Poway Council Denies Term Limits Study Proposal

The City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday night against the proposal for city staff to study term limits for council members.

The proposal—which asked for the City Council to assign the city staff to prepare a report studying the process for enacting term limits for the five elected seats—was denied by Mayor Don Higginson and Councilmen John Mullin and Jim Cunningham.

Proposed by newcomer Councilman Dave Grosch and supported by Councilwoman Merrilee Boyack, Grosch said he intended to bring the issue to a "public debate" and eventually place the issue on the November 2012 ballot.

"I think 12 years is plenty of time in this job," said Grosch after the vote. "It's a shame we're not going to let the people vote."

Grosch, who spoke in support of term limits throughout his campaign, said he believes in serving the public, then "moving over for the next person" after three terms.

Though Grosch did see support from Boyack—who said incumbency presented "barriers" and that it was "imperative to turn it over to the people"—the rest of the council disagreed.

Higginson, who has served on the City Council since 1986, said those who voted for him in November and in the past were against term limits.

"Continuity is where you'll get a great city," said Higginson, who disregarded the arguments that incumbents didn't have "fresh ideas" or that they have an "advantage."

Mullin reiterated Higginson's arguments, while Cunningham noted he would have voted differently for the proposal had signatures of support already been presented to the City Council.

City Council members also heard from the public, including former candidate Pete Babich, who jokingly said to the mayor, "I hope you're watching what's going on in Egypt and Libya for long-standing politicians."

Though the City Council voted against moving forward with putting term limits on the 2012 ballot, voters could still place it on the ballot.

The city clerk estimates about 2,800 signatures for the general election or 4,200 for a special election would be needed to place the item on the ballot, though the number could change in 2012 contingent on the number of registered Poway voters.

In other council business:

• City Council appointed to city attorney after Lisa Foster resigned last Monday. Foley is from the same law firm of McDougal, Love, Eckis, Boehmer and Foley.
• The City Council and staff discussed Mullin's proposals to streamline certain city processes to make the city "more business-friendly." Different concerns and questions were brought forth by councilmembers, including concern over a change to allow staff to approve of hillside/ridgeline minor review development applications rather than require that the City Council approve. City Council asked staff to prepare a second workshop.
• City Council approved a conditional use permit by DePratti Inc. (T-Mobile) to install a telecommunications facility on the 12600 block of Cobblestone Creek Road.
• City Council approved a development review and variance for an 8,509-square-foot medical center, a property purchased by two years ago.
• City Council approved a measure to eliminate the 10-year-old Tree Committee at the recommendation of Councilwoman Boyack. The Committee's fund of about $103,000 will be allocated to Earth Day and planting trees on public property.
• City Council tentatively approved a "blue curb" ordinance that would allow disabled residents to have a designated disabled-parking spot in front of their homes that would be painted blue and used only by the resident.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to note the difference in requirement of signatures needed for a general election versus a special election.