Judge Rejects Recreation Spending Measure

Ojai’s controversial youth recreation initiative was declared invalid Thursday, killing its chances of being placed on an election ballot.

The issue, decided by Superior Court Judge Joe D. Hadden, had fractured the community with two local groups locking horns over the proposal to require the city to spend an additional $125,000 a year on recreation.

Friends of Ojai Recreation, a grass-roots organization, collected more than enough signatures to place the measure on the November ballot, but city officials, who feared the initiative could bankrupt Ojai, petitioned the courts to declare the measure invalid.

A rival group, Ojai Citizens for Responsible Government, was formed in July to challenge the initiative and also asked the courts to declare the measure illegal.

After Hadden handed down his decision Thursday, both community groups said the real losers were the community’s youth.

“We did this because we think that it’s best for the youth of Ojai,” said Craig Walker, who authored the proposal seeking more spending. “Recreation is a real need we have in Ojai. And we’re not willing to let something like this hold us back.”

Friends of Ojai Recreation will be meeting in coming weeks to decide whether to appeal Hadden’s decision, sponsor another ballot initiative or find another way to enhance recreational opportunities.

Patricia Weinberger, a founding member of Ojai Citizens for Responsible Government, said the initiative would have endangered the city’s financial picture.

“I am terribly relieved for the city’s sake that the judge’s decision was made,” she said. “But I am sorry for the kids involved because it could have been worked out without going this far.”

Sue Harding, a 15-year Ojai resident and member of Friends of Ojai Recreation, said Thursday that she was shocked at the judge’s ruling.

“We got 1,000 signatures that said, yes, we need to increase recreation,” she said. “I was brought up with the feeling that people have a say and people’s votes count. We just got stepped on every step of the way, but we’re not going to split up over this. We’ll find a strategy for what’s best for the kids.”

Philip Moncharsh, attorney for Ojai Citizens for Responsible Government, said he expects the Ojai Citizens group to also work on long-term recreational goals for the entire Ojai Valley.

“Nobody’s opposed to contemplating youth recreation projects, and nobody’s opposed to the concept,” Moncharsh said.

Ojai City Manager Andrew Belknap said the judge’s decision means that the City Council’s ability to manage the city’s fiscal affairs will remain intact.

Belknap said that a county survey shows that Ojai spends more general fund money per capita on recreation than any other city in Ventura County.

The city spends $165,000 of its $3.4-million budget on recreation programs for young people and contributes another $350,000 yearly in user fees.

The initiative was written earlier this year after some residents grew frustrated when the city refused to pay for a skateboard park.