Diamond Bar : Vote Due on General Plan

The City Council decided last week not to appeal a Superior Court judge’s ruling that the city must accept petitions from a citizens group seeking a referendum on the General Plan.

Activists rallying behind an organization called Diamond Bar Citizens to Protect Country Living collected more than 4,000 signatures--only about 2,600 valid ones are needed--this fall to force the referendum. But the city clerk rejected the petitions, accusing the signature collectors of a technical violation of the state Election Code.

City Clerk Lynda Burgess argued that activists had failed to attach a copy of the General Plan to each petition, as the state Election Code requires. The petitioners did make a single copy of the plan available to every person who signed.

Judge Diane Wayne ruled the petitioners had complied with the law by making a copy of the plan available to all signers.

City Manager Terrence L. Belanger said that after two new council members are sworn in Dec. 7, the council will decide whether to put the General Plan up for a vote or rescind it and create a new one.

In the Nov. 2 election, incumbent Gary Werner and newcomers Eileen Ansari and Clair Harmony were elected, creating a new majority bloc on the five-member council. Each has said a citizens committee should be formed to help draft a new plan. Avoiding the election would save the city $50,000 or more, city officials said.