Laguna Niguel Cityhood Foes Cancel Meetings

LAGUNA NIGUEL — The only group opposing cityhood for Laguna Niguel has canceled campaign appearances for the past two weeks, a lull following the release of a report predicting a $3.5-million budget surplus should voters approve incorporation next month.

A spokeswoman for Stop Cityhood, which had claimed that the area could not afford to become a city, confirmed Monday that the group has made no campaign appearances since Oct. 9.

“We’re not dead,” said Debi Larsen of Stop Cityhood, “We’re just researching (the report).”

Cityhood backers said Monday that the lack of opposition in the final weeks of the campaign boosts their chances for victory on Nov. 7.

Denny Harris, a member of the executive committee of Citizens for Cityhood, said that “without a doubt” pro-cityhood prospects had been enhanced by the opposition’s unexpected silence. The report is convincing skeptics that the finances of the proposed city would be sound, Harris said.

“We’ve always said that people would be won over if they got the correct information,” Harris said.

Larsen, who describes herself as a homemaker opposed to “rushing into cityhood,” said Monday that she is not convinced by the report, but that she and the other 24 Stop Cityhood members will continue to review it.

“We took some time to study the budget because we didn’t want to go out there and make fools of ourselves,” she said. “We have a meeting Tuesday night, and we’ll be deciding what to do then.”

The Oct. 9 report, by Christensen & Wallace Inc. of Oceanside, concluded that Laguna Niguel would operate comfortably in the black--and even amass a $3.5-million surplus in its first year--if the community becomes a city.

Harris said Monday that Citizens for Cityhood will continue to mount a strong campaign as the election nears. “We have many speaking engagements, including (talks) to homeowner associations,” Harris said. “We have not changed our schedule or slowed down one bit.”

Harris said that pro-cityhood workers and candidates for council seats in the proposed new city “are reporting at least 75% support from residents as they go door-to-door and talk to the voters.”

Laguna Niguel would become Orange County’s 29th city if more than 50% of those voting Nov. 7 approve the proposal. Cityhood would be effective Dec. 1.