Apr 10, 2007

City council backs bond measure

Date, format of proposal left unresolved; money meant for police station, library

By Kristina Peterson / Daily News Staff Writer

The Palo Alto City Council voted unanimously Monday night to move forward with a bond measure for new public safety and library buildings.

Despite vocal public support at Monday's council meeting for a new library building, the council emphasized the need to replace the police building built in 1967, which Council Member Bern Beecham called "absolutely inadequate."

"We have to find a strategy to build a public safety building," said Council Member Dena Mossar. "The library is just gravy."

But Council Member Peter Drekmeier said that while he thinks building a new police building is "more important," only a library bond could actually pass in an election.

"I would rather get something than nothing," he said, though he ultimately voted in support of the measure. In a February poll, 59 percent of residents -- a majority but not the two-thirds required to pass a bond measure -- supported a $95 million proposal combining both projects. The public was slightly more enthusiastic over a $45 million renovation of Mitchell Park Library, with 63 percent in favor. Only 57 percent supported the $50 million construction of a new police building alone.

The council left several issues unresolved on Monday night, including whether to combine the library and public safety building measures in a single proposal, or pose them as two separate questions on the same ballot.

"The libraries are popular. A public safety building is not popular, but the city council understands it needs to be done," Beecham said.

"I think we can sell this," urged Council Member Jack Morton.

The council agreed that the proposed renovation of Mitchell Park library should incorporate building a combined community center with the renovated library.

Lisa Hendrickson, director of Avenidas, said the senior center was already operating at capacity and would be eager to host events in a potential community center's multipurpose rooms.

"Avenidas would be first in line to sign up," she said.

Meanwhile, a parcel tax proposed by city staff to fund staffing, maintenance and operations for the new buildings garnered little enthusiasm from council and residents alike.

Resident Bob Moss said placing a third tax on the measure would be a disaster and would result in "losing all three."

"I have never supported a parcel tax and never will, but that does leave open the question of how to pay for staffing and operations," Mossar said.

The council also left open whether the final bond measures would be placed on a June 2008 or November 2008 ballot.

Several council members cautioned that the extra months before the November ballot would provide crucial time to educate the public.

But Council Member Judy Kleinberg warned that while Palo Alto residents might be able to focus on a special election in June, by November they could be "overwhelmed by national politics."


E-mail Kristina Peterson at kpeterson@dailynewsgroup.com