OJAI : Recreation Initiative Barred From Ballot

Supporters of Ojai’s controversial recreation initiative were dealt a serious blow Thursday when a Superior Court judge ruled the measure could not be placed on the ballot and would remain in the courts until its legality is determined.

Proponents said they are unsure of the future of the initiative that mandates the city spend an additional $125,000 a year on recreation.

“I’m very discouraged,” said Craig Walker, who authored the proposal. He added that he was unsure if he and his supporters could continue to fight for the initiative in the courts.

“It’s difficult to imagine we could raise the funds for an effective legal battle,” he said. “Frankly I’m unsure the initiative will ever reach the ballot.”

Walker said initiative supporters will have to re-evaluate whether to continue fighting for the proposal, draft a new version, or work with city officials toward a compromise.

The initiative was written earlier this year after some residents grew frustrated when the city refused to fund a skateboard park.

Proponents collected more than enough signatures to place the measure on the ballot in November, but city officials, who fear the initiative would bankrupt Ojai, have petitioned the courts to declare the measure illegal.

The city now spends $165,000 of its $3.4-million budget on recreation programs for young people and contributes another $350,000 yearly in user fees.

The motion to keep the initiative from going to ballot until a judge decides its validity was filed by a new group that calls itself Ojai Citizens for Responsible Government.

A lawyer for the citizens group said Thursday’s ruling showed its cause had legal promise.

“Obviously the judge has found some serious flaws in the initiative or he wouldn’t have kept it off the ballot,” Philip I. Moncharsh said. “It shows a likelihood we’ll prevail in the courts this fall.”