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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
Alameda, Contra Costa County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
Measure CC
Park Access, Wildfire Protection, Public Safety and Environmental Maintenance Measure
East Bay Regional Park District Zone 1

Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required

192,459 / 67.6% Yes votes ...... 92,199 / 32.4% No votes
   155,205 (68.2%) Yes / 72,432 (31.8%) No in Alameda County
   37,254 (65.3%) Yes / 19,767 (34.7%) No in Contra Costa County

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Dec 15 1:28pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (559/559)
99.9% Voter Turnout (679/504)
  Includes 432/432 Precincts in Alameda County as of Dec 15 1:28pm
  Includes 127/127 Precincts in Contra Costa County as of Dec 15 10:56am
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

To increase public access to shoreline, hillside, and urban parks and trails, enhance public safety (police and wildfire protection), and provide critical environmental maintenance in Zone 1 (western Alameda and western Contra Costa Counties) of the East Bay Regional Park District, shall a resolution be approved authorizing a parcel tax, based upon occupancy, of $1 per month ($12 per year) per single-family parcel, or 69 cents per month ($8.28 per year) per multi-family unit, to expire in 15 years?

Impartial Analysis from County Counsel
The Board of Directors of the East Bay Regional Park District ("District") has placed Measure CC on the ballot to ask voters to approve a 15-year special excise tax to fund public access, wildfire protection, public safety and environmental maintenance of District parks and trails within Zone 1 (western Alameda and western Contra Costa counties). The District operates 65 regional parks on 96,000 acres with over 1,100 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Pursuant to the District resolution, uses of the funds raised by this special tax would include enhanced public safety (police and wildfire protection); an increase of public access to shoreline, hillside, and urban parks and trails; and environmental maintenance in Zone 1 of the District. State law requires that proceeds from this special tax may only be used to fund projects in Zone 1 only. Parks in Zone 1 include: Alameda Point, Anthony Chabot, Crown Beach, Eastshore State Park, Huckleberry, Kennedy Grove, Lake Chabot, Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline, Miller/Knox, Pt. Isabel, Pt. Pinole, Redwood, Roberts, Temescal, Tilden, Tilden Nature Area, Wildcat Canyon, Leona, Brooks Island, Caremont Canyon, Sibley, and Alvarado parks. Only residents of Zone 1 are eligible to vote on this measure. If approved by two-thirds of those voting upon this measure, the District will be authorized to levy an excise tax to generate funds to pay for the operation and maintenance of parks and trails in Zone 1, pursuant to Public Resources Code, Section 5566; Government Code, Sections 50077 and 53724, California Constitution Article XIll C, Section 2(d), and Elections Code, Section 9342.

If the measure is approved by at least two-thirds of the qualified electors voting on this measure, the occupant/s of a single-unit residential parcel would pay $12.00 per year and the occupant/s of each unit in a multi-unit residential parcel would pay $8.28 per year. Senior citizens with an annual income below the state-defined poverty level would be eligible to receive a 50% discount. The District would be authorized, but not required, to contract with the applicable County to collect the tax on the property tax rolls. There would be an annual public hearing and accounting of the use of the proceeds of the tax. The tax would become effective on July 1, 2005, and would terminate fifteen years later, on June 30, 2020. If at least two-thirds of the qualified electors voting on this measure do not vote for approval, the measure will fail and the District will not be authorized to collect the special tax.

RICHARD E. WINNIE Alameda County Counsel

  Nonpartisan Information

Pros & Cons of this Measure from the League of Women Voters of the Bay Area
News and Analysis

Oakland Tribune

Suggest a link related to Measure CC
Links to sources outside of Smart Voter are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement.

Arguments For Measure CC Arguments Against Measure CC
Our Regional Parks preserve important natural environments for use by wildlife and people. Our unique system of regional parks provides us places to picnic, walls, run, hike, bike, horseback ride and enjoy nature. With proper maintenance, they protect our water quality and act as buffers against wildfires. Measure CC is an investment in our parks and in our community. Measure CC invests in our environment by:

o Improving natural habitats for wildlife, shorebirds, endangered species and native plants.

o Protecting our water quality by preserving lakes and streams.

o Protecting open space and natural areas along shorelines --- including Oakland's Martin Luther King, Alameda's Crown Beach and Richmond's Miller/Knox, Point Pinole and Point Isabel parks.

Measure CC increases recreational opportunities by:

o Improving trails for walking, running, biking and hiking.

o Providing repairs and upgrades to park facilities such as playgrounds, drinking fountains, picnic areas and restrooms.

o Improving Eastshore State Park and the Bay Trail.

Measure CC protects our communities from fire: By upgrading fire roads, removing overgrown vegetation and maintaining equipment, it will reduce the risk of wildfires spreading to communities in and around Tilden, Wildcat Canyon, Sibley, Claremont Canyon, Huckleberry, Redwood and Chabot parks. 100 % of Measure CC resources will be used only for the priority list of projects included in this ballot, period. Each year there will be a guaranteed audit and full public disclosure about how resources from Measure CC were used. Organizations like the Sierra Club and Golden Gate Audubon endorse Measure CC because it has fiscal controls, and will improve the environmental and recreational quality of our oldest and best loved parks. For only $1 a month --- less than a cup of coffee --- we can make an important investment in improving our parks.

Please VOTE YES ON MEASURE CC.

http://www.yesforparks.org

Doug Siden, President, East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors

Norman LaForce, Chair, Sierra Club East Bay Public Lands Committee

Robert Wilkins, President/CEO, YMCA of the East Bay

Charles C. Plummer, Sheriff

Linda Craig, President, League of Women Voters of the Bay Area

Rebuttal to Arguments For
INFORMED ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND TAXPAYER ADVOCATES AGREE: MEASURE CC IS A 15-YEAR BAD DEAL FOR EAST BAY HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS _ AND OUR PARKS. EBRPD doesn't need more money. Instead, the District needs to restore its original environmental vision and purpose: to "preserve, restore, and protect" our parklands.

o EBRPD's careless park maintenance policies eradicate native plants, destroy wildlife habitat, increase pesticide use, and compromise public safety.

o EBRPD's top-heavy bureaucracy depletes the District's budget while squandering MILLIONS annually on Public Relations.

o Daily, non-emergency helicopter surveillance flights disturb wildlife and humans, while wasting MILLIONS annually.

o Since 1998, EBRPD bas already failed twice to pass this new tax. Nevertheless, the District's general revenues soared from $57 Million in 1998 to $83 Million by 2003 + an average increase of over $5 Million per year, without new taxes!

o Only taxpayers from Richmond/San Pablo to Oakland/Berkeley would pay for Measure CC, while park users from Orinda, Lafayette, and Blackhawk, for example, would PAY NOTHING.

o Additionally, EBRPD's tax contrivance unfairly EXEMPTS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS.

o This shameful, irresponsible EBRPD tax scheme represents a SOCIAL INJUSTICE that undermines the very structure of our Regional Parks system. A VOTE AGAINST MEASURE CC IS NOT A VOTE AGAINST PARKS. We signers are environmentalists who work hard protecting our parklands. We want a financially and environmentally healthy Park District. Regrettably, we have no confidence that current EBRPD management understands how to care for its natural, fiscal, or human resources.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON MEASURE CC!

For more information:

http://WWW.FRIENDSOFPARKS.COM (510) 636-1005

http://www.ACCTaxpayers.com (925) 930-2825

Harlan Kessel, Former EBRPD Director (17 years); Board Member, Regional Parks Association; Founding Member, Friends of Parks, Oakland

Alan La Pointe, Chairman, Friends of Wildcat Canyon; Co-Chair, Friends of Parks; Board Member, Regional Parks Association, Richmond

Karen Weber, Former Personnel Director, EBRPD (1977-1996); Member, Friends of Parks, Oakland

Paul Merrick, Chairman, Dunsmuir Ridge Alliance; Co-Chair, Friends of Parks, Oakland

Greg Schneider, Co-Chair, Friends of Parks, Oakland

PARKS... NOT PERKS! NATURE WALKS... NOT TAX HIKES! LET'S REQUIRE RESPONSIBLE, ECONOMICAL USE OF EXISTING EBRPD FUNDS + NOT INFLATED EMPLOYEE COSTS, MORE BUREAUCRACY, AND NEW TAX INCREASES.

o With a $184,434 general manager's annual salary (exceeding California's $175,000 limit for governors), six "assistant general managers" making $138,466 to $167,586, and even "administrative assistants" paid $86,632, it's all-aboard on the gravy train for EBRPD.

o EBRPD benefits add another 56.7%, bringing average per-employee compensation costs to $92,713 annually. Excluding seasonal and temporary employees, EBRPD's average compensation costs apparently exceed $100,000 annually! New EBRPD tax increases are NOT "critical," nor even necessary. A wage-benefit freeze is!

o Measure CC's $2.9 Million annual bonanza would free general-fund dollars for more irresponsible salary and benefit hikes. And this new tax doesn't sunset until 2020!

o Taxes now consume half the next dollar earned by many East Bay families. Many work so hard to pay taxes that there's little time left to enjoy regional parks! "ENVIRONMENTAL MAINTENANCE" AND "PUBLIC SAFETY" _THEIR POLL-TESTED DODGES FOR PEDDLING NEW TAXES _ CONCEAL THE FACT THAT EBRPD ALREADY COLLECTS $34.77 IN TAXES ANNUALLY PER PERSON IN TWO COUNTIES (PLUS RAPIDLY INCREASING USER FEES).

o Just since 2002, when EBRPD last sought new taxes 'on the privilege of using... property for residential occupancy purposes," EBRPD'S wage and benefit costs have skyrocketed from $51,562,179 to $62,147,480 _ a 20.5% increase! Responsible EBRPD spending could easily compensate for predicted $6 Million state revenue losses.

o Genuine taxpayer watchdog groups oppose unreasonable tax schemes like Measure CC.

o Beware of Measure CC endorsements by beneficiaries of EBRPD funding! UNABLE TO PASS ITS TAX SCHEME IN DISTRICT-WIDE ELECTIONS, EBRPD HAS GERRYMANDERED THIS ELECTION + APPARENTLY REGARDING "ZONE 1" VOTERS, AFTER PUSH POLLING, AS EASY MARKS. WE URGE THE RESPONSE THAT EBRPD'S SPENDTHRIFT HABITS DESERVE... NO ON MEASURE CC!

Alliance of Contra Costa Citizens for Responsible Taxpayers Government, Kenneth E. Hambrick, Chairman

Kenneth Arras, Chairman East Bay Libertarian Party

Save El Sobrante, Curt Cornell, Chair; Marilynne Mellander, Coordinator

Waste Watchers, Inc., Kenneth D. Steadman, President

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
For 70 years the East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) has been an accountable and responsible steward of our parklands, natural habitats ... and public funds --- repeatedly recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association for Excellence in Financial Reporting. Several of those opposed to Measure CC have an extreme agenda --- elimination of public services --- and some repeatedly sign "no" arguments opposing things like parks, libraries, hospitals, schools, etc.

Opponents' figures are misleading.

WORKER FACTS:

1. Average EBRPD salaries are $2200 less than the median in Alameda and Contra Costa.

2. Employee pay is lower than like agencies; only 5% are managers.

3. California cut EBRPD's budget by $12 million.

4. Measure CC does NOT increase employee compensation.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: EBRPD operates over 45% more parkland than in 1990, YET: o Park budgets --- cut 5%.

o Operating revenues, per acre --- declined nearly 2%.

o Management staff --- NOT increased. Only 3 cents per dollar of county revenue is used for parks --- a bargain!

ACCOUNTABILITY:

o By law, the general fund will NOT receive one penny of Measure CC.

o 100% of Measure CC must be used ONLY for the projects specified in this ballot.

o There will be a guaranteed yearly, outside independent audit and full public disclosure of Measure CC resources.

Well-established organizations --- Alameda County Taxpayers Association ... California Tax Reform Association ... League of Women Voters ... Golden Gate Audubon Society ... and Sierra Club --- support this reasonable investment in our parks ... and our community.

Please VOTE YES on MEASURE CC.

http://www.yesforparks.org

Barbara Lee, Congresswoman

Sylvia C. McLaughlin, Co-founder, Save the Bay

Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP)

Lenny Goldberg, Executive Director, California Tax Reform Association

Mark Scott, Fire Chief, City of El Cerrito

Jon Shahoian, President, Alameda County Taxpayers Association


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Created: December 15, 2004 13:28 PST
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