Friends of Sierra Madre v. SIERRA MADRE

In April 1998, the voters of the City of Sierra Madre approved a City-sponsored measure, Measure 1-97-1, which, inter alia, removed 29 specific properties from City's Register of Historic Landmarks. Appellant City of Sierra Madre (City) appeals from that part of a judgment granting the petition for writ of mandamus filed by Friends of Sierra Madre and Margaret Buckner (hereinafter collectively referred to as Friends) to set aside and void the election and all approvals of Measure 97-1 on the ground that the Measure violated Elections Code section 9280. [1] Friends cross-appeal from that part of the judgment denying their petition for writ of mandamus seeking to set aside Measure 97-1 on the ground that it is void for failure to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act. (CEQA; Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.)

The principal issue on appeal is whether City's actions with respect to Measure 97-1, which removed 29 properties from City's Register of Historic Landmarks, were exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378, subdivision (b)(3), (Cal.Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15378, subd. (b)(3) [formerly § 15378, subd. (b)(4)]),…