Rancho Palos Verdes Council Postpones Action on View Issue

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council this week postponed a request from a homeowners group that its view-protection initiative be placed on a ballot before the next municipal election in November, 1989.

More than 10% of the city’s registered voters signed a petition in favor of the initiative, which would amend an existing height ordinance that sets the maximum height of structures at 30 feet with a variance. The new measure would set 24 feet as the maximum.

The council has the option under state law to adopt the initiative as an ordinance, put it on the November, 1989, ballot or place it on an election ballot before 1989. Mayor Robert Ryan ruled out adopting the initiative earlier this year.

The council asked City Clerk Jo Purcell to determine how much it would cost to put the initiative to a vote before November, 1989. Placing the initiative on a non-municipal ballot before 1989 could cost the city as much as $25,000, Purcell told the council.

In addition, Ryan asked City Atty. Steven L. Dorsey to study the legality of the initiative.

“It’s unworkable, it’s unconstitutional and it’s a disaster,” Ryan said.

Warren Sweetnam, president of the Rancho Palos Verdes Council of Homeowners Assn., asked the council to place the issue on the November, 1988, ballot. “The voters should have the opportunity to approve or reject it at the earliest opportunity,” he said.