County Certifies Signatures For Santa Clarita Billboard Referendum

Posted by: Perry Smith in Breaking News June 6, 2014 - 4:44 pm 0 195 Views

Santa Clarita was notified today by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office that it completed the signature verification of petitions regarding a billboard referendum put forward by residents with support from a billboard lobbying group.

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“The next step is that the letter of findings and the city’s clerk’s certification of the results will be presented to the Santa Clarita City Council for consideration for the regular City Council meeting on June 24,” said Jessica Jackson, Santa Clarita communications specialist.

Los Angeles County officials received more than 16,000 signatures in opposition to the city’s plan to put up three giant electronic billboards in Santa Clarita. Of those, 11,370 were deemed sufficient, which exceeded the 11,170-signature threshold.

“I think it’s great that the people iof Santa Clarita have been heard,” said Santa Clarita City Councilman TimBen Boydston. “I think it’s great that the City Council will need to reconsider this issue.”

Of the signatures received, 18,544 were filed; 16,496 were verified; 11,370 were deemed sufficient; 5,126 were deemed insufficient; and 141 were considered duplicates.

City officials now have two options going forward, Boydston said.

“I look forward to finding out what my fellow council members would like to do, whether it’s put this to an election or reverse the decision,” Boydston said. “And perhaps future negotiations can take place in the public view.”

The petitions were submitted to the city May 5 in opposition to ordinance 14-02 approving a development agreement with METRO regarding billboards.

The Los Angeles County’s Letter of Findings was obtained electronically by the city.

The minimum number of signatures necessary was 11,170, which was a 10 percent threshold to qualify for a referendum.

The city is making arrangements to pick up the hard copy of the Letter of Findings and boxes of petitions at the Registrar-Recorder’s office in Norwalk early next week.

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