Costa Mesa ballot measure advances
Backers of a proposal to require voter approval of major developments submit petitions to city clerk.
Once he had finished stacking folder after folder of voter signatures in the Costa Mesa city clerk’s office, Jay Humphrey brought out a measuring tape to see how high a pile he had.
“That is 10 inches of paper,” he said. “No, it’s 11.”
Behind him, star-shaped balloons imprinted with the U.S. f lag f loated toward the ceiling. Supporters had brought them along to signify the moment Monday when City Hall received thousands of signatures favoring a proposed ballot initiative that would require direct voter approval for major developments instead of just the City Council’s OK.
Humphrey, a former councilman, was one of the organizers of the petition created by Costa Mesa First. The political action committee has been gathering signatures from registered voters since July.
The signatures next go to the Orange County registrar of voters’ office for verification. The city clerk’s office submitted to the registrar 6,908 of the 6,916 signatures Costa Mesa First turned in — almost 2,000 more than the 4,995 verified ones needed to qualify the initiative for the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
The proposed law purports to “give the people of Costa Mesa control of their future” by providing them direct influence on proposed developments that would require changes to the city’s zoning code or general plan and meet at least one of a host of other requirements, including containing 40 or more residential units, add- ing 10,000 square feet or more of commercial space or generating more than 200 average daily vehicle trips.
“This is going to make sure the people who develop in Costa Mesa will live by the rules we have set in the city,” Humphrey said. “They will make choices and do things that will be most productive to the city of Costa Mesa.”
Mary Spadoni, another organizer for the group, said most of the signatures had been acquired in the last six weeks. “This was grassroots,” she said. “There was no money involved in this. Everything that was done was done by residents, volunteers.”
Opponents of Costa Mesa First’s proposal have labeled it an example of “ballot box voting,” arguing that it would stif le growth and deter businesses from expanding operations in town or moving there because they don’t want to face an election battle to do so.
“It’s bad for public safety,” said Mayor Steve Mensinger. “It’s bad for business. It’s bad for families, and it’s bad for those who believe in property rights.”
Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer said the city’s effort to revitalize motels with new residential development also would take a hit if Costa Mesa First’s proposal becomes law.
He pointed to the Costa Mesa Motor Inn project, which the council approved last year. It calls for demolishing the 1960s-era Harbor Boulevard motel and replacing it with apartments. The property has been an eyesore and scene of criminal activity, Righeimer said, and if Costa Mesa First’s law were in place now, replacing it would require voter approval and an election battle that developers aren’t eager to fight. It’s possible the project wouldn’t have been proposed at all, he added.
“A vote for this is a vote for us to keep the pimps, prostitutes and all the bad things we have,” Righeimer said. “Overall, for the city that’s going to be bad. We’re gonna have old, dilapidated, crime-ridden properties that we’re never going to get rid of.”
Humphrey said Costa Mesa First is preparing should its proposal be challenged in court. “Anybody can sue for any reason,” he said. “And if there is any legal backlash, we’ll take those steps as necessary.”