HUNTINGTON BEACH : Save Our Parks May Face Rival Initiative

The City Council, in a move denounced by some local environmentalists, is considering a rival ballot measure to thwart an initiative sponsored by Save Our Parks.

The Save Our Parks initiative, which has already qualified for the Nov. 6 ballot, would forbid the sale or lease of park or beach land unless approved by a vote of the people. The City Council on Friday will consider a rival measure that would allow the lease of parks and beaches without a citywide vote.

The rival measure surfaced at the City Council’s regular Monday night meeting. Tom Duchene, a leader of a coalition of parents seeking a “youth sports complex” at Central Park, told the council that the Save Our Parks initiative would be harmful to the sports effort.

Duchene said the Save Our Parks initiative would prevent parks from accommodating any structure more than 3,000 square feet in floor area or costing more than $100,000, unless approved by voters. Duchene said that restriction would mean that the proposed youth sports complex would have to be put to a citywide vote if the Save Our Parks measure passes on Nov. 6.

“We should not force our kids and their parents to wage expensive political campaigns just to have a place to play in our community,” Duchene said. He then urged the City Council to adopt another, less-restrictive ballot measure.

Save Our Parks officials and some other environmentalists at the City Council meeting spoke against Duchene’s proposal. But a majority of the council favored the idea. By a 4-1 vote, the council called for a meeting at 9 a.m. Friday to consider Duchene’s proposed ballot measure. If it is approved, the Duchene ballot measure would then go on the Nov. 6 ballot as a competitor to Save Our Parks.