Agoura Hills : Court to Hear City Appeal on Recall

The state Court of Appeal on Feb. 27 is scheduled to hear Agoura Hills’ appeal of a Superior Court ruling that paved the way for a recall election against City Councilwoman Fran Pavley.

The recall, which initially targeted all five council members, was launched in 1994, after the council adopted a 4% utility tax. The recall group later turned in what it said were enough signatures to force recall elections against all five members. But the city and county clerk’s office threw out hundreds of signatures on technicalities and pronounced the recall a failure. The recall group sued to force the agencies to reverse their decision.

Last June, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Diane Wayne ruled against the recall group in all but Pavley’s case, ordering a recount of invalidated signatures against her. A recount determined that the recall group had gathered sufficient signatures against Pavley to force a recall election.

Hoping to stymie the recall attempt against the councilwoman, the city filed a motion asking Wayne to reconsider her order for a recount. When Wayne refused, the city appealed.

Greg Stepanicich, an attorney for Agoura Hills, said it may take several weeks for the court to rule. He said the court will also consider the recall group’s appeal of Wayne’s ruling as it applied to two other council members, Ed Corridori and Denis Weber.

Because Councilwoman Louise Rishoff was reelected in November, she is no longer subject to any previous recall attempt. Former council member Joan Yacovone did not seek reelection in November.

The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in the Court of Appeal building at 300 S. Spring St. in Los Angeles.