Local News in Brief : Costa Mesa : Council Votes to Put Growth Issue on Ballot

The City Council voted Monday to place on the November ballot a controversial growth-control initiative.

The measure, sponsored by Costa Mesa Residents for Responsible Growth and similar to a slow-growth initiative slated for the June 7 countywide ballot, ties future development in the city to road and public service improvements.

The 4-0 vote to place the city initiative on the ballot came as a surprise to many, since that course of action was not among the regularly scheduled agenda items Monday.

Councilman David Wheeler abstained from voting Monday night, saying that the action did not comply with state law, which he said requires that the public receive prior notice of council consideration of such matters.

Many in the audience of about 30 people objected, and some informed the council that they felt such a vote taken without prior public notice was improper.

The council also voted 4 to 0 to request that the city staff draft a traffic control measure that could be placed on the November ballot as an alternative to the citizens’ initiative. Wheeler also abstained from that vote, saying the proposal also failed to comply with state laws requiring advance public notice.

Lastly, the council voted 4 to 0 to receive a staff report on the cost to measure how congested traffic is at various major intersections throughout the city.