A new citizens committee has been formed to oppose Los Alamitos annexation of the Rossmoor Shopping Village corner and the Rossmoor Homeowners Association has also come out against the move by Los Al.
With the City Of Los Alamitos Planning Commission approving plans for the annexation of the Rossmoor Shopping Village, more opposition to the move is becoming evident in the unincorporated community of Rossmoor.
A citizen committee, going by the name Rossmoor Preservation Committee, is just getting started. Their web site is:
http://rossmoorpreservationcommittee.com/
This group is unaffiliated with either the Rossmoor Homeowners Association or the Rossmoor Community Services District. While the new group has not yet established a separate legal entity, such as an official non-profit organization, they have already managed to get on KOCE TV, the local Public Broadcasting System channel.
The web site states “The RPC is dedicated to preserving the unique character of Rossmoor, including retaining Rossmoor Shopping Village and the adjacent parcels, and enhancing and improving the excellent quality of life for our residents.”
One of the immediate goals is to inform residents and business operators in the corner area targeted for annexation by Los Alamitos. Only those within the affected area will have a chance to impact the outcome. But, to exert their influence, they first must express opposition to the annexation.
If no opposition is presented to the Local Agency Formation Commission, LAFCO, the annexation could be approved. Because the area in question is so small, a vote approving annexation is not required.
If annexation is approved by LAFCO, and the businesses and apartment residents are not aware of it, they could be in for a rude surprise when they get their next utility bills. The City of Los Alamitos imposes a 6% utility tax on all properties within the city. Thus, all residents and businesses annexed by Los Al will immediately get a 6% increase in their utility bills.
In addition to the newly formed Rossmoor Preservation Committee, the Rossmoor Homeowners Association, also a non governmental entity, expressed their formal opposition to the annexation.
Saying the annexation “will permanently damage the interests of the community of Rossmoor,” the homeowners association at their September meeting officially adopted a resolution stating that they are “unequivocally opposed to the action of the City of Los Alamitos and requests that all such action cease.”
The annexation opposition by the Rossmoor Preservation Committee and the Rossmoor Homeowners Association comes in the same month when the Rossmoor Community Services District also formally adopted a resolution of opposition. The RCSD Board of Directors is the one and only government entity elected by a vote of Rossmoor register voters and only Rossmoor voters.
Even though all of these groups have come out against the annexation, the residents of Rossmoor outside the annexation area will not have any chance to vote on the issue. Once Los Alamitos officially files the annexation request, unless the business operators and/or apartment residents express their opposition through the LAFCO process, annexation could be approved with no canvass of public opinion.
The City of Los Alamitos has not yet officially approved making the formal request for annexation. But, at least two of the five council members have previously expressed strong support for the idea. Although nothing is sure until a City Council vote is taken, many local residents believe a resolution approving the annexation application would be approved by the City of Los Alamitos.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading …
About Dolores Barr, Publisher
Dolores Barr has lived in Rossmoor since 1992 and has created this site to provide local news for the people of Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Rossmoor, Leisure World, Sunset Beach, and Surfside, California. My husband and I have had two students graduate from the Los Alamitos Unified School District and currently our Grandson, Ricky Apodaca, grade 3 at Weaver Elementary, is actively involved in youth baseball through LAYB and youth football through FNL.
In 
