BEWARE of the Proposed Tax and Bond Measure To Build a $160 Million DOLLAR Community Center and Multi-Pool Swim Complex at Hillview Park.
10 THINGS EVERY LOS ALTOS RESIDENT SHOULD KNOW
1. This project and funding is not tied to a Master Civic Plan or any comprehensive plan for the 18 acre civic parcel. This is fast-tracked, parcel project for the Hillview Community Center and does NOT include any improvements to the Library, Police HQ, Theater, City Hall, or Open Space. This proposed project PHASE 1 is fixed to southwest residential corridor of the Civic property with planned traffic and access from residential streets, but there is more in the Master Plan that destroys our landmark Heritage Orchard and adds concrete development expansions and projects as buildings.
2. The ill-defined cost model and project specify a rebuilt, super-sized Community Center and Multiple Swimming Pool aquatic center, underground parking and relocation of sports fields, at the expense of Parks and Open space land use. This is the single largest proposed construction for a Civic or Community center project in Los Altos, or any Bay Area city.
3. The project will be partially funded through Measure A, costing homeowners $134 Million through property tax increases over 30 years to payback the$65 Million Bond issue. The annual property tax assessment is NOT FIXED, and will vary based on interest rates, bond timing and assessed home values. In 2018/2019 the City already estimates property tax rate to be $33.11 per $100,000---or $497 for a $1.5M home---per year to pay for this project. This tax will be levied whether or not you ever rent or use the Hillview Community Center. ( This is in contrast to the "estimated" "average" over the life of the bond touted by bond measure proponents of $19.36 per $100,000)
4. Additional taxpayer funding of $25 Million dollars will be paid from City Reserves already allocated, or in lieu of necessary city-wide capital improvements, identified and unfunded projects, downtown parking, storm drain repair, emergency response, etc. or other higher priority citywide needs.
5. Operating costs are unknown and not yet analyzed or budgeted and will have to be paid by other tax dollars from residents. The current cost model also does not include furnishing, fees, subsidies, insurance, staffing to support these facilities. The multi-pool swim facility makes a claim that it will be "self-supporting," yet there is no financial analysis of how this will be accomplished.
6. The Community Center Plan is scoped to build over Park space, and needed green outdoor community elements. This plan excludes or eliminates unstructured (non-sports field) lawn areas, fitness and play areas, picnic and community gathering space, and residential green buffer zones. (There is 1,276 sq feet currently set aside for micro play areas in the conceptual plan.)No consideration was given to how the green areas at Hillview Park are currently used ---to walk dogs, exercise, run, play, stroll, picnic, host outdoor concerts or gather with friends and family ---outside of a walled building or fenced sports area. Concrete, fences, and buildings aren't Park elements, period!
7. The proposed size of the 2-story Community Center building is 55,600 square feet– larger than the new Safeway Building footprint on First Street, and 20% larger than the 45,000 sq ft Hewlett Packard Foundation building. Comparables from City planning were never completed in the development of this plan. As a result, this proposed center is MORE THAN THREE TIMES LARGER THAN COMMUNITY CENTERS in demographically comparable cities like Saratoga,which has a single 16,503 square foot Community Center and combined Senior Center/Adult Care facility. (Note: No city Pool in Saratoga)
8. The project fixes in an unwarranted Swim Aquatic Center with multiple pools (2 separate swim team and training pools and 1 wading pool as planned in approved Environmental Report), competitive team bleachers and separate building, concreting in 38,000+ square feet of hardscape and fencing over Hillview Park. About the same size as a downtown city block.
9. The proposed plan for Hillview Community Center ignores the approved Design Guidelines or use any Community Survey data collected to prioritize or guide the decisions for this plan. As part of Master Civic planning, the community developed Design Guidelines that were approved by the City. All directives were ignored in this proposed project including: 1. connecting facilities to Downtown, 2. expanding Parks and Greenspace, 3. integrating facilities and traffic flow with surrounding neighborhoods, and 4. consideration of combining the Community Center together with other buildings for cost efficiencies. See how it matches to the original Guidelines here)
Citywide Community Surveys and Godbe Research polls prioritize important facilities and expenditures including the Library, Parks, Open Space, Safety/Police, and other City services at the Top of the List. What was at the bottom of the list, and considered NOT A PRIORITY or important for the community? The answer is Swimming Pools, and yet they are fixed to this location and Hillview Community Center project.
10. The scale and size of these facilities scope them for Rentals, conferences, team usage, daily use fees –leading to unaddressed revenue expectations, costs, and traffic in Los Altos. And will require marketing for use as rentals by residents outside of Los Altos. As an example from the current City proposal and plan, the draft Multi-Pool Swim schedule for "a self-supporting model" prioritizes competitive team use and training over recreational swim–showing 2 hours of proposed recreational swim per day. The Community Center, without visitor analysis of the existing center proposes expanded facilities for undetermined multi-generational needs. Dedicated senior facilities are only appropriated 1000 square feet in this proposed conceptual design, with other space to be filled by unknown programming, stakeholder meetings and rentals.
****** The City has already spent over $1 Million taxpayer dollars on "bond consultants", planners, facilitators and “educational materials” leading up to project approval through Measure A. The communication and decision process for this project comes into question by a a process favoring stakeholders and special interest groups over solid financial analysis, citywide quantitative studies and validation, or understanding how the community uses the current Hillview facilities. NOW taxpayers are being asked to partially fund this flawed Hillview Community Center project with limited details on the proposed projects details, total taxpayer costs or impact to the City and community.
We all want a revitalized, right-sized replacement for the Community Center on the Civic property ---and welcome new ideas for places and spaces, both outdoor and indoor, where the Community come together. This proposal however is far beyond the size, needs, costs and priorities for Los Altos residents, neighbors and our community---and burdens every resident with increased taxes and unknown future costs.
BALLOTS ARRIVE: OCT 5 ELECTION: NOV 3 VOTE TO SAY "NO WAY, No MEASURE A !"
TAXPAYERS and VOTERS: LET'S DO THE Measure A MATH
$65 Million-Bond Measure to partially fund project $69 Million- Debt Fees and interest to payback $25 Million- Tax dollars depleted from City Reserves $ 1 Million -already paid to consultants & voter mtls Unknown millions- Ops cost, furniture, maintenance.. plus Residents will pay to use these facilities (not free) TOTAL = $160 Million…..and counting.
Too Expensive. Too Big. Wrong Priorities. Stop Wasteful, Financially Irresponsible Planning
TOO EXPENSIVE - UNKNOWN COSTS, FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TOO BIG FOR OUR NEEDS - SIZED FOR RENTAL FACILITIES WRONG PRIORITIES: NO VALIDATED COMMUNITY SUPPORT, and DEPLETION OF CITY RESERVES POOR PLANNING, and LACK OF ANALYSIS MEASURE A DOESN'T MEASURE UP!
