Voters in East Palo Alto for the Nov. 3 election are considering Measure O, a $125 million bond measure that would fund the construction of new facilities like a city hall and library and improvements to the city’s water and flood infrastructure.
The bond measure would finance part of the proposed project upgrades, which are estimated to cost about $205 million. The majority of the project costs, around $120 million, will fund a 100,000-square-foot building at Pulgas Avenue to house a new civic center, a library three times the size of the existing one, a city hall, and community spaces.
The remaining funding would support recreational spaces like a track and field facility as well as upgrades to the city’s water and stormwater systems to include new water storage facilities, water mains, pipelines, storm drains and flood protection. It would also be allocated to construct a 20,000-square-foot police department facility, including an emergency command center.
The rest of the costs not covered through the bonds would be funded through general fund allocations, state and federal grants, and raising private donations.
If approved, Measure O would levy a property tax of $105.26 per $100,000 of assessed value.
It was placed on the ballot by the City Council with a majority vote. In order to pass, it requires at least two-thirds approval from the voters.
Getting things built: ‘It’s hard’
“I strongly support this,” said Councilmember Mark Dinan at a City Council meeting in July when the measure was placed on the ballot. “It’s hard to get a civic center built. It’s hard to get a police station built. It’s hard to get a sports field built. It requires sacrifice, and it’s time for us to step up and get it done.”
“I think improving what I would call the civic infrastructure is really, very important for the health and safety of the community as well as for economic development,” said Vice Mayor Ruben Abrica at the meeting.
While the proposed measure appeared to have majority community support based on a survey conducted for the city over the summer, some residents at the July meeting spoke out, saying they thought the ballot language was unclear.
One of them was Sharifa Wilson, executive director of the East Palo Alto Community Archive, which is an organization that collects historical records related to the city and its roots.
“This needs to be put in plain language so that people understand that if you have a house that’s $400,000, you’re paying $400 for that tax,” she said. “I support the bond, but again, I think it needs to be in plain language so that people won’t feel like they’re being tricked.”
An official opposing argument to Measure O was submitted by Mark W.A. Hinkle, president of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association. He argued that the city should allocate the necessary funding through its own budget appropriations.
Registered voters can submit their ballots until Election Day on Nov. 3. There are currently three vote centers open in the county. Additional centers will open on Saturday and Oct. 31, bringing the total to 50 vote centers.
In East Palo Alto, a vote center opens Saturday at the Lewis & Joan Platt East Palo Alto Family YMCA at 550 Bell St. Two additional in-person vote centers open in the city on Nov. 2, the day before Election Day. The centers will be open until 8 p.m. on election night.
A map of vote centers and ballot drop off locations in East Palo Alto and across the county can be found online.
