Torrance to Vote on Walker Measure, Legal Defense Fund

Councilman Dan Walker’s initiative to curb the use of hydrofluoric acid at the Mobil Oil refinery will appear on the March, 1990, ballot, the Torrance City Council decided Tuesday. But in a surprise move, the council also voted for a second similarly named measure that would increase property taxes to pay for a legal defense fund.

The council’s measure, which was introduced Tuesday night, would raise $20 million in five years to defend Walker’s initiative from any legal challenges by Mobil. It has been tentatively named The Dan Walker Initiative Defense Fund. Walker’s measure is called The Dan Walker Initiative for a Safer Torrance.

Mayor Katy Geissert, who has adamantly opposed Walker’s initiative, proposed the council’s measure.

“This should come as no surprise,” Geissert said. “There is no free lunch.”

Walker called the measure “ludicrous” and accused his colleagues of trying to confuse voters and frighten them into voting against his initiative.

“What we have this evening is a great example of scare tactics. Perhaps the greatest example of scare tactics,” he said.

Working Out Details

In an interview after the meeting, Geissert said she has been working with City Treasurer Thomas Rupert for about two weeks to work out the details of the measure. She said that prior to proposing it, she consulted with City Atty. Kenneth L. Nelson and all the council members--except Walker.

The measure, which needs the approval of a two-thirds majority of the voters to pass, would increase property taxes 5.7 cents for each $100 of assessed value on homes and businesses in the city. Rupert said the average homeowner in the city would pay about $100 a year.

Money collected as a result of the tax increase would be used only to defend the Walker initiative against any legal challenges. The measure could be repealed if the council determines that any or all of the funds are not needed, Rupert said.

Last week, Los Angeles County election officials formally certified that Walker’s initiative had the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot. The measure would limit storage of hydrofluoric acid at any industrial site to 250 gallons. It would have the greatest impact on the Mobil Oil refinery, which usually stores about 29,000 gallons of the highly toxic acid.

The council had the option of adopting the initiative as written or submitting it to voters in a special election in November or in the March, 1990, city elections. Council members said they voted to put the initiative on the March, 1990, ballot to save the estimated $120,000 cost of a special election.

Walker’s colleagues have opposed the initiative, saying that it addresses only one of the hazardous substances used at the refinery and that it is vulnerable to a legal challenge by Mobil. In an open letter to voters in April, the six other council members also accused Walker of using “questionable political tactics” to advance his own political career.

Walker Initiative

Walker said his legal advisers have determined that the initiative is sound and will not expose the city to expensive litigation.

“To come up with a $20-million defense fund I think is ludicrous,” he said. “My legal advisers have said they found little to no exposure to a lawsuit.”

After the meeting, Walker said he is still optimistic that voters will pass his initiative, but added: “The name of the initiative infuriates me because it brings forth a cost that can’t be supported by fact.”

Councilman Bill Applegate said he was not previously told about the proposed name of the measure but that he believes it is appropriate. “If we wanted to raise funds for the Madrona Marsh, we would call it the Madrona Marsh fund,” he said.

A series of accidents beginning with a thunderous explosion and two-day fire in November, 1987, raised concern among city officials and residents about the safety of the refinery.

Last December, Walker announced plans for his initiative and on April 5 he launched a direct-mail campaign that warned that Mobil’s use of the lethal acid could lead to a Bhopal-like disaster, endangering thousands of lives.

Two days later, the city filed suit in a Los Angeles Superior Court asking that a judge declare the Mobil refinery a public nuisance and give the city the power to regulate it.

Mobil officials have defended the refinery and have said both the initiative and the city suit are unnecessary.

DUELING TORRANCE BALLOT INITIATIVES The Torrance City Council placed these two initiatives on the March, 1990 ballot:

The Dan Walker Initiative for a Safer Torrance. The measure would limit storage of hydrofluoric acid at any industrial site to 250 gallons. It would have the greatest impact on the Mobil Oil refinery, which usually stores about 29,000 gallons of the highly toxic acid.

The Dan Walker Initiative Defense Fund. The measure would increase property taxes 5.7 cents for each $100 of assessed value on homes and businesses in the city. Money collected as a result of the tax increase would be used only to defend the Walker initiative against any legal challenges.