MISSION VIEJO : Opinion Sought on City Hall Measure
The City Council last week agreed to get a legal opinion on whether a ballot measure on a proposed $18-million city hall can pass legal muster.
A group called the Citizens Action Committee is opposing the city hall project. Last month, the group submitted a petition, bearing more than 5,000 signatures, asking that the issue be put to city voters on the November ballot.
The signatures are now being verified by the county registrar of voters.
The City Council, which has already spent more than $600,000 on the city hall project, countered the petition last month by moving to put a similar ballot measure before the voters in June. And some members have questioned the legality of the opposing ballot initiative.
“We don’t think it’s proper for us to present (the citizens’ ballot measure) to the voters as it is,” Councilman Robert D. Breton said. “Our obligation to the citizens is that we don’t deceive them by putting an illegal ballot measure before them.”
But last Monday, the council nonetheless agreed to direct city staff to look into the legality of the measure. City Atty. Peter Thorsness said he should be able to review the question within 30 days.
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