11-19-1996 - City Council-Sponsored Ballot InitiativeCity of West Covina
Memorandum
To: City Manager and City Council AGENDA
ITEM NO. l a
FROM: Steven W. Wylie, Assistant City Manager DATE Nov. 19, 1996
® PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
suwEc-r: CITY COUNCIL -SPONSORED BALLOT INITIATIVE
SUMMARY: On
of the City Coun
facilities in the Ci-
review and approv,
election is Novemt
DISCUSSION
The draft ballot
Section 9282 of t
"Argument in Fav
Clerk), the word'
number or a letter
to call the initiati-,
it would be annror
The ballot a
296 words.
Section 9283 of tl
than five persons.
name of the orgar
these provisions,
the City Counci
Councilmembers,
If the City
direction.
As mentioned
November 19 is
RECOMMENDA
ballot argument, ai
then approve the ar
Steven W. Wylie
Assistant City Man
attachment
ovember 5, the City Council elected to author an argument in favor
-sponsored ballot initiative :relating to the siting of solid waste
of West Covina. A _ draft of the ballot argument is transmitted for
The deadline for the submittal of arguments for the March 4, 1997
26.
;ument in favor of the initiative is attached to this memo. Under
Elections Code, the ballot argument must be preceded by the title
of Measure _". At the discretion of the elections official (the City
roposition" may be substituted for. the word "Measure", and either a
[ay be used to designate the initiative. At this point, staff has chosen
"Measure A". If another designation is desired by the City Council,
ate to provide this direction at this meeting.
may not exceed 300 words in length. The proposed language totals
Elections Code requires a ballot argument to be signed by no more
f the argument is submitted by an "organization", it must include the
ration and the name of at least one of its principal officers. Under
3 because the argument itself states that the measure is sponsored by
it is suggested that the ballot argument be signed by all
follows:
Michael Touhey, Mayor
Bradley McFadden, Mayor Pro Tern
Steve Herfert, Councilmember
Nancy Manners, Councilmember
Ben Wong, Councilmember
desires a different method of signing the argument, staff requests
7e, the deadline for the submittal of arguments is November 26.
last regular meeting of the City Council prior to the deadline.
ON: It is recommended that the City Council review the proposed
provide direction to staff as to changes which may be desired, and
ment as directed.
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE A
After --more than thirty years of operation in West Covina, the BKK Landfill ceased all
disposal of waste .on September 15, 1996. The. City engaged in extensive litigation to
assure the residents of West Covina that the BKK Corporation would be bound by its f
agreement to close the landfill, and to transition the BKK property to other .urban-
compatible uses. That transition is now taking place, and the -landfill is being closed as
safely ;and responsibly as the City can compel, within the requirements of all State and
Federal regulatory agencies. (91 words)
Measure A, sponsored bythe West Covina City Council, amends the City's General Plan_
to prohibit any future City Council from approving the opening or siting Hof qRY solid
waste facility, including landfills, waste transfer or processing stations, composting
facilities, materials recovery facilities, or waste -burning facilities within one mile of any
occupied residence within the City, unless such a project is approved by a two-thirds
majority of the residents who vote on the measure. (75 words) (running total: 166 words)
Residents and businesses in West Covina have suffered the impacts of millions of tons of
hazardous and non -hazardous wastes disposed within our City in the last thirty years.
These impacts include air and water pollution, noise, and traffic congestion caused by the
presence of literally thousands of trucks passing through West Covina. Elected officials
in the future; should never be allowed to forget the negative impacts of waste disposal
activities within our City. _ The consequences of making such a decision should rest with
an overwhelming majority of West Covina's voters-.- words) (running total: 256 words)
The San. Gabriel Valley and West Covina in particular have taken more than its share of
Southern California's waste. It is time to say "no more". Approval of Measure A will
send that message from the people of West Covina. (40 words) (running total: 296 words)