The community seems to be
very supportive of this idea,” he said. If the necessary signatures
are collected quickly, and the council approves them, the measure
could go to a special election as early as Aug. 7.
Council Members Rae Hanstad and Steve Olsen both feel it is too early
to determine whether they would vote to adopt the ordinance or hold
a special election.
“I’m waiting to see what alternatives the city attorney
comes back with,” said Olsen.
At a special meeting next Tuesday, city attorney Monte Widders will
present council members with a report that compares ordinances related
to the regulation of chain stores in various cities.
City staff has also prepared
a revised temporary urgency ordinance, to prevent chain stores from
opening downtown until a more comprehensive carefully researched ordinance
is in place.
The moratorium that would would temporarily prohibit the issuance
of building permits to chain retail and restaurant establishments
within the city was voted down on April 10. The vote, which required
the approval of four out five council members had the support of Mayor
Carol Smith, along with Hanstad, and Olsen, and was rejected by Council
Member Joe DeVito. Sue Horgan, with the deciding vote, was not present
at the meeting.
The temporary moratorium
will have a second chance for approval at Tuesday’s meeting,
with all council members attending.
City manager Jere Kersnar said that the revised temporary moratorium
would apply to any chain establishment within the city limits of Ojai,
and defines formula retail and restaurant establishments as businesses
with various standardized features.
Horgan said that having read the report, she would be inclined to
vote in favor of the temporary moratorium on Tuesday, but needs more
time to consider Neufeld’s proposed initiatives.
Hanstad said that though she supports the concept of Neufeld’s
initiatives, she thinks the city could enact a similar ordinance more
quickly than waiting for Neufeld’s proposal to go through the
initiative process.
Horgan said that before passing a permanent ordinance she would want
to be sure that the council studied all the ramifications of such
an ordinance including unintended consequences.
Hanstad added that while Neufeld’s initiative applies to the
entire area within the city limits, she believes applying the ordinance
to a specific historic area within the city would increase its legal
viability.
DeVito agreed that the city could come up with an appropriate ordinance
by blending Neufeld’s initiatives with those of council members
for a collaborative “win-win” situation.
In regards to the temporary moratorium he said he had no problem with
regulating formula retail but wanted to wait to hear all sides of
the argument.
“If we’re creating an ordinance just to prevent Subway
from coming in, we’re doing it for the wrong reason,”
he said.
Neufeld said that he would welcome collaboration from the city.
“If we wait to go through the initiative process it could take
until this fall to get it on the ballot,” he said.
The special meeting will be on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the City Hall
Council Chambers.
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