Fail: 5439 / 37.59% Yes votes ...... 9031 / 62.41% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Impartial Analysis

Article 34 of the California Constitution requires approval of the voters before any "low rent housing project" can be "developed, constructed, or acquired" by any "state public body." Article 34 applies not only to publicly-owned low-income rental projects, but also to low-income rental projects developed by private persons and non-profit entities using certain types of public financial assistance. The California Supreme Court has held that the voter approval required by Article 34 can be satisfied by a vote granting authority for a designated maximum number of housing units, without having voters approve each specific project.

If approved by a majority of the voters in the City of Moorpark, Measure O would authorize the City to develop, construct, or acquire up to a maximum of two hundred (200) low rent housing units that are affordable to persons of low income in the City within a ten (10)-year period consistent with the City's General Plan Housing Element objectives. The ten (10)-year period would commence upon the effective date of the ordinance.

On December 29, 2011, the California Supreme Court upheld Assembly Bill 26 (ABx1 26), which dissolved all redevelopment agencies in California effective February 1, 2012, including the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Moorpark. Subsequently, the City elected to become the Successor Housing Agency under ABx1 26, assuming the housing functions and taking over the housing assets of the former Redevelopment Agency. No Article 34 approval currently exists for the City to develop, construct, or acquire low rent housing units.

Article 34 approval does currently exist for the Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura to develop, contract or acquire, utilizing any federal or state or local financial assistance, housing units for low income persons, including the elderly, handicapped or disabled, within the City of Moorpark, not to exceed in number 2% of the dwelling units within the City. Measure O would allow development of low-income housing subject to Article 34 in addition to the approval currently in place for the Area Housing Authority. The approval or defeat of Measure O will have no effect on the Area Housing Authority's ability to develop housing units pursuant to the previous grant of Article 34 approval. Nor does the Measure limit the City's ability to develop or assist in the development of housing that is not subject to Article 34.

Approval of Measure O will have no fiscal impact and will not authorize the construction of any specific low-income rental housing project. Projects will remain subject to the City's usual planning, environmental review, zoning, and building requirements.

City of Moorpark