Larkspur’s Measure D, which would re-affirm a newly adopted rent control ordinance, was ahead by just eight votes according to early election results released Tuesday from the Marin County Registrar of Voters.
Measure D was placed on the ballot as a referendum following a successful signature-gathering campaign by opponents of the rent control ordinance passed by the Larkspur City Council last September.
If passed by a simple majority of voters, it would affirm the council’s decision to cap annual rent increases at 5 percent plus inflation or 7 percent, whichever is lower.
As of late Tuesday, Measure D was ahead with 974 votes to 966 — or 50.2 percent approval.
The new rules wouldn’t apply to rental units that came on the market after Feb. 1, 1995, accessory dwelling units or owner-occupied properties in most cases, according to information on the Marin County Elections Department website.
The ordinance, which would expire in 2029, would also create a “rental registry” to collect data on rental units in town, and would establish a procedure for landlords to petition the city for rent increases above the established cap.
Other local ballot measures
In other elections, the Tamalpais Union High School District’s Measure A, which would authorize $517 million in bonds and levy a $30 per $100,000 assessed value property tax, had a little more than 52 percent of the vote, short of the 55 percent needed for the bond measure to pass.
Belvedere’s Measure C, winning with a little more than 76 percent of the vote, authorizes the city to continue spending the current property tax of $994 per residential dwelling unit, $1,131 per occupancy in commercial structures and $199 per vacant parcel for fire protection and emergency medical services.
Ross’ Measure E, winning with nearly 73 percent of the vote, reauthorizes until June 30, 2035 an annual public safety property tax of $1,201.50 per dwelling unit for single family homes and $1,201.50 per parcel for all other uses, in order to raise about $1 million a year.
San Anselmo’s Measure F, with 63 percent of the vote, would remove the city from the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Zone 9.
Bel Marin Keys Community Services District’s Measure G is a $1,800 per year parcel tax to raise more than $1.2 million annually to maintain and develop infrastructure, including locks and levees, and dredging waterways. Measure G was ahead with 78 percent of the vote late Tuesday.
With nearly 76 percent of the vote, Marinwood Community Services District’s Measure H would allow the district to spend its existing special fire protection and emergency response tax until 2028 and Measure I, with nearly 74 percent, would do the same for its parks, open space and street landscape services tax.
