Usually,
in the holiday period between Thanksgiving and New Year's, political
activity in Yorba Linda is barely perceptible, a refreshing breather
from the contentious atmosphere that so often envelops the community
after locally elected leaders make controversial decisions.
But
there's no lull this month, as a couple of grass-roots citizen
organizations battle changes they say will adversely impact the
safety and pocketbooks of the city's 65,000-plus residents.
The
well-established Protect Our Homes and Hills group is continuing
efforts to stop two large residential developments just outside this
city's northeast boundary, and the months-old Yorba Linda Taxpayers
Association is proceeding with action to turn back a water charge
increase.
Protect
Our Homes and Hills leaders are training residents to collect
signatures on petitions aimed at overturning the City Council's
anticipated approval of a pre-annexation agreement with developers of
the 340-home Esperanza Hills project, perhaps at a Jan. 5 meeting.
Expected
council action to allow an entry road on city-owned “open space”
as part of the pact concerns opponents, who also raise fire safety,
traffic, water and other issues.
The
group would need to collect 1,939 signatures from the city's 40,801
registered voters in 30 days to force council members to rescind the
action or set a special election on the issue.
They
plan to gather 5,000, since some might be ruled invalid. “There are
various legal components and numerous tips and tricks of the trade
that residents must learn prior to circulating the petition,”
opponents noted.
The next
training is scheduled Jan. 3. “A fantastic turnout” was reported
for a Dec. 5 session: “There was a lot of enthusiasm and
encouragement in the room” for the training, according to a group
statement.
Meanwhile,
the agenda for each council meeting this month listed a closed-door
discussion of the lawsuit filed in Superior Court by the group
contesting the adequacy of the project's state-mandated Environmental
Impact Report.
The
Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association is in full fundraising mode to pay
for a lawsuit against the Yorba Linda Water District for disregarding
petitions with a county Registrar of Voters estimate of 4,902 valid
signatures seeking to overturn a $25 monthly increase in the
district's “basic service charge.”
Cash
raised also could be used to pay for a recall targeting some of the
district's elected directors. A taxpayers group statement noted that
if 10 percent of the district's customers contribute $50, “we will
have amassed a formidable legal fund of $130,000.”
Also
seeking funds to cover legal costs is Protect Our Hills and Homes,
which accepts donations and earns a percentage of meal costs at local
eateries, such as a recent six-day event at Wise Guys Pizzeria on
Yorba Ranch Road.
Check
the groups' Facebook pages for future fundraising and other
information.