At issue is an industrial scrapyard and recycler that’s stayed behind as the surrounding neighborhood changed. Habitat for Humanity built several single family homes just outside the gates of Chico Scrap Metal on assurances that the business was set to move.
Activists have been trying to put the issue before voters. But they say the council’s conservative majority has repeatedly used parliamentary tricks to blow deadlines and keep the issue off the ballot.
Activists from the group Move the Junkyard say they’ve collected more than 9,000 signatures for a referendum.
Liberals are trying to get the measure on a November ballot when more voters typically participate. Conservatives have generally tried keeping it off the ballot or maneuvering it to a lower turnout primary election.
“This thing is a joke, an absolute joke,” said outgoing Chico City Councilman Mark Sorensen at a heated meeting Monday.
“The fact is, it’s just an unconstitutional, uncompensated taking of private property,” he said.
With the council facing a lawsuit accusing it of violating election law and public process, the council voted to re-open the issue at a meeting next month. Democratic Party political consultant Bob Mulholland spoke at the meeting reprimanding the council for a lack of action.
“Your job, was to repeal, or put it on the ballot,” he said. “What part of the state constitution don’t you realize? When you were sworn in, you were law makers. For the 20 months you were law-breakers.”
The issue is expected to return to the council August 7th. The deadline for county officials to finalize the November ballot passes shortly thereafter.
