A pair of measures will appear on the November ballot in Buellton, seeking to require voter approval - for different amounts of time - before the city's boundaries can be expanded.

The first measure, proposed by a citizens' group called Buellton is Our Town (BIOT), is dubbed the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Initiative.

A day after completing steps needed to put the citizen proposal on the ballot, a divided Buellton City Council agreed Wednesday night to put forth an alternative measure, labeled City Growth Policy (CGP).

The City Council agreed 3-2 on Wednesday night to also place a city-sponsored initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot. It was the council's second meeting in as many days to meet deadlines for getting the measures on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Mayor Pro Tem Dale Molesworth and councilmembers Ed Andrisek and Victoria Pointer were in favor of the City Growth Policy measure with Mayor Russ Hicks and Councilwoman Diane Whitehair dissenting.

A day earlier, the council agreed 4-1 to place the original initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot. Tuesday's night action was a formality as earlier this year a citizens group had collected signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

Hicks, who cast the dissenting vote on Tuesday, said he favored council adoption of the UGB initiative as an amendment to the city's General Plan, the other option on the table.

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Under the UGB, expansion of the city limits or development of sewer or water services outside the existing city limits would require voter approval. The initiative would be in effect until Dec. 31, 2025, the life span of the current General Plan, which outlines future development in the city.

During that 17-year period, the growth boundary could be expanded through a vote of the people, or to accommodate public schools or public parks inside or outside the city limits or the urban growth boundary line and under other conditions. It could also be renewed after it has expired.

The city-sponsored proposal is written the same as the UGB but would have an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2014, to coincide with a required General Plan Housing Element update.

Hicks, who reiterated he was not supportive of the CGP, asked that it at least be changed to allow exemptions for public service infrastructure improvements from an initiative vote.

Andrisek, who proposed the alternative at the June 26 council meeting, said infrastructure needs could be addressed at the end of the five-year CGP span and Hicks' proposal was “not worthwhile entertaining.”

Pointer agreed with Andrisek and said she didn't intend to change the expiration date. She also said she was “sorry” about feelings from BIOT members that the CGP is a “competing measure.”

“We have to make the best of it,” she said.

Pointer also said voters will decide which measure to support on their own and there is “no distrust” of voters in offering an alternative that could be extended beyond five years if it is successful.

Whitehair said she came to the meeting “open minded” and favored more options than the five- or 17-year measures.

Molesworth suggested “slight amendments” including exemptions from the initiative process for parcels smaller than 5 acres and exemptions for senior living and senior care facilities as well as “mutually beneficial” projects. However, they were not added to the CGP.

Members of BIOT urged the council not to push forward the alternative measure.

“The proposed City Growth Policy Initiative is just that - a growth policy,” said Judith Dale of BIOT.

Dale said the group has “tried not to be divisive” but the November vote will be “truly one or other.”

“Don't do this,” she said.

Judi Stauffer, another BIOT member, said the CGP is a “competing initiative” and the public process was “short-circuited” and “ignored” with the “eleventh hour” introduction of the CGP. She also said she was “saddened” by the council's alternative measure.

Offering “free advice,” Bob Field of Santa Ynez, referenced an observation by Molesworth at a previous meeting on public distrust of representative government. Field said the “mirror initiative” could be seen as representative government distrust of the people.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday in City Council Chambers, 140 W. Highway 246.

Julian J. Ramos can be reached at 688-5522, Ext. 6008, or jramos@santamariatimes.com.

July 4, 2008