SAN CLEMENTE : Bid to Place 8 Items on Nov. 3 Ballot Fails

A last-minute bid by Councilman Thomas Lorch on Wednesday to place eight weighty measures on the Nov. 3 ballot failed to win support from the rest of the council.

Lorch had only reached the second issue on his list when fellow council members, citing the lateness of the hour, 11:30 p.m., voted against placing any of the measures on the ballot. The Wednesday night meeting was the last chance for a council member to place a measure on the ballot.

“It’s just too late,” Mayor Joseph Anderson said. “Another time, another place.”

Among the issues that Lorch sought to place on the ballot were:

* Should the city go to a charter form of government with an elected mayor, rather than a city manager?

* Should amendments and updates to the city’s General Plan require approval of the voters?

* Should the city take steps to preserve ridgelines?

* Should the city act to oppose any toll road located within the city limits or within one mile of its borders?

* Should a utility tax be enacted to help pay for storm drain repairs?

Lorch said he was “insulted” that he was not allowed to make a case for each of his measures individually but was satisfied that he had raised key concerns.

“These are important issues to the citizens,” said Lorch, who said he has been gathering information on his proposals for the past couple of weeks. “They didn’t even want to discuss the issues.”

Since 1986, Lorch said, San Clemente council members have introduced three ballot measures. In Los Angeles during the same period, the City Council initiated 36 measures, he said.

“We need to be responsive to our customers--our citizens--and satisfy their needs,” he said.

Resident Frank Denison Jr. said he supported Lorch’s proposals.

“This is just what we’ve been pushing for,” said Denison, a member of the San Clemente Homeowners Assn. “The people never get an opportunity to vote on anything in this city.”

Other council members, however, said they had not seen any “overwhelming demand” to place such issues on the ballot.