City Council to Take Up Farmland Preservation

The Camarillo City Council has already said it supports an ordinance that would require voter approval to develop farmland or open space annexed to the city.

But whether that support should be contingent upon the success of a similar countywide farmland-protection measure is among the issues the council will debate at its meeting tonight.

“The question is whether we want to tie our hands voluntarily if the county isn’t,” said City Manager Bill Little.

“If we’re willing to impose limitations on our boundaries for the next 22 years--that’s a long time--then we want to make sure that everyone is on the same page.”

The council will consider tonight whether to adopt a growth-limiting ordinance outright or to put the issue before voters.

The council also will decide whether to include wording in the ordinance that would automatically void it if voters reject the countywide measure, known as SOAR, for Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources.

SOAR proponents, who are helping Camarillo and other cities craft their own growth-limiting ordinances, said the city’s ordinance should be allowed to stand regardless of whether voters approve the countywide measure.

Richard Francis, author of the countywide measure, said he is concerned that if Camarillo includes a “poison pill” in its so--called CURB ordinance, other cities will want to do the same. Oxnard, Moorpark and Simi Valley are considering similar measures to limit growth.

There is one major difference between the city and county proposals: Camarillo’s ordinance would allow the City Council to continue to make zoning changes within the city’s boundaries, but the SOAR initiative would freeze the county’s existing zoning until Dec. 31, 2020.

Camarillo Councilman Bill Liebmann said that to be effective, the county and city ordinances must both pass.

“Our concern is that if all cities in the county have urban limit lines--but there are no restrictions on the county--then it shifts the pressure for development out of the city areas and into the county areas,” Liebmann said.

“This is contrary to what those who are trying to preserve the agricultural industry are trying to accomplish,” he said.

The Camarillo council must also decide today how a growth-limiting measure should become law.

The council itself could adopt the ordinance, for instance.

But SOAR representatives oppose this because future councils would be able to amend or repeal the restrictions by enacting another ordinance.

Another route would be for SOAR proponents to start a petition drive in March and gather about 3,500 signatures needed to put the local measure on the November ballot.

Finally, proponents could prepare their own initiative, gather the signatures and ask the City Council to adopt it without putting it before the voters. Under this scenario, voter approval would be required to make any changes through 2020.

“I’d prefer to allow the signatures to be gathered and then bring it to council for adoption,” Francis said. “It’s important the council have a clear indication of public support” through the signatures.