Dump Measure Is Headed for Ballot

The San Diego investment firm seeking to build a garbage dump at Weldon Canyon has collected enough valid petition signatures to place its proposal on the March 26 countywide ballot.

Taconic Resources was informed by county election officials early Friday that its initiative, which required 22,214 voter signatures, had qualified for the ballot, said General Manager Richard Chase.

“We’re obviously very pleased,” Chase said. “But we’re not surprised.”

Taconic wants to go around the Board of Supervisors and get voter approval to build a large west county dump in a rugged canyon between Ventura and Ojai.

The dump would replace Bailard Landfill in Oxnard, set to close next year.

This is the second time that Taconic has attempted to take its case to the voters. After a majority of supervisors voiced opposition to the landfill proposal in 1993, Taconic gained enough signatures to put the matter on the ballot. The ballot measure was later struck down in court after the firm was sued by the cities of Ojai and Ventura.

A judge declared the measure invalid, saying it was an “egregious attempt” by Taconic to gain land-use rights for private gain.

Chase said that Taconic has made some changes in the language of its new initiative to ensure that it will stand up to further legal challenges. He said the U.S. Supreme Court had also ruled recently that land-use decisions can be made by voters, as well as elected officials.

“We may get sued again,” Chase said. “But if we do, we expect to prevail.”

Meanwhile, Ventura and Ojai officials said they have not decided whether they will take Taconic to court a second time because of the costs involved.

Both cities, however, are pursuing alternatives for disposing of their trash.