Politics & Government
Los Alamitos Annexes 8 Long Beach Parcels
The City Council action will erase a boundary snafu that forced several homeowners to pay property taxes in two different counties.
Los Alamitos took control of eight Long Beach parcels Monday night, ending years of confusion about county boundaries and service jurisdictions.
Most of the tentative boundary change involves unoccupied plots along a flood control channel and a rock jetty. The annexation includes the San Gabriel River and Coyote Creek bike trails and aligns the boundary between the Los Angeles and Orange counties by the 605 Freeway and San Gabriel River.
It also ends dual county citizenship for residents of five homes along Toland Avenue in Los Alamitos. Because the homes straddle the county line, they are technically part of both cities. After the annexation, their Long Beach backyards will be a part of Los Alamitos, and the homeowners will no longer have to pay property taxes in both counties.
Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
At Monday's City Council meeting, several affected residents asked about possible property tax increases and paperwork.
“Who will change our grant deeds?” resident Bill Yi asked.
Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Community Development Director Steven Mendoza said the city would waive all fees involved with transferring deeds and titles, and promised city staff would help residents through the process.
“We’re going to find a way to make it a wonderful transition for you,” Stephens said.
Los Alamitos resident Pam Rosales told the council she was worried her property taxes would go up. But Mendoza said nothing would change.
“Tax increases are triggered by a change of ownership or new construction," he said. "If none of that occurs ... there will be no increase to the property taxes.”
The plans for the annexation have been in the works for more than a year, and have involved officials from both cities and counties. According to Los Alamitos City Manager Jeff Stewart, the boundary change will become official in two weeks when the council is expected to give final approval to the proposal.
The initial reading of the measure passed Monday on a 4-0 vote, with Councilman Warren Kusumoto abstaining because he lives in the affected area.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
