#SaveOurSantee. Without your input the council may try to undermine the democratic process by delaying the votes until the 2020 election.
Why? Delay could allow the massive Fanita Ranch proposal to escape the provision of the General Plan Protection Initiative requiring voter consent for the project’s non-compliance with the General Plan. [Note that similar Fanita projects have already been defeated by Santee voters at election and in the courts].
Santee City Council Meeting, 7 pm Wednesday August 8 (Speak respectfully, but assertively)
Email your Council members now!
Mayor John Minto JMinto@ci.santee.ca.us
Brian Jones BJones@ci.santee.ca.us
Ronn Hall RonnHall@ci.santee.ca.us
Stephen Houlahan SHoulahan@ci.santee.ca.us
Rob McNelis RMcNelis@ci.santee.ca.us
cc: City Manager Marlene Best mbest@cityofsanteeca.gov
Sample Message:
Dear Mayor Minto and Council members,
Please either approve or place the #SaveOurSantee Initiatives on the ballot for the 2018 election in November. The Initiatives consist of the Santee General Plan Protection Initiative and Santee Term Limits Initiative. The Registrar of Voters is legally required by August 7 to certify ballot qualification for the General Plan Protection Initiative. The result will be the same for the Term limits Initiative even if the ROV chooses to delay for a few more days certification of a petition that they will already know qualifies [The signatures are almost entirely a subset of the General Plan Protection signatures].
The people of Santee deserve to have their voices heard in November. It would not serve anyone’s interests to delay these important votes.
Sincerely,
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Background
The Santee General Plan Protection Initiative protects Santee from overdevelopment, and prevents resultant traffic gridlock. It does so by amending the Santee General Plan to require a vote of the people for development projects that would increase density or otherwise intensify land use over that currently permitted by law.
Santee streets and highways are experiencing significant congestion and gridlock. Over development occurs, in major part, due to General Plan amendments granted to development projects by the City Council that increase density or otherwise intensify use of the land, which in turn exacerbates traffic congestion and gridlock.
Without the Santee General Plan Protection Initiative, there will not be any requirement to place approval of a massive traffic-generating project on the ballot for the consent or rejection by resident voters. City Council members potentially influenced by campaign contributions from special interests will make the decision. Santee citizens need and deserve a greater voice in order to maintain Santee’s quality-of-life.
“Currently, voters do not have a right to vote on controversial projects that threaten overdevelopment. We want to give voters that right,” said Councilman Houlahan.
The Santee Term Limits Initiative requires that no person shall serve more than 12 years, or three four-year terms as a member of the Santee City Council, with any portion of a term, whether by election or appointment, counting as a full term.