AN ANTI-DESALINATION MEASURE WILL BE PLACED ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. THAT AFTER A GROUP, KNOWN AS THE “RIGHT TO VOTE ON DESAL COALITION” COLLECTED MORE THAN THE NECESSARY NUMBER OF VALID SIGNATURES. THE MEASURE WILL ASK VOTERS IF THEY WANT THE RIGHT TO APPROVE A PROPOSED 115 MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY THAT WOULD REMOVE SALT FROM SEAWATER TO PRODUCE DRINKING-QUALITY WATER FOR SANTA CRUZ AND SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT USERS.
ALTHOUGH THE SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN ORDINANCE IN FEBRUARY (GIVING VOTERS THE RIGHT TO WEIGH-IN ON THE PROPOSED DESAL PLANTZ) , SOME ANTI-DESAL PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE NOVEMBER ELECTION (IN WHICH 4 OF THE 7 SEATS ON THE SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE UP FOR ELECTION) COULD LEAVE THE CITY WITH A COUNCIL THAT WOULD REVERSE FEBRUARY’S ORDINANCE.
