An initiative to reduce traffic in Oxnard by restricting growth has failed to qualify for the November ballot, falling short of its goal by more than 1,100 required signatures.

About 68 percent, or 4,833 signatures, approved of sending the Oxnard Traffic Initiative to voters, Oxnard City Clerk Daniel Martinez said Wednesday. The initiative needed 5,976 to qualify, which represents 10 percent of the registered voters in the city.

The result was based on a random sample count by the Ventura County Elections Division of 500 registered voters who signed initiative petitions. Officials verified 68 percent of the signatures and applied that success rate to the 7,066 signatures submitted by supporters two weeks ago.

The count is unofficial, meaning county officials have not certified the results, Martinez said. But he doesn't expect any changes. Certification is expected by Friday at the latest, Martinez said.

Oxnard Councilman Tim Flynn, who spearheaded the initiative, said he wants to ask the City Council to put the matter on the ballot anyway. An ad-hoc group of backers will meet today to discuss their options — seek a full count of all signatures or recirculate the petition.

Oxnard resident Edward Castillo, a supporter of the initiative, said state law guarantees the proponents a full count, as long as they pay for it.

Martinez questioned the assertion of a guarantee. "They would have to show me in the code where it says that," he said.

Under state law, officials would automatically conduct a full count if the sample shows an approval rating of 95 percent to 110 percent, said Tracy Saucedo, assistant registrar of voters for Ventura County.

Because the numbers fell so far from the 95 percent minimum, it's unlikely the results will change, Martinez said.

"They can ask for (a full count), but unless they want to pay for it, I don't see it happening," Martinez said. "To me it would almost be a waste of money."

The random sample cost about $1,000, Martinez said. He did not have a figure for a full count.

Tom Cady, a retired Oxnard assistant police chief who led the opposition, cheered the news.

"I guess the residents recognized the flaws and difficulties created by this initiative," said Cady, chairman of Citizens for a Safe and Prosperous Oxnard.

The group is a coalition of business leaders, property owners and developers. They argued that the initiative would do nothing to fix traffic problems. And other critics said traffic wasn't that big a concern for Oxnard residents.

The initiative would apply to residential proposals of six or more homes or commercial projects exceeding 5,000 square feet within five miles of badly congested intersections.

Traffic engineers rate intersections from A to F.

The initiative would prohibit development near intersections rated D or below, unless congestion problems are fixed. If no solution is available, a proposed development would have to be approved by voters.

The initiative does not spell out who is responsible for improving intersections.

A 2005 survey found that six of Oxnard's intersections are deficient during morning and evening rush hours. Five more are deficient only in the morning, and 14 in the evening.

Updated figures are expected early next year.

On Wednesday, Cady released the findings of a survey commissioned by opponents that showed respondents rated traffic sixth of seven major city issues.

Traffic trailed public safety, education, access to healthcare, preserving open space and farmland, and protecting property rights. Affordable local housing for police and firefighters was last.

The phone survey of 400 likely voters was conducted in August.

Cady could not provide a margin of error.

Castillo said he was skeptical of the survey because it was commissioned by opponents.

"To say there's no traffic is just an insult to the intelligence of the people of this community," Castillo said.