FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SIMI VALLEY, CA – February 18, 2022 – The Simi Valley City Council has approved a resolution supporting the Our Neighborhood Voices statewide ballot initiative, which seeks to return control of local land use and zoning decisions to cities and local governments.

In a 4-1 vote on Monday, with Councilmember Ruth Luevanos dissenting, the Council adopted the resolution endorsing the measure. Simi Valley joins Camarillo as one of the only cities in Ventura County to support the effort. As of the vote, 34 cities across California had endorsed the proposed initiative.

The Our Neighborhood Voices initiative would amend the California Constitution to specify that adopted local laws prevail over conflicting state laws on land use, zoning, and planning matters. If enough qualified signatures are gathered and submitted to the California Secretary of State by May 2, the initiative would qualify for the November ballot.

Mayor Pro Tem Elaine Litster, who requested that the Council take a formal position, highlighted the importance of preserving local authority.

“I think this is so important that we have our control over our local government and our neighborhoods,” Litster said. “I think we need to join with all those other cities to make our voices heard.”

Deputy City Manager Samantha Argabrite noted that the state Legislature has approved multiple laws in recent years that remove local control over zoning and planning. These include Senate Bill 9, which allows two primary residential units on a single-family lot with ministerial approval and permits lot subdivisions. She explained that most of these laws do not require affordable housing and instead simply mandate more units, often without giving cities authority to plan for the necessary infrastructure.

Argabrite emphasized that the proposed measure recognizes the extensive work cities invest in their general plans to create an appropriate housing mix for their communities. State laws addressing legitimate statewide interests—such as coastal protection and major infrastructure projects—would continue to supersede conflicting local laws. Proponents also state that the initiative was drafted to ensure full compliance with all state environmental, fair-housing, and anti-discrimination laws.

Councilmember Dee Dee Cavanaugh pointed to resident concerns raised when SB 9 was enacted, particularly about neighbors subdividing lots, and noted that the initiative would allow every Californian to vote on the issue.

“To me that’s a positive because it’s a way to put something on the ballot that you can vote yes or no on yourself,” Cavanaugh said.

The resolution adopted by the Council states that numerous recent state laws regarding land use, zoning, and planning override “the careful and well-thought-out urban planning process undertaken by the City of Simi Valley.” It further notes that many of these laws “do not provide any incentives or requirements for low-income, affordable or moderate income workforce housing and instead impose new policies that will incentivize speculation and result in the addition of market rate or luxury housing.” The resolution stresses that local governments—not the state—should solve the affordable housing crisis through solutions tailored to the unique needs of each community.

During discussion, Councilmember Luevanos raised concerns that the city lacks inclusionary ordinances to promote affordable housing and cited past decisions and state letters regarding unmet Regional Housing Needs Allocation requirements. Litster responded that supporting the initiative does not mean opposing housing or accessory dwelling units, and that cities should retain the ability to make appropriate local decisions, such as limiting the number of ADUs on a property.

Mayor Keith Mashburn concluded the debate, and Councilmember Mike Judge moved to adopt the resolution.

For more information about the Our Neighborhood Voices initiative, visit https://www.ourneighborhoodvoices.com/.