§ 31-3. Voter Approval for On-shore Facilities.

(a)

When any person proposes to undertake the development within Sonoma County of any on-shore energy facility relating to the exploration or development of off-shore oil or gas resources and requests an amendment of the County's Certified Local Coastal Program to facilitate such development, a determination by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to Public Resources Code section 30515 that the proposed amendment is in conformity with the policies of the Coastal Act and that the Certified Local Coastal Program should be amended to incorporate such development shall not be effective unless a majority of the electors of Sonoma County in a general or special election, approve the proposed amendment. The decision on whether to call a special election or a general election shall be in the discretion of the Board of Supervisors.

(b)

The Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County is hereby authorized and directed to enact any further ordinances or regulations necessary to give effect to this section and specifically may require that the person seeking any such amendment to the County's Certified Local Coastal Program pay, to the extent permitted by law, all costs associated with the special or general election required herein.

(c)

The referendum provided for by this section is intended to extend only to those legislative acts which may be validly exercised by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in connection with the amendment of the County's Certified Local Coastal Program to provide for the development of on-shore facilities to support off-shore oil and gas exploration and development. Neither this chapter nor this section is intended, and shall not be construed, to apply to any activity or program which is regulated by federal or state law, to the extent that such application of this section or chapter would conflict with such law or would unduly interfere with the achievement of federal or state regulatory activities. It is the intention of the Board of Supervisors and the people of the County of Sonoma that this ordinance shall be interpreted to be compatible with federal and state enactments, and in furtherance of the public purposes which those enactments express.