NORTH TUSTIN : Cityhood Backers Push for Signatures

Incorporation proponents now hope to gather sufficient signatures by the end of the year to petition for cityhood.

So far, the group has gathered about 2,000 signatures and hopes to gather 6,000 to give itself a cushion, said Bruce Nestande, former county supervisor and chairman of Citizens for More Local Control, the group pushing for incorporation. In addition, the group must raise about $10,000 for a detailed feasibility study.

“It’s pure drudgery. It’s a lot of work,” Nestande said of the group’s efforts. “But we’re on target.”

The lack of shopping centers, the traditional place to gather signatures, makes the group’s work more difficult. The lack of retail centers adds another twist to the incorporation scenario as well. The 16-square-mile area has only one business to raise retail taxes: a restaurant.

According to a study, the new city would operate at a deficit unless voters simultaneously approve a utility users tax of 3% to 4%.

Nestande says that tax is a small price to pay for self-determination and local control.

But critics say many issues have not been addressed.

“The fact is, nobody knows what (the tax) will be, and people are being asked to sign petitions without the benefit of knowing the bottom line,” said Phyllis Spivey, a vocal critic of incorporation.

Spivey said the initial study did not include a capital improvement program or provide adequate amounts for liability insurance or other requirements. For example, state law would require the city to develop a housing plan to provide for the construction of low-income housing. Ironically, one reason given for incorporation is to avoid the development of high-density development commonly associated with low-income projects.