VOTER BALLOT INFORMATION

A group of residents suggested Modified Ballot Measure A language to the City Council prior to approval of the Measure Ordinance to more accurately reflect the cost and scope of the proposed project.  
Unfortunately, this proposal was denied, but this is what was suggested:

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Petitioned and proposed 75-word modification to ballot measure statement to help clarify Measure A to voters. Proposal Denied.

Here is the official Primary Argument and Rebuttal Opposing Measure A and proposed Hillview Community Center Project.   This is what voters will see in their ballot materials in mid September.  Ballots will arrive after October 5 and all voting ---mail in and walk in --must be completed by the election on November 3, 2015.
 

PRIMARY ARGUMENT 
AGAINST MEASURE A

THE HILLIVEW COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT DOESN’T ADD UP

TOO EXPENSIVE: UNKNOWN COSTS
Think about the real cost to homeowners of a $65 MILLION debt that when paid back EXCEEDS $100 MILLION, including interest.  PLUS– $25 MILLION OF CITY RESERVES that will forego funding other city services, emergencies or citywide needs. PLUS – UNKNOWN OPERATING COSTS (maintenance, utilities, insurance) not included in this proposal. 

PROPERTY TAX RATES ARE NOT FIXED, and could increase beyond the “average” “estimated” tax based on interest rates and other factors over 30 years.  Los Altos Tax Rate Statements for this Measure already estimate a higher 2018/2019 at $33.11 per $100,000 of assessed value (different from the $19.36 per $100,000 presented by the City as the annual estimated average tax.)

SIZED TOO BIG: SCOPED FOR RENTAL FACILITIES
The proposed 55,600 square feet facility is THREE TO FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF COMMUNITY CENTERS in demographically comparable cities, and the Multi-Pool Swim Complex prioritizes competitive team use and training over recreational swim. Expanded community facilities sized for conferences, unknown programs and rentals----with no understanding of operating costs, staffing, maintenance ---LEAD TO UNADDRESSED REVENUE EXPECTATIONS AND TRAFFIC on Los Altos thoroughfares and neighborhoods.

WRONG PRIORITIES: LITTLE VALIDATED SUPPORT.
The Community Center and Multi-Pool Swim Complex are fixed to the Hillview Park location, and DO NOT INCLUDE SERVICES LIKE the LIBRARY, PUBLIC SAFETY, or address Greenspace and Downtown connections, which city research show ARE HIGHER PRIORITIES.  Existing Park and Open Space are ELIMINATED from current conceptual plans, to be “considered” later in undetermined designs. NOT A PRIORITY.

Unsupported priorities like the MULTI-POOL SWIM COMPLEX ARE FIXED TO THIS COMMUNITY CENTER AND MEASURE. In the City funded 2012 Godbe Research poll, Los Altos residents ranked "building a community pool facility" DEAD LAST and NOT IMPORTANT at all.  And WITHOUT quantitative utilization studies or visitor analysis on the current Community Center, how can validated priorities be made for future facilities?
Los Altos Deserves Better.  Vote NO.

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Bill Lonergan           Los Altos Resident/ CEO

Maria Murphy Lonergan  Los Altos Resident/Business Exec
                              Los Altos Neighborhood Traffic Task Force 
                 Co-Founder Almond School Safe Routes to Schools

Catherine Nunes      Los Altos Resident/ Downtown Business  
                                    Owner   
                                   Los Altos Downtown Neighbors Network

James Jolly             Los Altos Resident/ Retired Business Exec

Wallace Palmer       Los Altos Resident/Research Consultant

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ReBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR of MeASURE A

Hillview Community Center needs replacement, but NOT UNWARRANTED EXPANSION and ADDED COSTLY FACILITIES that are not understood or budgeted.

Nowhere does the Argument for Measure A mention costs. The plan estimates $87 MILLION for construction only — paid by a citywide $65 MILLION 30-year variable property tax increase, EXCEEDING $100 MILLION with interest, and $25 MILLION drained from City Reserves. Further, this annual tax is not fixed, and does not exempt seniors and those on fixed incomes.

Measure A nearly TRIPLES THE SPACE CURRENTLY USED BY THE COMMUNITY CENTER without studies, data or analysis to validate the need for a 55,600 square foot center rented out to cover unidentified operating costs.

Measure A adds a supposed “self-supporting community pool facility” with a 3-pool complex locking in competitive teams and training instead of recreational use. Residents pay taxes to build the complex, then pay again to use it. This facility does not include plans for insurance, operating costs, maintenance, or repairs to make it “self-supporting”. Other cities found operating expenses for pools unlikely to breakeven requiring taxpayer subsidizing.

Measure A proposes to expand Hillview Park and Open Space, yet no provisions for non-rented, public use green space are in this plan.

Measure A is NOT SUPPORTED by a broad cross section of residents because it is committed to wrong priorities, lacks critical analysis, ignores City funded surveys, and minimizes true costs.

Measure A is not in keeping with a right-sized, financially responsible plan.

Your Money, Wrong Plan.
Vote NO on Measure A.    

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Randall Hull          Los Altos Resident/Business Owner
                                  Former Los Altos Planning Commissioner

William C White   Los Altos Resident/Software Engineer      
                                  Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association

Caroline Rumptz      Los Altos Resident/ School Parent
                                   Former Swim Team and Swim Club Parent

Carol Frattini         Los Altos Resident/Systems Analyst

Mark Goines           Los Altos Resident/Venture Capitalist
                                   Former member, Board of Trustees, 
                                   Los Altos School District.

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Read CURRENT ARTICLES & More VOTER INFo

8.18.15 Town Crier Article
Hillview redo opponents say project 'doesn't add up'

Argument Against Los Altos Measure A

Neighbor Article
Ready to Vote No: A Millennial Perspective
by Ryan Lion, Los Altos Resident

Sign UP for EMAIL and "NO on A" Petition