Linda Vista Village San Diego Homeowners Ass'n v. Tecolote Investors, LLC

Filed 1/27/15 Linda Vista Village San Diego HOA v. Tecolote Investors CA 4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

LINDA VISTA VILLAGE SAN DIEGO D064741
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.,

Plaintiff and Appellant,
(Super. Ct. No. 37-2012-00085269-
v. CU-MC-CTL)

TECOLOTE INVESTORS, LLC, et al.,

Defendants and Respondents.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Judith F.

Hayes, Judge. Affirmed; motion for judicial notice granted in part and denied in part.

Tatro & Zamoyski, Peter A. Zamoyski; Boudreau Williams and Jon R. Williams

for Plaintiff and Appellant.

Duckor Spradling Metzger & Wynne, Anna F. Roppo, Douglas W. Lytle and

Robert M. Shaughnessy for Defendants and Respondents Tecolote Investors, LLC, C.H.

Harp and Joan E. Harp (deceased), trustees of the C.H. Harp Family Trust; River Paradise

Partnership; Stephen Leonard Fox and Lynda K. Fox, trustees of Fox Revocable Trust

and Matthew Follett.
 Jan I. Goldsmith, City Attorney, Daniel F. Bamberg, Assistant City Attorney and

Carmen A. Brock, Deputy City Attorney, for Defendant and Respondent City of San

Diego.

This matter comes to us on a judgment of dismissal of a complaint for declaratory

and other relief, brought by plaintiff and appellant Linda Vista Village San Diego

Homeowners Association, Inc. (Appellant). Its members are sublessees of mobilehome

park lots on a real property site (the park site) that is subject to a 1979 master lease

between the landowner defendant and respondent, the City of San Diego (the City), and

the predecessors of defendants and Respondents Tecolote Investors, LLC, et al.

(Landlord Defendants).1 The master lease for the park site was entered into after the City

negotiated with developers to provide low income housing opportunities there.

Appellant's complaint was filed in 2012 against the Landlord Defendants and the

City (together Respondents), and alleges that the park site is located on and should be

properly characterized as "Pueblo lands," within the meaning of San Diego City Charter

section 219 (section 219). This section and its predecessors since 1909 have been applied

to certain Pueblo lands north of the San Diego River to require approval by City Council

ordinance and City voters for any sale or lease of them for more than 15 years.2 (See

1 Additional Landlord Defendants and respondents are C.H. Harp and Joan E. Harp
(deceased), trustees of the C.H. Harp Family Trust; River Paradise Partnership; Stephen
Leonard Fox and Lynda K. Fox, trustees of Fox Revocable Trust and Matthew Follett.

2 Section 219 reads in relevant part: "No sale of Pueblo Lands owned by The City
of San Diego which are situated North of the North line of the San Diego River shall
ever be valid and binding upon said City unless such sale shall have been first
2
DeYoung v. City of San Diego (1983) 147 Cal.App.3d 11, 15, 21 (DeYoung) [terms "sell

or convey" impliedly include the power to lease].)

Since no voter approval was sought or obtained for this transaction, Appellant

alleges the City was without power to enter into the existing 55-year master lease of the

park site with the Landlord Defendants (or their predecessors). As a consequence,

Appellant seeks decrees to invalidate the master lease and consequently its subleases,

specifically attacking the 1983 City-approved provisions allowing periodic rent increases.

Appellant also claims entitlement to various other types of relief, such as damages.

Following demurrer proceedings and a hearing on Appellant's motion for

preliminary injunction, the trial court sustained the Landlord Defendants' demurrer

without leave to amend, and denied the requested injunctive relief. At the joint hearing

on the motions, Respondents presented to the trial court extensive historical

documentation of the chain of title of the park site and its vicinity, through judicial notice

requests and also by lodgment of exhibits in connection with authenticating declarations.

According to the recorded ownership history of the park site and surrounding areas, at the

close of the California Spanish-Mexican period and under the treaty of Guadalupe

Hidalgo, the United States came into ownership in 1847 of many parcels of "Pueblo

lands," including numbers 1190 and 1196, where this 74-acre park site is contained

(designated here "the parcels"). (See Richert v. City of San Diego (1930) 109 Cal.App.

authorized by an ordinance duly passed by the Council and thereafter ratified by the
electors of The City of San Diego at any special or general municipal election. The
City Manager shall have authority to lease Pueblo Lands, provided that any lease for a
term exceeding one year shall not be valid unless first authorized by ordinance of the
Council. No lease shall be valid for a period of time exceeding fifteen years."
3
548, 555-556 (Richert).) By the 1850's and as confirmed by an 1874 patent deed, the

United States recognized the claim of the City to all property rights in those historic

Pueblo lands.

Beginning in the 1850's, the City transferred its ownership of many of the Pueblo

lands properties to various private landowners, starting with railroad companies, which in

turn made additional conveyances. In the 1940's, all existing private landowners of

approximately 297 acres around and including the parcels became subject to judgments

of eminent domain takings by the federal government. In 1959, the federal government

recorded a quitclaim deed back to the City of all those holdings. In the 1970's, after the

Landlord defendants' predecessor agreed to provide low income housing opportunities on

the parcels, the 1979 master lease was signed.3

Against this historic backdrop, Appellant argues on appeal that the trial court

utilized the wrong legal standards in sustaining the demurrer, and abused its discretion in

denying leave to amend the pleading. Appellant contends the master lease entered into

between the Respondents, as amended and assigned, was invalid, void, or voidable, for

lack of compliance with the voter approval term of section 219. Based on Appellant's

3 The parcels have had several historic designations, beginning for our purposes
with Pueblo Lands Nos. 1190 and 1196 in the U.S.-City patent deed (from an 1800's map,
the Pascoe Map). A 1957 County survey map changed the designations of Pueblo Lands
Nos. 1190 and 1196 (and other adjoining Pueblo Lands parcels) to Parcels Nos. 11, 12,
13, 14, and 15, all amounting to 297.3437 acres then owned by the federal government.
In 1959, the federal government quitclaimed to the City all the parcels it had taken. In
the 1997 assignment of the lease to the Landlord defendants, the description of the park
site within the parcels, as found in a 1980 recorded map, is Lots 1 through 4 of Linda
Vista Village. For purposes of charter interpretation, we refer to the parcels as a whole,
even though the park site occupies only a portion of them.
4
broad interpretation of this charter provision for voter approval of transfer of Pueblo

lands, it argues that regardless of the history of title of the parcels, it can successfully

amend to allege that the "reacquired" parcels retained "the nature of Pueblo lands" and

should still be "classified" or characterized as Pueblo lands that are subject to these

charter restrictions on transfers.

Appellant thus contends these parcels remain within the protections and

prohibitions of section 219, even though they were released from City ownership for

years but were then returned to it. Appellant seems to argue that the charter requirement

of voter approval survived all transfers of the parcels, including the eminent domain

proceedings, even if the Pueblo lands regulation became dormant or " 'quiescent' " at

times. (See U.S. v. 32.42 Acres of Land, More or Less, Located in San Diego County,

Cal. (9th Cir. 2012) 683 F.3d 1030, 1034 (U.S. v. 32.42 Acres of Land).)

On review, we apply the rule that a complaint may be subject to demurrer where

facts that can be judicially noticed render it defective. (Evans v. City of Berkeley (2006)

38 Cal.4th 1, 6 (Evans).) Before oral argument, we gave notice to the parties that we

proposed to take judicial notice on appeal of certain recorded title documents in the

record, showing the mid-19th century transfers of the parcels out of City ownership to

private landowners, followed by a federal exercise of eminent domain that took the

parcels by judgments recorded in the 1940's. In 1959, a quitclaim deed returned the

parcels to the City. (Evid. Code, §§ 452, subd. (d); 455, subd. (a); 459, subd. (c).)

In response to the notice we gave, the Landlord Defendants submitted a motion for

judicial notice of their previously lodged documents containing that same chain of title

5
information, as well as other documents submitted with their opposition to the

preliminary injunction request. Opposition has been received and considered and the

matter discussed at oral argument. As explained in part III.D, post, the judicial notice

motion is granted in part and denied in part.

In light of the applicable authorities, the recorded title documents for the parcels

demonstrate as a matter of law that on this record, the restrictions of section 219 do not

apply, the face of the pleading fails to state its causes of action, and the Landlord

Defendants' demurrer was correctly sustained without leave to amend. Based on de novo

analysis that is akin to judgment on the pleadings, the record fully supports the dismissal

of all causes of action as to the City as well. (See Coshow v. City of Escondido (2005)

132 Cal.App.4th 687, 701-703 (Coshow); pt. III.B, post.) We affirm.

I

BACKGROUND

A. Complaint

In analyzing the challenged demurrer ruling, we take the facts properly pleaded to

assess, as a matter of law, whether they state their causes of action. (Blank v. Kirwan

(1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) In ruling on demurrers, courts appropriately " 'consider

matters which may be judicially noticed,' " as if they had been pled. (Evans, supra, 38

Cal.4th 1, 6; Helix Land Co. v. City of San Diego (1978) 82 Cal.App.3d 932, 937 (Helix

Land Co.) [where demurrers were sustained without leave to amend, the reviewing court

may consider other relevant matters of which the trial court could have taken notice, if

relevant, as having been pleaded]; Weil v. Barthel (1955) 45 Cal.2d 835, 837.) The

6
courts accept the plaintiff's properly pleaded facts as true, but a demurrer is not deemed to

admit any conclusions of law or fact, nor any mere contentions. (People ex rel Lungren

v. Superior Court (1996) 14 Cal.4th 294, 300-301.)

The complaint sets forth five causes of action, initially seeking declaratory relief

against all Respondents, on the basis that the park site is "located . . . on Pueblo

Lands . . . ." As against the Landlord Defendants, the Association brings related claims

for setting aside the master lease or subleases through rescission, or for recovering

damages for statutory violations or negligent misrepresentation. All claims are based on

the premise that this portion of the City's parcels could not be leased to the Landlord

Defendants without voter approval. (Unfair Business Practices, Bus. & Prof. Code,

§ 17200 et seq.; Mobilehome Residency Law, Civ. Code, § 798, et seq.) All causes of

action were pled in terms of a class or representative action, on the basis that there were

numerous residents who had typical claims, based on common issues of law and fact

regarding the validity of the lease and subleases under section 219.

In paragraph 38 of the complaint, Appellant originally pled that the site of the park

within the parcels had been maintained in the City's ownership since January 19, 1909

(the date of an important charter amendment to the predecessor of section 219), through

the date of the master lease in 1979. (See pt. III.C, post.) However, Appellant now

concedes that in other transactions beginning in the 1850's, the City transferred the

7
parcels into private ownership, beginning with various railroad enterprises.4 The parcels

remained in private hands until 1941, when the federal government took them for World

War II defense housing. In 1959, the federal government returned the entire 297.3437

acres in the two parcels to City ownership by a quitclaim deed.

The complaint sets forth the history of the 1979 master lease arrangements,

including a 1977 City resolution to enable a portion of the parcels to be developed as

mobilehome properties and leased to low or moderate income tenants for the term of the

lease. Other City resolutions continued to require low or moderate income housing to be

provided there. The mobilehome park began operating in late 1980, and the Master

Lease was amended several times.

In 1983, negotiations were held on disputes among the parties about preserving the

low income status of the property. Only the Landlord Defendants and the City remained

parties to the lease, but they consulted a committee of Appellant homeowners'

association. The 1983 amendments changed the base rent provisions in the master lease

to allow a yearly minimum increase in space rent and to provide for reduction of rent for

subsidized tenants, among other things. In 1997, the Landlord Defendants took the

master lease by assignment.

4 The 1889 charter did not allow transfer of Pueblo lands that had been dedicated or
reserved for public use (e.g., parks), although the Supreme Court held in Ames v. City of
San Diego (1894) 101 Cal. 390, 395 that adverse possession could occur against other
types of City holdings. (Richert, supra, 109 Cal.App. at p. 556.) These parcels have
never been dedicated to public use and this is not an adverse possession claim about
them. (Cf. Hoadley v. San Francisco (1875) 50 Cal. 265, 275-276 (Hoadley).)
8
 In all its causes of action, Appellant claims that due to the alleged voidness or

invalidity of the master lease for noncompliance with section 219, the Landlord

Defendants and their predecessors had no power to impose rent increases, and that

Appellant's members were being constructively evicted through such conduct. Appellant

sought a preliminary injunction to restrict the Landlord Defendants from raising rents or

dissipating services, pending the outcome of these claims.

B. Responses and Motions

The City filed an answer to the complaint, asserting as affirmative defenses that

the City's conduct was legal and that Appellant had failed to state any of its causes of

action, as well as numerous other defenses.

The Landlord Defendants demurred, asserting failure to adequately state any of the

causes of action, and a lack of standing in Appellant to pursue any such claims.

After a temporary restraining order was granted, Respondents each opposed

Appellant's motion for a preliminary injunction, and joined in each other's opposition. In

the moving and opposing papers for both the demurrer and the injunction, the parties

discussed the effect of the ownership history of these parcels. The lodged defense

exhibits included copies of judgments from the eminent domain takings of the parcels by

the federal government in the 1940's and the quitclaim deed returning the parcels to City

ownership in 1959.

With respect to the Landlord Defendants' demurrer proceedings, held concurrently

with Appellant's preliminary injunction request, the record does not indicate that the trial

court was requested to take judicial notice of those historic private transfer deeds, or the

9
recorded eminent domain judgments, or the quitclaim deed to the City. In opposition to

the preliminary injunction motion, the Landlord Defendants requested judicial notice of

maps associated with the quitclaim deed from the federal government to the City, but did

not do so for the deed itself, or the 1940's condemnation judgments.5

C. Hearing and Rulings

Before the hearing, the trial court tentatively indicated in writing that any fact-

based standing issues that were being raised, in terms of Appellant's entitlement to class

certification, could not be appropriately resolved through demurrer proceedings. The

trial court requested that the parties address, at the upcoming hearing, certain additional

significant issues relating to standing that might affect the outcome of the motions.

At the hearing before the trial court, Appellant contended the City could not claim

that the previous conveyances cleared restrictions on these Pueblo lands. Instead, the

parcels should remain subject to the terms of section 219. Appellant offered to set forth

evidence that the City had reacquired several other parcels of former Pueblo lands and

had sought voter approval for future transfers of them. Without granting any offer of

proof, the court took the matter under submission.

5 As noted, these materials were the subject of our order of October 21, 2014
notifying the parties we proposed to take judicial notice on appeal of title documents.
(Evid. Code, §§ 455, 459.) We subsequently received the Landlord Defendants' motion
requesting such judicial notice, as well as opposition, and addressed those issues at oral
argument. Although Appellant requested an opportunity to file supplemental briefing on
the propriety of the requested judicial notice, or to further address estoppel issues against
the City, we declined its request on the basis that the pertinent ownership issues are
subject to resolution as issues of law on the current and now supplemented record. (See
pt. III.D, post.)
10
 In the written ruling, the trial court sustained the demurrer without leave to amend

on numerous alternative grounds, including determinations that Appellant lacked

standing to sue on the related causes of action, and the action was barred by the

applicable limitations periods. The court also ruled that the parcels had lost any

characterization of "Pueblo Lands," within the meaning of section 219, through numerous

title transfers. The request for injunctive relief was denied. Both as to the Landlord

Defendants and the City, the court dismissed the entire action.

Subsequently, Appellant filed a motion for reconsideration of that ruling or for a

new trial, setting forth documentation of the same three examples, as previously offered,

about other former Pueblo lands parcels that had been reacquired by the City, then

subjected to voter approval for future transactions about them. Appellant argued, without

authority, that the City should be estopped from denying that election proceedings were

required by section 219 regarding a lease transfer of these parcels, such as it had

conducted elsewhere. Appellant defended the adequacy of its standing to sue and the

timeliness of its filing of the complaint. Reconsideration was denied, Appellant brought

this appeal, and we heard oral argument.

II

ISSUES PRESENTED AND SCOPE OF APPELLATE ANALYSIS

We review the dismissal judgment that followed the ruling sustaining, without

leave to amend, the Landlord Defendants' demurrer, which was heard concurrently with

Appellant's motion for a preliminary injunction. Appellant makes no arguments on

appeal about the denial of the injunctive relief. Although that ruling is not directly before

11
us in this appeal, the trial court correctly observed that there was a fair amount of "cross-

over" analysis and documentation between the two sets of motions, and that is true of the

reconsideration phase of the proceedings, as well.

In that light and on this record, we next address various procedural problems

argued by the parties. In parts III and IV, post, we shall analyze the adequacy of the

complaint's statement of its declaratory relief and related causes of action, and address the

judicial notice motion on appeal.

A. Preliminary Standing Discussion; Limitations Issue

Appellant complains that the trial court employed irregular procedures here in

connection with the demurrer, by sua sponte raising issues about problems with

Appellant's standing to sue and the applicable limitations periods, or by incorrectly

utilizing preliminary injunction legal standards. Appellant further claims the court

abused its discretion by failing to allow amendment of the pleadings, particularly in

connection with the denial of its reconsideration motion.

Based upon the nature of the legal issues inherent in dismissal of this complaint on

demurrer, the better approach on appeal is to assume arguendo that Appellant can

sufficiently assert standing to sue on each of the related causes of action. We will posit

here that Appellant can adequately show its fitness to raise issues about whether the

master lease is in compliance with City charter standards. (See Harman v. City and

County of San Francisco (1972) 7 Cal.3d 150, 159 [municipal taxpayer had standing to

challenge alleged waste of municipal assets]; Code Civ. Proc., § 526a.)

12
 We likewise accept for purposes of argument that Appellant can assert standing to

challenge the validity of the City/Landlord Defendants' master lease, based upon alleged

third-party beneficiary status, as "intended beneficiaries" of the lease contract. (Marina

Tenants Assn. v. Deauville Marina Development Co. (1986) 181 Cal.App.3d 122, 127-

128 (Marina Tenants Assn.) [issues of law resolved on demurrer where trial court took

judicial notice of a public entity's master lease, which placed the master lease within the

scope of the pleadings]; Helix Land Co., supra, 82 Cal.App.3d at p. 937.)

To the extent that statutory limitations theories formed a basis of the challenged

ruling, we need not resolve those issues. (Gov. Code, § 66499.37 [Subdivision Map Act

provisions]; Gov. Code, § 65009 [Planning and Zoning Law provisions].) We view this

complaint as essentially alleging that public property was illegally transferred, in

violation of "binding" charter provisions. Such claims about ongoing public entitlement

to use of contested property can be exempted from the application of statutes of

limitations. For claims of adverse or illegal use of public property, " 'It is immaterial

where the title—that is, the record title—is held, whether by the state at large, or by a

county, or by some municipal department or other official body. There can be no adverse

holding of such land which will deprive the public of the right thereto, or give title to the

adverse claimant, or create a title by virtue of the statute of limitations. The rule is

universal in its application to all property set apart or reserved to the public use, and the

public use for which it is appropriated is immaterial.' " (Sixth Dist. Agr. Ass'n. v. Wright

(1908) 154 Cal. 119, 130; see Hoadley, supra, 50 Cal. 265, 275-276 [when land is

13
dedicated to public use, the public entity's title cannot be extinguished by adverse

possession and no statute of limitations applies].)

The nature of the essential legal questions about interpreting the language of

section 219 in this context, as discussed in both sets of moving papers, allows us to

conclude that the trial court and this court have both been given an adequate basis in the

record to identify and resolve the dispositive issues raised in the complaint. The two

matters addressed at the hearing, as well as the reconsideration motion, involve closely

related "cross-over" issues of law.

By letter before oral argument, we requested that the parties discuss whether the

filing of the City's answer, including its affirmative defenses, affected the City's

entitlement to dismissal of the complaint. In response to our request, the attorney

representing the City pointed to the affirmative defense it raised to the only cause of

action pled against it, declaratory relief, which asserted a failure to state sufficient facts to

constitute a cause of action. Appellant responded that factual matters may remain to be

litigated, on whether the City's actions in voluntarily seeking voter approval of

transactions concerning a different set of former Pueblo lands should estop it from

claiming that it was not required to do so in this instance.

Under all the relevant circumstances, it was not essential for the City to join in the

Landlord Defendants' demurrer, in order for it to be entitled to defend the dismissal

judgment it obtained against this appeal. The City was seeking in the answer on file to

have the complaint dismissed, for failure to state its causes of action that were all based

on alleged noncompliance with City charter provisions. (See Coshow, supra, 132

14
Cal.App.4th 687, 701-703 [trial court's inherent powers to control the progress of the

proceedings allowed the court to construe motions in limine concerning critical evidence

that was justifiably excluded, as equivalent to motion for judgment on the pleadings,

establishing that no viable cause of action could be stated].)

We rely upon the affirmative defenses pled by the City as raising the same issues

of law litigated in the demurrer, concerning the validity of the master lease in light of

charter provisions. We shall construe the City's answer and opposition to Appellant's

motion for a preliminary injunction as effectively the same as a City motion for judgment

on the pleadings. (Coshow, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th 687, 701-703.)

With that approach, and assuming without deciding that neither standing concerns

nor limitations problems are dispositive here, we next analyze the questions of law

underlying the claims against all Respondents, regarding the applicability and effect of

section 219 upon the "Pueblo lands" as they are described in this set of pleaded facts.

B. Rules of Review: Demurrer, Judgment on the Pleadings, Reconsideration

The dismissal judgment determined that Appellant cannot set forth sufficient facts

to support its declaratory relief and related causes of action for invalidation of the master

lease, on its current theory of noncompliance with the cited charter provisions, as to all

Respondents. We review that trial court conclusion under the rule that a demurrer tests

the legal sufficiency of the complaint. (Grinzi v. San Diego Hospice Corp. (2004) 120

Cal.App.4th 72, 78-79 (Grinzi); Blank v. Kirwan, supra, 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) "[W]e

review the complaint de novo to determine whether it contains sufficient facts to state a

cause of action. [Citation.] 'We treat the demurrer as admitting all material facts

15
properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law.'

[Citation.] The trial court exercises its discretion in declining to grant leave to amend.

[Citation.] If it is reasonably possible the pleading can be cured by amendment, the trial

court abuses its discretion by not granting leave to amend. [Citation.] The plaintiff has

the burden of proving the possibility of cure by amendment." (Grinzi, supra, at p. 79.)

"Judgment on the pleadings is similar to a demurrer and is properly granted when

the 'complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against [the]

defendant.' " (Coshow, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at p. 702; Code Civ. Proc., § 438, subd.

(d) [grounds for the motion must appear on the face of the challenged pleading or from

matters that may be judicially noticed].) "The trial court accepts as true all material facts

properly pleaded but does not consider conclusions of law or fact, opinions, speculation,

or allegations contrary to law or facts which are judicially noticed." (Coshow, supra, at

p. 702.)

In demurrer analysis, we test the sufficiency of the plaintiff's pleading against the

relevant principles of law. (Marina Tenants Assn., supra, 181 Cal.App.3d at p. 127.)

" 'As a reviewing court we are not bound by the construction placed by the trial court on

the pleadings but must make our own independent judgment thereon, even as to matters

not expressly ruled upon by the trial court.' [Citation.] [¶] Other relevant matters which

are properly the subject of judicial notice (Evid. Code, § 452) may be treated as having

been pled." (Marina Tenants Assn., supra, at p. 132, citing Helix Land Co., supra, 82

Cal.App.3d at p. 937.)

16
 These rules presuppose " 'that a complaint otherwise good on its face is

nevertheless subject to demurrer when facts judicially noticed render it defective. . . .

The theory is that the pleader should not be allowed to bypass a demurrer by suppressing

facts which the court will judicially notice.' " (Marina Tenants Assn., supra, 181

Cal.App.3d at p. 130.)

In reviewing the demurrer dismissal, we consider whether the allegations may

state a cause of action under any possible legal theory. (Grinzi, supra, 120 Cal.App.4th

72, 85 ["Under these circumstances, new theories may be advanced for the first time on

appeal."]; People ex rel. Brown v. Powerex Corp. (2007) 153 Cal.App.4th 93, 112 ["A

party may propose amendments on appeal where a demurrer has been sustained, in order

to show that the trial court abused its discretion in denying leave to amend."]; see

Economic Empowerment Foundation v. Quackenbush (1997) 57 Cal.App.4th 677, 684,

fn. 5; Berg & Berg Enterprises, LLC v. Boyle (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 1020, 1035

["Where a demurrer is sustained without leave to amend, the reviewing court must

determine whether there is a reasonable probability that the complaint could have been

amended to cure the defect; if so, it will conclude that the trial court abused its discretion

by denying the plaintiff leave to amend."]; Kruss v. Booth (2010) 185 Cal.App.4th 699,

712; City of Stockton v. Superior Court (2007) 42 Cal.4th 730, 747 [no leave to amend

necessary if complaint is facially incapable of amendment].)

On appeal, Appellant has proposed new amendments to more fully bring the

parcels subject to the master lease within the arguable scope of the charter provision, in

an attempt to cure the defects in the complaint. (Grinzi, supra, 120 Cal.App.4th 72, 85.)

17
We will also take into account the legal issues surrounding Appellant's asserted ground

for seeking reconsideration of the trial court's ruling, i.e., that because of its disparate

treatment of other Pueblo land properties, the City could be estopped from denying that

voter approval would be required for this transfer. All of Appellant's arguments present

the same core legal issues, which require de novo interpretation and application of the

charter language on City ownership of "Pueblo lands."

III

DECLARATORY RELIEF CLAIMS V. ALL RESPONDENTS

We next address the declaratory relief issues about the applicability of section 219

requirements to the pleaded facts about the master lease, in light of the background

history of ownership of the parcels. We identify the applicable principles for charter

interpretation and analyze the record accordingly.

A. Nature of Requested Relief

" ' "The fundamental basis of declaratory relief is the existence of an actual,

present controversy over a proper subject." ' [Citations.] The language of Code of Civil

Procedure section 1060 appears to allow for an extremely broad scope of an action for

declaratory relief: [¶] 'Any person interested under a written instrument . . . or under a

contract, or who desires a declaration of his or her rights or duties with respect to another,

or in respect to, in, over or upon property . . . may, in cases of actual controversy relating

to the legal rights and duties of the respective parties, bring an original action . . . for a

declaration of his or her rights and duties in the premises, including a determination of

18
any question of construction or validity arising under the instrument or contract.' " (Otay

Land Co. v. Royal Indemnity Co. (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 556, 562 (Otay Land Co.).)

In the context of a demurrer, the courts evaluate whether the factual allegations of

a complaint for declaratory relief reveal that an actual, ripe controversy exists between

the parties. (Otay Land Co., supra, 169 Cal.App.4th 556, 562-563.) A matter is not

justiciable or appropriate for resolution through declaratory relief unless the proper

criteria are present, that there is "an actual controversy that is currently active," and both

standing and ripeness are appropriate criteria in making that determination. (Id. at

p. 563.) In applying the basic criteria, we evaluate "the nature of the rights and duties

that plaintiff is asserting, which must follow some recognized or cognizable legal

theories, that are related to subjects and requests for relief that are properly before the

court." (Ibid.)

The rights asserted by Appellant pertain mainly to the dispute with the Landlord

Defendants about rent increases allowed by the master lease and subleases, and Appellant

seeks to avoid those increases primarily through a declaration invalidating the master

lease for the parcels. We explore Appellant's claims about the master lease's degree of

compliance with section 219 requirements, in light of the meaning and purpose of those

charter requirements.

B. Rules of Charter Interpretation

Accepted methods of statutory construction apply to charter provisions.

(DeYoung, supra, 147 Cal.App.3d 11, 17.) Determining the meaning of a statutory

standard requires the resolution of a question of law. (People ex rel Lockyer v. Shamrock

19
Foods Co. (2000) 24 Cal.4th 415, 432.) "The soundness of the resolution of such a

question is examined de novo." (Ibid.) The superior court was required to apply

statutory standards to the pleaded facts, as we do, in examining the plain language of this

section to ascertain its applicability. (City of Poway v. City of San Diego (1991) 229

Cal.App.3d 847, 859-860.) Recourse to legislative history is proper, if necessary to

ascertain legislative intent. (Ibid.)

Charter provisions "are construed in favor of the exercise of the power over

municipal affairs and 'against the existence of any limitation or restriction thereon which

is not expressly stated in the charter . . . .' [Citations.] Thus, '[r]estrictions on a charter

city's power may not be implied.' " (Domar Electric, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1994) 9

Cal.4th 161, 171 (Domar Electric, Inc.); DeYoung, supra, 147 Cal.App.3d at p. 17.)

To select the proper interpretation, we first turn to the apparent purpose of the

provision, looking to the plain language used. (Lungren v. Deukmejian (1988) 45 Cal.3d

727, 735 ["plain meaning" rule].) Where that does not suffice, " ' "The court should take

into account matters such as context, the object in view, the evils to be remedied, the

history of the times and of legislation upon the same subject, public policy, and

contemporaneous construction." ' " (DeYoung, supra, 147 Cal.App.3d at p. 18.)

C. History and Scope of Section 219; Its Arguable Ambiguity

In DeYoung, supra, 147 Cal.App.3d 11, 19-21, this court set forth the relevant

historical development of section 219. In the original Freeholders' Charter of San Diego

of 1889, the predecessor section of section 219 (§ 50) allowed the City to sell or lease all

Pueblo lands without significant restrictions. For many years, that privilege was very

20
freely used and abused by City authorities, allowing Pueblo lands to be taken by adverse

possession or sold off very cheaply. (See Richert, supra, 109 Cal.App. 548, 555-559,

citing Ames v. City of San Diego, supra, 101 Cal. 390, 395 [adverse possession allowed

of Pueblo lands].)

In 1909, former section 50, subdivision (a) was amended to "reserve from sale," or

conveyance, those northern "Pueblo Lands owned by The City" until 1930, unless there

were compliance with new procedures that required a council ordinance that was ratified

by City voters. At the same time, section 50, subdivision (b) allowed the City council to

sell or lease "all other lands now or hereafter owned by the said city not dedicated or

reserved for public use," at public auction. (Italics added; DeYoung, supra, 147

Cal.App.3d 11, 19-21.)

In 1915, the same provision of the charter applicable to transfers of northern

Pueblo lands was amended and renumbered to section 48, to add a 15-year limitation on

leases of them. The same requirements, authorization by City ordinance and voter

ratification, were retained and remained in effect through 1930 (later extended to 1940).

(DeYoung, supra, 147 Cal.App.3d at pp. 20-21.)

After 1929 amendments, a new City charter was approved in 1931, extending and

renumbering to section 219 those enacted restrictions on sale or lease of northern Pueblo

lands owned by the City, by requiring council approval and voter ratification of sales, but

without specifying an expiration date (previously 1930-1940). Current section 219 "in

essence reenacts and recodifies former section 48," and imposes a 15-year limitation

upon lease terms. (DeYoung, supra, 147 Cal.App.3d at p. 21.) However, in that case, we

21
held that the 15-year limit on Council issued leases of Pueblo lands was inapplicable, if

voter approval of a longer lease had also been obtained. (Id. at p. 22.)

Appellant admits in the opening brief that "it could be argued in the abstract"

whether section 219 still applies to Pueblo land parcels that the City reacquired, after

they had been conveyed to and among other owners, out of City hands. Appellant seeks

to amend to allege that section 219 applies "in this particular situation," to impose

protected status against any City lease of these northern Pueblo lands without voter

approval.!AOB 3, RT 39, RB 41)!

The Landlord Defendants concede there is potential ambiguity in section 219's

words regarding ownership ("Pueblo Lands owned by The City"). (Coburn v. Sievert

(2005) 133 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1495 [latent ambiguity exists where extrinsic evidence

creates a necessity for interpretation, or a choice among two or more possible meanings];

Economic Empowerment Foundation v. Quackenbush, supra, 57 Cal.App.4th 677, 685.)

They say this phrase "could have at least two meanings, based upon the contentions of

the parties in this case." (City of Poway, supra, 229 Cal.App.3d 847, 859-860 [recourse

to legislative history may be made to ascertain legislative intent].)

On review, the question becomes, what period of ownership by the City of the

subject parcels is necessary for the operative language of section 219 to apply and thus to

forbid the lease transfer of them as "Pueblo Lands owned by The City," unless voter

approval is obtained?

22
 D. Judicial Notice

Judicial notice includes "the fact of a document's recordation, the date the

document was recorded and executed, the parties to the transaction reflected in a recorded

document, and the document's legally operative language, assuming there is no genuine

dispute regarding the document's authenticity. From this, the court may deduce and rely

upon the legal effect of the recorded document, when that effect is clear from its face."

(Fontenot v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 256, 265 (Fontenot).)

Previously, we notified the parties we were considering taking judicial notice of

specified deeds and judgments, on our own motion. (Evid. Code, §§ 459, subd. (c); 455,

subd. (a).) We now address the Landlord Defendants' request for judicial notice on

appeal of exhibits they and the City previously lodged with the trial court (motion

contains an exhibit A table, listing items Nos. 1 through 99 [with a few gaps]).6 We

considered the opposition filed to the motion for judicial notice and heard the parties'

views at oral argument.

First, the Landlord Defendants request judicial notice of their previous exhibits to

declarations, the recorded deeds showing that the City transferred these parcels to private

ownership beginning in the 1860's. The Landlord Defendants supplied to the trial court

their lodged exhibits Nos. 2, 3, 4A, 4B (the 1868-1873 conveyances away from the City),

and Nos. 4c through 32 (1873-1940 non-City title holders). The City supplied documents

6 In the exhibit A list that was supplied as an attachment to the motion for judicial
notice, there is no document corresponding to any requested item numbers 70 through 71,
74 through 76, 82, 86, 89, or 92 through 98.
23
showing the 1855 sales by City to the railroads, and exhibit No. 1, the 1874 U.S. Patent

deed to the City. Additionally, the City lodged versions of section 219, from 1909 and

1929, to the present. (Evid. Code, § 452, subd. (c) [official government acts].)

Next, the Landlord Defendants seek judicial notice of their previously lodged

exhibits, Nos. 33 through 38 (the 1941-1943 federal condemnation judgments). In 1959,

the federal government issued a quitclaim deed for the parcels to the City, with associated

maps. At the trial level, the Landlord Defendants requested judicial notice of those maps.

On appeal, they have additionally sought judicial notice of exhibit No. 39, the deed itself.

The trial court's order does not expressly show whether any judicial notice requests were

granted. We can assume the trial court took notice of mandatory items, or discretionary

material for which notice was given at the trial level. (Evid. Code, § 453.)

It is well accepted that when courts take judicial notice of the existence of court

documents, the legal effect of the results reached in orders and judgments may be

established. (Fontenot, supra, 198 Cal.App.4th at p. 265; Williams v. Wraxall (1995) 33

Cal.App.4th 120, 130, fn. 7; see People v. Harbolt (1997) 61 Cal.App.4th 123, 127 [no

authority found that an appellate opinion affirming a conviction is not part of the "record

of conviction"].) It is not disputed that the same parcels at issue in the complaint are

those described in the copies provided of the 1940's eminent domain judgments.

Likewise, the same properties were the subject of the earlier transfer deeds involving the

railroads and others, and the 1959 quitclaim deed, in the documents provided.

We grant the motion as to the dispositive title documents. (Evid. Code, §§ 455,

subd. (a); 459, subd. (c).) These include the Landlord Defendants' exhibits Nos. 2, 3, 4A,

24
4B (the 1868-1873 conveyances away from the City), and Nos. 4c through 32 (1873-

1940 non-City title holders). We also take judicial notice of the City's title and charter

documents (the 1855 sales by City to Railroad and exhibit No. 1, the 1874 U.S. Patent

deed to the City; and the 1909, 1929 and current versions of § 219). Further, we grant

judicial notice of exhibits Nos. 33 through 38 (the 1941-1943 federal condemnation

judgments), and exhibits Nos. 39 through 41 (federal government quitclaiming the

property to the City; i.e., motion granted as to all requested items Nos. 1-41).

With respect to the Landlord Defendants' request for judicial notice on appeal of

lodged exhibits Nos. 52 through 57, 60 through 61, 80, 84 (i.e., newspaper articles and

historical articles and brochures that are not recorded documents), it is arguable whether

they clearly fall within the provisions of Evidence Code section 452, subdivision (h), as

"facts and propositions that are not reasonably subject to dispute" that are "capable of

immediate and accurate determination by resort to sources of reasonably indisputable

accuracy." (Ibid.; 1 Witkin, Cal. Evidence (5th ed. 2012) Judicial Notice, §§ 32-33,

pp. 138-142.) Under Evidence Code section 452, subdivision (h), it is discretionary with

this court whether to take judicial notice of such historical articles, and in any case, we

would not take judicial notice of the truth of those views. The motion for judicial notice

is denied in part, as to exhibits Nos. 52 through 57, 60 through 61, 80, 84 (newspaper

articles and historical publications).

As to the balance of the motion, it is granted, including its exhibit No. 64, the City

Attorney opinion, No. 99-2 (the "1999 opinion"), that was issued in a dispute about

different Pueblo lands properties that had likewise been transferred outside of City

25
ownership, and then back again. (Evid. Code, § 452, subd. (c) [official acts of

governmental agency].) Other appropriate requests that are granted include exhibit No.

43, a City Attorney opinion, and the City planning commission maps and documents

about the parcels and the master lease, as well as City council resolutions about low

income housing proposals, identifying these parcels and this site, and legislative acts (i.e.,

exhibits Nos. 42-51, 58-59, 62-69, 72-73, 77-79, 81, 83, 85, 87-88, 90-91, 99).

E. Section 219 Interpretation: Historical Context of Charter Amendments

We can now determine as a matter of law whether Appellant's assertions and

proposed amendments about the applicability of section 219 to these leased parcels are

supported by this record and the applicable legal principles. If instead, they would

merely amount to conclusory statements or arguments, the proposed amendments would

be inadequate. (Zelig v. County of Los Angeles (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1112, 1126 (Zelig).)

We review de novo whether a plaintiff is making "allegations contrary to law or facts

which are judicially noticed." (Coshow, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at p. 702.)

As explained in the City Attorney's 1999 opinion, the language regarding voter

approval of property transactions, when affecting northern "Pueblo lands owned by The

City," was adopted in 1909 and incorporated into the operative 1931 charter (now § 219;

see fn. 2, ante). The amendment of the former charter language in 1909 was made in

response to the result in Ames v. City of San Diego, supra, 101 Cal. 390, in which the

Supreme Court upheld an adverse possession decree against Pueblo lands. (Id. at p. 395;

see 1999 opinion, p. 5.) The 1999 opinion concludes that the legislative intent, evidenced

26
in 1909 and continued into section 219, was to protect from impolitic transfers those

Pueblo lands that remained in City ownership as of 1909.

The 1999 opinion further states that even if a property's legal description may

include the term, "Pueblo lands," section 219 nevertheless applies only to those northern

Pueblo lands that were part of the 1874 patent deed from the federal government, and that

were still in City ownership when the 1909 amendment was adopted, and that have

remained in continuous City ownership to the present. The 1999 opinion concludes that

section 219 cannot properly be interpreted so broadly as to encompass northern Pueblo

lands regardless of when they were acquired by the City, in light of that apparent

legislative intent.

The purpose of the 1999 opinion was to analyze the legislative history of section

219 in a case involving certain other Pueblo lands that also had an interrupted ownership

history (from the City, to a non-City owner, back to the City). It opined, "To interpret the

provision so broadly as to encompass pueblo lands regardless of when acquired would

lead to the unintended result of subjecting any property owned or acquired by the City

north of the north line of the San Diego River to the Section 219 restrictions." (Italics

added.)

Such opinions of a city attorney construing its charter provisions are equivalent to

the construction of a statute by officials charged with its administration, and are entitled

to consideration in charter interpretation. (DeYoung, supra, 147 Cal.App.3d at p. 18; see

Evans, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p. 9, fn. 5.) Charter provisions should be "construed in favor

of the exercise of the power over municipal affairs and 'against the existence of any

27
limitation or restriction thereon which is not expressly stated in the charter . . . .'

[Citations.] Thus, '[r]estrictions on a charter city's power may not be implied.' " (Domar

Electric, Inc., supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 171.)

The 1999 opinion sets forth a reasonable approach to understanding the effect of

section 219. It is not disputed that these parcels left City ownership in the mid-1800's

and did not return to it until 1959. To give a very broad reading of the charter term

"Pueblo Lands owned by The City" would be to imply a charter restriction on the City's

power to enter into a lease of property that it did not acquire (or reacquire) until 1959.

These parcels were not held in City ownership when the voter approval provisions were

added in 1909, and it is unlikely that the framers of the amendment could have been

considering these (or any other already transferred parcels) as potentially subject to the

amendment, which by its terms restricts future transactions on Pueblo lands property still

"owned" by the City as of 1909. Section 219 was evidently intended to protect those

Pueblo lands remaining in City ownership, as of 1909, from future uncontrolled sales or

other acquisitions.

That narrow interpretation of section 219 is consistent with the plain language of

the provision regarding ownership, as governing the rights and duties of the City with

respect to its own remaining Pueblo lands, determined as of 1909 when the restrictions

were imposed. "Where the words of the charter are clear, we may not add to or alter

them to accomplish a purpose that does not appear on the face of the charter or from its

legislative history." (Domar Electric, Inc., supra, 9 Cal.4th 161, 171-172.) We agree

28
with the Landlord Defendants that "section 219 was not intended to protect former City

owned Pueblo Lands re-acquired after the 1909 date of the original provision."

Even if the "ownership" language of section 219 is arguably ambiguous, we

should select the interpretation that is consistent with the apparent intent expressed in the

charter history since 1909, that was to prevent transfers of the City's then-remaining

Pueblo lands unless approval by ordinance and the voters was obtained. (See DeYoung,

supra, 147 Cal.App.3d at pp. 20-21.) It would not be consistent with the apparent

purpose of section 219 to apply its requirements to parcels, such as these, that were not

continuously held in City ownership in 1909 and thereafter.

F. Section 219 Interpretation on Record Showing Chain of Title

We next address Appellant's express or implied claims that even if the City's

property rights were severed after the 1850's-era private transfers concerning the parcels,

such that section 219 might not apply, it was only a temporary severance of charter

protections. Appellant seeks an opportunity for more discovery to clarify factual matters

about title transfers of the parcels and to amend the pleadings to assert that the City's

rights and obligations, to secure voter approval for transfers pursuant to the charter, still

exist despite those transfers and the 1940's eminent domain taking that occurred of the

parcels, and that affected (took) the entire property interests of the then-private

landowners.

In light of the ownership history of these parcels as laid out in connection with the

concurrent preliminary injunction proceedings, and as above, we will not disregard the

judicially noticeable materials showing that the federal government obtained full title to

29
this property for almost two decades, then deeded it to the City. The authorities establish

that when a complete taking of a property interest pursuant to federal eminent domain

occurs, it establishes new title and extinguishes previous interests not specifically

excepted by the taker. (U.S. v. 32.42 Acres of Land, supra, 683 F.3d 1030, 1034;

Burkhart v. U.S. (9th Cir. 1955) 227 F.2d 659, 661-662; U.S. v. Carmack (1946) 329 U.S.

230, 240-242.) No exceptions to these takings were specified on the face of the

judgments.

In U.S. v. 32.42 Acres of Land, supra, 683 F.3d 1030, the court was concerned

with a dispute between the federal government and the California State Lands

Commission (the Commission) over land formerly owned by the Commission. The

Commission unsuccessfully argued its public trust rights to some of the lands (as

tidelands) had survived a taking by the federal government, although the government had

paid just compensation for the property. The court concluded any such state rights were

extinguished, and no such " 'quiescent' " rights would reemerge for the Commission, such

as if the United States later sought to transfer the property to a private party. (Id. at

p. 1038; 11 Miller & Starr, Cal. Real Estate (3d ed. 2011) § 30A:4, p. 30A-8, and 2014-

2015 supp., p. 53.)

Our de novo pleadings interpretation of the language of the complaint properly

takes into account these judgments and deeds affecting the title history of the property.

(U.S. v. 32.42 Acres of Land, supra, 683 F.3d 1030, 1034.) As a matter of law, not only

the pre-1909 break that occurred in the chain of title between the periods of the City's

ownership of the parcels, but also the later taking by eminent domain, operated to

30
extinguish the section 219 requirement for voter approval of this master lease concerning

these parcels. Once the 1940's eminent domain taking was accomplished, the property

interests that could be conveyed back to the City by the federal government did not

include the allegedly appurtenant City charter restrictions.

Even assuming there is some ambiguity in the ownership language of section 219,

the eminent domain taking was definitive and defeated any potential applicability of the

1909 charter restrictions in this respect. (Williams v. Wraxall, supra, 33 Cal.App.4th 120,

130, fn. 7 [judicial notice of the truth of results reached in orders and judgments

allowed].) Accordingly, the previous historic characterization of the parcels as Pueblo

lands, before they were repeatedly transferred out of City ownership, became inoperative

for purposes of charter interpretation, as construed in light of judicially noticed materials.

The legal effect of the documents' language is clear and not reasonably subject to dispute.

(Fontenot, supra, 198 Cal.App.4th at p. 265.) It would be fictitious and unduly

conclusory to make allegations in the complaint about violation of "binding" charter

provisions, since such allegations are defective when viewed in light of contrary facts that

are judicially noticeable. (Evans, supra, 38 Cal.4th 1, 6.)

Even if we take into account the three examples of reacquired City property (for

which voter approval of transactions was sought), that were offered as the subjects of

Appellant's reconsideration motion (but without substantive briefing), no different result

will obtain. As the Landlord Defendants properly observe, "[S]imply because the City

sought voter approval of the transfer and/or exchange of certain other Pueblo Lots at a

certain point in time," it did not therefore concede the application of section 219 to all its

31
reacquired property. The City can decide to go beyond charter requirements in going to

the voters, but it was not compelled to do so in this instance. We see no indication in the

legislative history that the protections of section 219 should reattach to formerly owned

City property, if it is ultimately reacquired by the City. (See DeYoung, supra, 147

Cal.App.3d 11, 17-18.)

Both to the trial court and at oral argument before this court, Appellant has

admitted that it cannot properly allege the City held ownership of these parcels as of the

time the provisions of section 219 were enacted, until 1959, when the City regained

possession. Appellant cannot show a right to amend its pleading to attempt to bring the

parcels within the scope of section 219, as it is properly interpreted in light of its

legislative history. Also, Appellant has not established why any governing City

legislation or authority would serve the same function of reinstating Pueblo lands

protections on reacquired property, nor suggested why its estoppel theory could be

successfully pled as based on anything other than a discretionary or nonbinding policy for

placing land use matters concerning reacquired property before the voters.

We may not interpret charter restrictions as arising on the basis of implication,

such as any implied dormant or " 'quiescent' " obligations retained by the City to seek

voter approval of the master lease. (U.S. v. 32.42 Acres of Land, supra, 683 F.3d at

p. 1032; Domar Electric, Inc., supra, 9 Cal.4th 161, 170-171.) These parcels have not

continuously retained their Pueblo land status over the relevant time periods, and

therefore Appellant has not asserted rights and duties that entitle it to declaratory relief on

charter interpretation, with respect to any applicable voter approval requirements under

32
section 219. (See Otay Land Co., supra, 169 Cal.App.4th 556, 562-563.) The proposed

amendments are ineffective conclusory statements that are contradicted by the record.

(Zelig, supra, 27 Cal.4th 1112, 1126; see Evans, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p. 6.) The dismissal

of the declaratory relief cause of action was proper as to all Respondents.

IV

REMAINING STATUTORY AND TORT CLAIMS AGAINST LANDLORD DEFENDANTS

Appellant's complaint alternatively seeks relief through rescission of the master

lease and/or the subleases, or awards of restitution of rents, or tort damages for negligent

misrepresentations. Appellant alleges or would amend to allege that the City-owned

parcels remained subject to section 219, as "in the nature of" Pueblo lands. It therefore

claims the Landlord Defendants and their predecessors had no power to impose the

amended rent provisions that allowed yearly rent increases, pursuant to the master lease

and the related City resolutions permitting development on the parcels to include low or

moderate income housing. Appellant takes the position that its members were being

constructively evicted through such "illegal" conduct.

In its statutory causes of action, Appellant sought to restrict the Landlord

Defendants from carrying out those allegedly unfair business practices, to raise rents or

dissipate services, pending the outcome of these claims. (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 17200 et

seq.; Civ. Code, § 798 et seq.) These theories seem to ask the courts, effectively, to

compel renegotiation of the rent increase provisions in the master lease, in such a manner

as to accomplish rent control for the subleases, all due to alleged invalidity under section

219. However, the key interpretive question of ownership of the parcels at the relevant

33
times must be resolved against Appellant's position. For the same reasons explained

above, it would not be consistent with the evident purpose of section 219 to permit the

use of these alternative theories in the complaint as vehicles to seek changes in the terms

of the master lease.

To the extent the record gives insight into the meaning of section 219, we may

look to " ' "matters such as context, the object in view, the evils to be remedied, the

history of the times and of legislation upon the same subject, public policy, and

contemporaneous construction." ' " (See DeYoung, supra, 147 Cal.App.3d at p. 18.) We

believe the City could reasonably interpret section 219 as allowing it to pursue legitimate

public policy goals even on historic Pueblo lands, such as leasing these parcels for the

purpose of providing low to moderate income housing development, as specified in the

lease. As amended, the master lease allows the parties to require regular rent

adjustments. Such a policy was recognized in the factual context of DeYoung as being

fiscally prudent for the City. (DeYoung, supra, at p. 22, fn. 6.)

In conclusion, Appellant has not established any entitlement to relief based on its

claim that reacquired City Pueblo lands (following periods of severed City ownership

rights) somehow remain subject to section 219 requirements for voter approval of

property transactions. We disagree with any claim that the trial court failed to use proper

procedures in ruling on the various motions. When resolving the pleadings questions, the

trial court was not required to ignore the judicially noticeable material presented in

connection with the other motion being heard. (Evid. Code, § 452, subds. (c), (d).) The

dispositive legal questions as to all Respondents were properly brought before the trial

34
court in the demurrer proceedings, the companion motion and its record, and in the City's

answer on file, and they have been fully presented in this appeal. Judgment on the

pleadings was appropriate and the demurrer was properly sustained without leave to

amend.

DISPOSITION

The judgment of dismissal is affirmed as to all Respondents. The motion for

judicial notice is granted in part as to all requests, with the exception that it is denied as to

exhibits Nos. 52 through 57, 60 through 61, 80 and 84 as they are listed in exhibit A to

the motion. Costs are awarded to Respondents.

HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

NARES, J.

McDONALD, J.

35