The California Supreme Court ruled that water rates and other local utility charges are considered “taxes” for the purpose of California Constitution Article II, Section 9 and therefore exempt from the referendum process....more
Calif. Supreme Court Decision in Wilde v. City of Dunsmuir - Local utility charges are not subject to referendum, according to a California Supreme Court decision issued Monday that held that water rates fall within the...more
Land Use and Development Case Summaries (short form) - 1. PLANNING AND ZONING - CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ACTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE V. CITY OF MORENO VALLEY, 26 Cal. App. 5th 689 (2018) - Based on the language and...more
The California Supreme Court has resolved a split among the courts of appeal, concluding that citizens may bring a referendum to challenge a zoning ordinance even if the referendum would temporarily leave in place zoning...more
• Two recent decisions by California courts offer important judicial guidance on the longstanding issue of reconciling local government land use decisions with the referendum and initiative powers reserved to the people by...more
On August 23, 2018, the California Supreme Court held, in City of Morgan Hill v. Bushey, __ Cal.4th __ (2018) (Case No. S243042), that a referendum petition to challenge a zoning ordinance amendment that would bring the...more
The California Supreme Court held last week that a referendum petition may be used to challenge a zoning ordinance amendment intended to make a city's zoning consistent with its general plan. In City of Morgan Hill v. Bushey...more
A referendum requiring either the rejection of an enacted zoning ordinance or submission to the voters that would leave in place zoning inconsistent with a general plan does not violate Gov’t Code Section 65860, according to...more
Supreme Court Holds City Bound by Publicly Available General Plan - Orange Citizens for Parks and Recreation v. Superior Court (2016) 2 Cal.5th 141, 211 Cal.Rptr.3d 230 - Why It Matters: The California Supreme Court...more