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Yorba Linda council OKs initiative
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
The city expects to ask a judge to rule on the measure's
validity.
By CINDY ARORA and AMY ANGELO
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The Orange County Register
YORBA LINDA — The City Council decided late Tuesday to
place the Right-to-Vote Initiative on the ballot and
to seek counsel from the courts.
If passed, the initiative would give voters more say in
major land-use issues.
“This initiative affects a sacred right – a
right to vote,” city attorney Sonia Carvalho said.
Carvalho had recommended that the council send the initiative
to the voters and ask a judge whether the measure is
legally sound. The council agreed to the recommendations
unanimously.
“The integrity of the process is really important,” Councilman
Ken Ryan said. “I believe citizens have the right
to vote.”
Proponents of the initiative waited more than 30 days before
City Clerk Kathie Mendoza announced Thursday that the petition
would not be certified for the ballot because, she said,
it did not comply with state requirements.
Mendoza argued that the petition did not include attached
information from the city’s general plan and zoning
code. Adding this information would help voters avoid confusion,
according to the written statement by Mendoza and Carvalho.
The proponents said they believe that Mendoza’s move
is nothing more than a stall tactic by the city.
“This is just a game of cat and mouse,” said
Ed Rakochy, a resident and supporter of the initiative. “They
don’t want voters to have the rights. So whatever excuses
they can come up with, they will.”
The petition drive was sparked by the Town Center project,
which would provide about 170,000 square feet of retail and
commercial space and 200 new housing units.
“You were elected to a commitment to low density,” resident
Tom Lynch told the council members Tuesday.
The petition was turned in to the city Aug. 5 with 8,647
signatures. The Orange County Registrar of Voters verified
6,065 of the signatures, enough to qualify the measure for
the ballot.
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