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of the property owners then that agreement would be able to go into effect because it would pre- <br />date the initiative and vest those entitlements. <br />Councilmember McGovern said if this is approved, does this give additional rights to Oak Grove <br />to say through litigation that they have vested rights and anything that comes from this should <br />not have anything to do with them. City Attorney Roush said it will not give Oak Grove any <br />more or less vested entitlements than it has today. Councilmember McGovern said she had <br />problems with the language and wants to make sure as many hillsides are protected as <br />possible. She also wondered if a moratorium in the southeast hills could be a part of the <br />initiative and whether or not the Council would be willing to take whatever is accomplished to a <br />vote of the people. <br />Whatever comes out of the collaborative process, she said if not ratified by the voters, it can be <br />changed by a majority of the Council. Mayor Hosterman said the only problem with that is that if <br />this is done, nothing will be in concrete until 2010. Councilmember McGovern said she believes <br />the Council owes the public firm knowledge that it cannot be changed by a majority of the <br />Council. She said Councils come and go and if not taken to a vote of the people, it can be <br />changed. To her, it is a lot of work to do to not have it ratified by the voters. <br />Mayor Hosterman said she was not sure if she was willing to contemplate having this grow to a <br />two-year process. <br />Councilmember McGovern said if we want all voters to have a voice, they should be allowed to <br />vote. The initiative on the ballot gives them that right, and to her, she cannot support putting <br />anything on the ballot. <br />Councilmember Sullivan said what is disturbing to him is that in the last two years there have <br />been two examples of citizens exercising their right to petition their government. The <br />referendum with the Oak Grove project and the citizens who have come up with the initiative. <br />The developer sued with the first and got the referendum overturned and it is stuck in the appeal <br />courts, and the second, the Council is taking action to undermine and over-turn the other <br />citizen's actions. He questioned what message that sends to the community, and he thinks this <br />is a mistake. Regarding the language in the initiative, this is a status quo type of measure, it <br />creates a plan with no outcome, and with the intent to undermine and defeat the citizen's <br />initiative. This shows a lack of leadership on the Council and it is a political trick. This is also a <br />"trust us" measure in comparison to the citizen's initiative which is clear. He believes that based <br />on the last meeting when Council received the staff report, answers to questions, and the <br />developer's intent, it is clear what the initiative will do. <br />Councilmember Sullivan also said there is talk about people writing the initiative in the middle of <br />the night around a kitchen table, but those who wrote the language are former members of the <br />Council and planning commissioners that have more experience combined than this entire <br />sitting Council. <br />He said he has a problem with "collaborative and public process". He said one developer <br />showed up and suggested putting a competing initiative on the ballot that re-affirms the existing <br />general plan policies and the Council did what the one developer wanted done; it disregarded <br />the public testimony and answers from staff on the questions. Councilmembers read prepared <br />speeches as to their position, and they went in the one developer's direction. The fact that one <br />developer showed up given the potential impact on their future plans is a huge statement, as <br />well. He voiced a concern with the schedule, said Greenbriar Homes has been ready for awhile <br />with their Lund Ranch project for 150 houses in the hills, and they could submit this at any time <br />City Council Minutes 13 July 15, 2008 <br />