Generally initiatives are
proposed by citizens are passed onto the city attorney who gives them
a ballot title and summary within 15 days and returns them to the
proponent.
Neufeld will then be required to publish the initiatives in a local
newspaper within 10 days and then gather signatures as proof of support
from fellow citizens and file them with the clerk within a six-month
period. The clerk then has 30 days to verify the signitures. If the
signatures tally to at least 15 percent of the registered voters in
the city, about 736, the council will be required to either adopt
the ordinance, or hold a special election so the citizens can vote
on it
If the signatures totaled
10 percent of registered voters, about 490 but less than 15 percent,
the council may adopt the ordinance without alteration at a regular
meeting, submit it to the voters at the next regular election in November
2008, or order a staff report related to the proposed initiative within
10 days.
The special election would have to be no less than 88 days or no more
than 103 days after the council approves it.
A special election could cost up to $12,000, said the city clerk Carlon
Strobel.
Neufeld’s initiative follows another ballot initiative submitted
by local resident Jeff Furchtenicht before the City Council elections
in 2006, intended to prevent too many chain stores from downtown.
Though Furchtenicht’s initiatives were not well-recieved by
the City Council, Hanstad said that Neufeld had “done his homework
and thoughtfully drafted an actual ordinance to regulate formula outlets
in Ojai.”
One aspect she would change in his ordinance, however, was to limit
the regulations to a certain district within the city, such as a historic
downtown area, rather than apply it to all businesses within the city
limits.
“It seems to be stronger legally and appears to be the approach
that other cities have taken,” said Hanstad. But she agreed
that the public should have an opportunity to vote on the measure.
“A moratorium would be an effective placeholder while the measure
is circulated and goes to ballot.”.
The Simi Valley-based business owner Dave DiTomaso hopes to open the
Subway in about four months and said he does not expect to have to
present his proposal to the planning commission but will be prepared
to do so if he is asked to.
Kersnar said the current ordinances do not require him to present
his project to the commission because the previous business in the
location was also a sandwich shop. But Hanstad said she thinks that
should change.
“Whether or not the proposed Subway falls under a possible planning
moratorium, any permits for the store should be reviewed by the planning
commission with input from the public first, “ she said.
Though the building owner Ernie Salomon told the Ojai Valley News
that other tenants in his building were excited, Mary Nelson, a facialist
at Delilah, a beauty salon in the building, said that she does not
look forward to having a Subway next door.
“People come to Ojai because it is unique,” said Nelson,
an Ojai native who previously owned the Ojai Manor before it was renamed
The Lavender Inn.
“Eating at Subway here would be like going to Paris and staying
the Holiday Inn. Why didn’t (Salomon) look for something that
goes with the character of Ojai?”
Joe Ruggierro, who owns Java & Joe’s with Lorraine Mariz,
said that they were both indifferent to having a Subway next door.
“I would just like to see that space filled with a business
that’s consistent,” he said, referring to the seven other
sandwich shops that failed in the past 10 years. “It’s
off the beaten path and its kind of an awkward location. I would like
anything going in there to be successful.”
Nelson said she wonders why, with another Subway and a Quiznos in
Mira Monte and Jersey Mike’s and Giorgio's close by, how many
sub sandwich stores Ojai needs.
Dan Burrell, owner of Jersey Mike’s said he was not worried
about the effect of a new Subway sandwich shop opening just around
the corner.
“My clientele is different,” he said. “We make every
sandwich fresh and Subway is fast food. What the Subway owner needs
to ask himself is: 'is another Subway in the Ojai Valley good for
the city?'”
Robert Chang, owner of Giorgios said only that he felt the city should
try and maintain the uniqueness of Ojai.
Other tenants in Salomon’s building were unavailable or did
not comment for the story.
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