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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
Contra Costa County, CA November 8, 2005 Election
Measure R
Bond
City of Walnut Creek

2/3 Approval Required

Fail: 16,133 / 61.53% Yes votes ...... 10,087 / 38.47% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Nov 23 10:05am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (39/39)
Information shown below: Summary | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement |

To replace the outdated, undersized, worn out downtown library with a new library accessible to all, with adequate space for books and materials, children's reading programs, a computer, homework and tutoring center for local students, and the space and equipment to offer computer and Internet programs for adults and seniors, shall the City of Walnut Creek issue $21 million of bonds to build a new downtown library, adjoining plaza and parking for the new library and Civic Park?

Summary:
Accountability Measures of Bond Measure R


As required by Section 53410 of the Government Code, the following accountability measures are hereby made a part of the City's Bond Measure R (the "Measure"):
a) The specific purpose of the bonds is to build a new City library, adjoining plaza and parking for the new library and Civic Park;


b) The proceeds from the sale of the City's bonds will be used only for the purposes specified in the Measure, and not for any other purpose;


c) The proceeds of the Bonds will be deposited into a Library Construction Fund to be held by the City; and

d) The Administrative Services Director of the City shall file an annual report with the City Council of the City, commencing not later than November 1, 2006, and annually thereafter, which report shall contain pertinent information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, as well as the status of the library project listed in the Measure.

Impartial Analysis from Walnut Creek City Attorney
This measure places before the voters the question of whether bonds should be authorized for the construction of a new public library in Civic Park. A "yes" vote by at least two-thirds of the voters voting on this measure will authorize the City Council of the City of Walnut Creek to issue and sell general obligation bonds in an amount up to $21,000,000 for the acquisition and construction of a new library. In addition, bond funds could be used to provide a plaza adjoining the library, and parking for the new library and for Civic Park.


The bonds will constitute a general obligation of the City of Walnut Creek, and a tax will be levied annually upon the taxable real property within the City sufficient to pay the interest on the bonds and such part of the principal as will fall due within the succeeding year. The bond proceeds can only be used to acquire and construct the library, plaza and parking, and to pay costs of issuing the bonds.


The maximum rate of interest to be paid on the bonds is 8%. The actual rate of interest on the bonds will be determined at the time of sale of the bonds by competitive bid. The principal is to be repaid over a period not to exceed forty years. The timing of the sale of the bonds and the amount sold will be governed by the needs of the City, bond market conditions and other relevant factors. For example, grant funds or other funding could become available for the project and be used to reduce the amount of bonds the City would need to issue to complete the project.


Additional information is provided in the accompanying Tax Rate Statement.


Thomas Haas
City Attorney

  Official Information

City of Walnut Creek Measure R Home Page
Partisan Information

Yes on Measure R

No on Measure R
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Arguments For Measure R Arguments Against Measure R
Walnut Creek's downtown library is undersized, worn out and obsolete. The 44-year-old building has significant access, seismic, safety and energy problems. Despite this, it's one of the busiest in the county. With approval of Measure R, Walnut Creek will build a library for our information age where all residents will find the books, materials and electronic resources essential to lifelong learning.


The limitations of the existing library are clear.

  • It was built when Walnut Creek was seven times smaller.
  • It ran out of space 20 years ago.
  • To add a new book, librarians must remove an old one.
  • Space is inadequate for computers, quiet reading and children's programs.
  • The antiquated electrical system restricts computer and Internet use.


Measure R raises funds to build a new library that will enhance Civic Park and:
  • Provide adequate space to serve our community today and tomorrow;
  • Ensure full access to all;
  • Meet modern seismic, safety and energy-efficiency standards;
  • Enhance the City's existing partnerships with the schools by providing our students with a computer-and-homework center, tutoring services and electronic reference and research training;
  • Expand space to accommodate daily reading programs for young children, more children's books and additional learning activities;
  • Include a technology training center where adults and seniors can learn to use computers and the Internet.


The cost is reasonable with an annual average of $9.05 per $100,000 of assessed value. It will raise $21 million that will be combined with private donations, grants and money the City has saved to replace the existing downtown library. Join us in voting to build an information-age library and to give all of Walnut Creek residents the books, materials and computer resources the future demands. Learn more at http://www.AboutMeasureR.org. Vote YES for Measure R.


City of Walnut Creek City Council
s/Gary S. Skrel, Mayor

s/Cindy (Stein) Gershen
Owner, Sunrise Bistro, Café & Bakery

s/Patrick H. Lickiss
Principal, Las Lomas High School

s/Barbara Yates El-Baroudi
Rossmoor resident

s/Karrie Connors
President, League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley

Rebuttal to Arguments For
This election is not a referendum on whether we need a new library. It's whether we should go into debt for the one that's proposed.

We agree the downtown library needs to be replaced, but the proposed replacement is too big for Civic Park, and too expensive.

  • The argument in favor doesn't tell us any details about the plan or why Walnut Creek must go in debt.
  • The proposed structure is almost five times the size of the old library. It includes a 42,000+ square feet building and a 310 space, 5 story parking structure.
  • Traffic congestion and impact on Civic Park hasn't been determined with no environmental impact study done yet.


The total cost is estimated at $50-$55 million.
  • This proposed bond would raise $21 million. Except for $17 million set aside by the City, the rest is supposedly coming from a State library bond that hasn't been approved yet, plus private donations.


The proponents estimate annual operating costs at $1.75 million.
  • Similar sized library systems actually cost $4-5 million per year. If this library is built, its annual costs would require additional new taxes, serious cuts in other important City programs, or both. This is not a good plan.


Join us in voting NO on this debt proposal and tell the City Council to come back with a project that better matches the needs and funds of our community.
Please vote NO on Measure R
For more information go to http://WWW.NOonR.info or call 925.295-2123

s/Jim Hazard
Former Mayor, Walnut Creek
s/Richard Pratt
Governor, Golden State Club Rossmoor
s/Kathleen Lawrence
Owner, Clarissa Bridal Salon
Walnut Creek
s/JoAnn Hanna
Retired Walnut Creek Planning Commissioner
s/Bill Armstrong
Former Mayor, Walnut Creek
President Regional Arts Center Campaign

We agree the present downtown library is inadequate. However, the proposed library:
  • Is five times the size of the present library because the proposal assumes everyone in Walnut Creek uses the downtown library. It ignores the Ygnacio Valley branch, and the libraries in Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, and the Rossmoor-Books-to-Go program.
  • Includes a 310 space parking structure that could be as tall as five stories.
  • Is too large for Civic Park. The project should be designed to fit the park, not the other way around.
  • Is still in the planning stages. The public should not be asked to approve a bond measure for a project where so much is still unknown.


Walnut Creek can do better. This bond measure is a "rush to judgment" before we have all the answers. A realistic plan for the downtown library:

- Would provide a modern library Walnut Creek can afford to build and operate

- Would be compatible with Civic Park and take advantage of the existing buildings

- Would not require a five story parking garage

- Would not require taking the Maxwell home by eminent domain

- Would not rely on $18 million coming from a proposed state library bond


Please join us in voting NO on this measure so we can build a BETTER library.


Please vote NO on Measure R on November 8

s/Thomas G. Dunne
Former Walnut Creek City Manager
Walnut Creek
s/Mary L. Lucas
Former Mayor of Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek
s/Audrey M. Bramhall
Former Chair, Walnut Creek Open Space Bond Election
Walnut Creek
s/Bob Schroder
Former County Supervisor
Walnut Creek
s/Hardy Miller
Former Park, Recreation and Open Space Commissioner
Walnut Creek

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
Don't be fooled! Voting No does nothing to build a new library.


Only a Yes vote will build the new downtown library we need.


The facts are undisputed.

  • Walnut Creek residents use the library 40% more than the statewide average.
  • Downtown library use is up 75% since 2000 - growing, not declining, with Internet use.
  • Comprehensive planning began in 1998 and was updated in 2002-2004. The State Office of Library Construction rated these plans outstanding.
  • Library planning did not ignore the Ygnacio Valley or neighboring libraries.


The site plans are clear.
  • The library will enhance Civic Park, allowing for an additional 20,000 square feet of green space.
  • To be built at its current site, the library will not encroach into the park.
  • The proposed parking garage is 25% smaller than the garage envisioned in the 2001 Civic Park Master Plan, approved by the Park, Recreation and Open Space Commission. Parking is only for the library, community/senior center, and park.
  • There will be no commercial retail.


The City will not use eminent domain to bring private land into the library project.


With Measure R, we can build our library. Join us in voting Yes on Measure R.

s/Don Blubaugh
Walnut Creek City Manager, 1988-2002
s/Richard Rainey
Contra Costa Sheriff Nov. 1979 - Dec. 1992; State Senator 1996-2000
s/Grant Mainland
Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commissioner, 1994-2000;
Rossmoor resident
s/Ron Brown
Executive Director, Save Mt. Diablo
s/Loella Haskew
CPA and Community Volunteer

Tax Rate Statement from Walnut Creek Administrative Service Director
An election will be held in the City of Walnut Creek (the "City") on November 8, 2005, to submit to electors of the District the question of whether general obligation bonds of the City shall be issued and sold in the maximum principal amount of $21,000,000 to finance the improvement of real property for the City Library and related improvements purposes. It is expected that bonds would be issued in a single series. If such bonds are authorized and sold, the principal thereof and interest thereon will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the City. The following information regarding tax rates is given to comply with Sections 9400-9404 of the California Elections Code. Such information is based upon the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience within the City and other demonstrable factors.


Based upon the foregoing and projections of the District's assessed valuation, and assuming the entire debt service will be amortized through property taxation:


1. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds is 0.911 cents per 100 dollars ($9.11 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in the fiscal year 2006/07.


2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply is 0.911 cents per 100 dollars ($9.11 per $100,000) of assessed valuation for the fiscal year 2006/07.


3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply is 1.018 cents per 100 dollars ($10.18 per $100,000) assessed valuation for the fiscal year 2007/08.


Attention to all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the City. Such projections and estimates may vary due to variations in timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each bond sale, market interest rates at the time of each bond sale and actual more assessed valuation over the term of repayment of the bonds. The actual date of the sales of said bonds and the amount sold on any given date will be governed by the needs of the City and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold, which in any event will not exceed the maximum permitted by law, will depend upon the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual assessed valuation in future years will depend upon the value of property within the City as determined in the assessment and the equalization process. Hence, the actual tax rates and the years in which such rates are applicable may vary from those presently estimated above.


Carol Swindell, Administrative Service Director


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Created: January 28, 2006 14:39 PST
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