3 in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Last Cities Incorporated

West Hollywood Date: 10/29/84 Size: 1.9 sq. mi. Pop.: 37,985

Agoura Hills Date: 12/8/82 Size: 7.97 sq. mi. Pop.: 13,472

Westlake Village Date: 12/11/81 Size: 5.43 sq. mi. Pop.: 7,261

La Habra Heights Date: 12/4/78 Size: 6.39 sq. mi. Pop.: 6,116

Lancaster Date: 11/22/77 Size: 55.70 sq. mi. Pop.: 54,865

Steps to Incorporation: 1) 25% of the registered voters or landowners in an area request cityhood in petitions to the Local Agency Formation Commission, a body independent of the city and county, which oversees the establishment of new cities and boundary changes to old ones. 2) The LAFCO staff studies factors such as whether the new city would be economically viable. 3) LAFCO holds a hearing, then votes to approve, deny or modify the proposal. 4) Once LAFCO gives its approval, only written protest by 50% of the area’s voters can block a cityhood referendum. The county Board of Supervisors schedules the referendum in the area. 5) The area becomes a city if the measure is passed by a majority vote.

Five Incorporation Drives That Failed:

Community Date Reason Marina del Rey 3/26/86 Application denied by LAFCO Diamond Bar 11/8/83 Defeated in election Hacienda Heights 8/31/82 Disqualified because of forged signatures Quartz Hill 10/8/80 Application denied by LAFCO Malibu 11/2/76 Defeated in election

Pending Cityhood Proposals:

Area Community Population (sq. mi.) Status Diamond Bar 36,717 15 New petition drive underway Santa Clarita 134,370 39.4 Referendum Nov. 3 Calabasas 20,871 13.9 Approved by LAFCO Aug. 26, although boundaries under review