Yucaipa council calls June referendum on Freeway Corridor Specific Plan after hours of public comment

The Yucaipa City Council voted to hold a special referendum election on June 2, 2026, to let residents decide the fate of the contested Freeway Corridor Specific Plan update, authorizing a $200,000 budget adjustment to cover election costs. The vote came after more than an hour of public comment and detailed staff briefing on fiscal and legal implications.

Why it matters: The plan has been a multi‑year effort involving environmental review and zoning changes. Staff told the council the preparation effort has cost about $1.2 million and that a private partner (identified in the staff presentation as Pacific Industrial) agreed to reimburse $500,000 of that cost, of which $150,000 has been received. Staff estimated the direct cost of a special election at $200,000 and presented scenarios showing net general fund impacts ranging from approximately $0 (if the update is upheld and…