County Supervisors Ask City to Pass Ordinance to Lower Gas Prices

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SAN DIEGO (AP) — As California gas prices reached record levels, the county Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to ask the City Council to revive a 2-year-old ordinance to lower gas prices.

The City Council last year failed to enact the ordinance, approved by county supervisors in May 1997, that would have forced oil companies to sell or franchise company-owned gas stations in

rder to create competition and lower gas prices. Several area cities also supported the measure.

On Tuesday, county supervisors voted unanimously to send a letter to city officials asking for final approval of the ordinance. Citing a potential conflict of interest, supervisor Dianne Jacob abstained from voting, but said she supported the action.

"What has become clear to all of us is there's an incredible amount of price gouging going on at the gas pumps in this city and this county," said county supervisor Ron Roberts. "The San Diego City Council needs to join us to protect our consumers."

California has suffered the brunt of price hikes nationwide due to production cuts to boost sagging oil prices, fires at two refineries in Northern California that cut into supplies, and the state's decision to remove an additive from gasoline.

The Federal Trade Commission is investigating pricing policies by oil firms in San Diego and San Francisco, and a class action lawsuit alleging price-fixing and antitrust activity by

alifornia's major oil refiners was scheduled for trial later this year.

Oil industry representatives have said gas prices are dictated by the free market system.