Bond Measure Headed to Ballot
Marina’s City Council voted to place a $50 million General Obligation bond on the November ballot.
It’s a 30-year bond and will be paid by Marina homeowners with a $4.50 monthly fee per $100,000 of assessed value in a home. City staff promoted the plan as fairly inexpensive. Currently, according to the staff presentation, the median assessed value for a single family home in Marina is $496,000, which amounts to an annual $272 tax.
During the presentation, staff also claimed the $496,000 number was the “average” assessed value, confusing the median with the mean. According to Redfin, the average assessed value of a home in Marina is $845,304. So, the average annual bill for Marina homeowners would actually be $461, while half of Marina homeowners would be paying $272 or less annually, far less than the mean.
Mayor Bruce Delgado had voted against the measure two weeks ago, out of concerns it might not pass, and voted against it again on Tuesday. It needs two-thirds approval by voters — not 51%, but 66.4% — and studies paid for by the city have shown it will fall far short of that. More than 10% of the public will need to change their minds for the measure to pass, but the city will not be able to spend any money or resources advocating for it. A smaller bond for a new fire station, as Delgado favored, would have had a far better chance of voter approval. Again, on Tuesday, he made a motion to change the measure to just a $20 million bond for a new fire station. That failed to get a second vote.
The council did make their pitch to the public for a $50 million bond at the meeting. They pieced over the language of the bond measure, whether to make their own edits or go with the language the consultant provided.
“We’re asking the voters … to pay the equivalent of a Starbucks a week, for the average homeowner, to provide incredible services …” said Council Member Brian McCarthy. “And if you’re one of the lucky ones to own a million-dollar home, it’s a Starbucks a week and a neighbor’s for you.”
The Starbucks metaphor is somewhat apt, as the average comes to about $8.75 per week. A 24-ounce Java Chip Frappuccino with coconut milk, extra whipped cream and extra mocha drizzle costs $7.70 plus tax.
As the debate regarding the measure wound up and now has wound down, few have really argued against the need for facilities the bond measure would provide the funding for. While the mayor continued to urge the council to approve a measure that had a more realistic chance of passage, the money was needed, he acknowledged.
“I think that using the sky is not going to fall is not a good metric of whether this is needed or not,” said Delgado. “If it’s worthwhile and necessary, that should be the bottom line. And this is worthwhile and necessary.”
The city is growing and the fire and police facilities are too small, inadequate and aging, he pointed out.
It also can’t be denied that our City Council basically meets in 50-year-old double wide, so a new Community Center is going to be required sooner or later.
Councilmember Kathy Biala pointed out that the skylight in the council’s meeting room leaked and was draped with a tarp held down by sandbags to keep the water out. The windows are single pane, tape is holding up parts of the wall, the carpet is a mishmash of scraps and more. “It’s embarrassing,” she said.
Mayor Delgado said that if the measure doesn’t pass, it will at least get people talking about the issue and progress would be made with public sentiment. He pointed to recent history with other measures where it wasn’t until their third or fourth time on the ballot that “they found out what they could do to make it better and got to the finish line,” he said.
Other City Stuff
There were no other meetings. The Traffic Advisory Committee canceled its Aug. 6 meeting and the Planning Commission canceled its Aug. 8 meeting.
Imjin Road Project
The project continues right along with grading being done for a bike path and roadway section between Preston Drive and Abrams Drive. Concrete for sidewalks, a median, and ramps on Preston Drive has been poured. Some sidewalks and curbs have been installed leading into Preston Park that look quite interesting. Concrete for a mountable truck curb for 1⁄2 of the roundabout at Preston Drive has been poured and they’ve striped and reset forms and placed concrete for a section of concrete retaining wall near Abrams Drive.
POLICE ACTIVITY
AUG. 7
• On Tidepool Lane, there was a sexual assault of a spouse, ex-spouse or date with a charge of battery, sodomy by force or fear, and sodomy by intoxication or drugging.
• On Crescent Ave., several additional charges in an incident of domestic violence, including resisting a police officer, violating probation and disorderly conduct.
Aug. 9
• Somebody was caught on Reservation Road with a forged vehicle registration and without insurance.
• Shoplifting on General Stillwell Drive
• Being in a public park after dark, disrupting the peace and violating probation
• On Tamara Court, assault with a deadly weapon, failure to obey a juvenile court order, exhibit of a weapon other than a firearm, and vandalism
Aug. 10
• A purse snatching on Beach Road
• Vandalism on Seacrest Ave.
Aug. 11
• Threatening with intent to terrorize
• Vandalism and resisting a police officer