Pass: 477,933 / 76.84% Yes votes ...... 144,074 / 23.16% No votes

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Technical changes for Proposition F Regional Fire Stations
City of Los Angeles Proposition J.

The Issue:

To lower costs and provide design flexibility for new regional fire stations, shall Proposition F (voter approved November 7, 2000) be changed to allow regional fire stations to be built on one or more site totaling less than 2 acres, instead of requiring a single 2-acre site, if the Fire Department decides that the station can be built to fully met operational needs?

The Situation

Proposition F provided funds for new standard and regional fire stations. A regional station has both a standard fire station and a training facility, traditionally located on a single 2-acre site. The Proposal

This measure allows the Fire Department and City Engineer to build the training facility of a regional station on a separate site if necessary. The total site could be less than 2 acres if the Fire Department confirms that the needs of the Fire Department and public safety are fully met.

A Yes Vote Means:

You want to allow the Fire Department the flexibility to build regional fire stations on more than one site of less than two acres.

A No Vote Means:

You do not want to allow the Fire Department the flexibility to build regional fire stations on more than one site of less than two acres.

Proposition F detailed 20 fire and emergency facilities to be built using bond funds, including the construction of new regional fire stations. The purpose of the new regional fire stations is to provide training and other facilities at or near standard fire stations so that, when in training, firefighters remain in the areas that they serve and are available to respond to emergency calls. The Proposition F ballot information described a regional fire station as, among other things, sitting on two acres. As a result, the City Attorney has advised that pursuant to Proposition F, regional fire stations must be designed and built on a single site of at least two acres.

For new regional fire stations specified in Proposition F that are located in densely developed areas, it is difficult to identify a single two acre site that can be acquired at a reasonable cost and without serious disruption to the surrounding community. The Fire Department and the City Engineer have determined that the components of a regional fire station can be built on two or more sites within close proximity, or the facility can be designed to fit on a single site of less than two acres. This will provide the City with flexibility in siting the regional fire stations to reduce costs and lessen the impact on the surrounding community. The City Attorney has determined that, in order to proceed with either option, voter approval of this technical change to clarify the language in Proposition F will be required.

Approval of this measure will give the City the option to build regional fire stations on two or more sites totalling less than two acres, or on a single site of less than two acres, when the Fire Department determines that the facility can be designed to meet its operational needs.

No additional bond or taxing authorization is provided by this measure.

This measure would become effective with a two-thirds vote.

L.A. City Election Division

Los Angeles Fire Department

of Proposition F, as it relates to Regional Fire/Paramedic Stations, will be achieved in a more efficient manner.

With the approval of the technical change to Proposition F, the Citizens of Los Angeles will speed up the construction timelines, reduce costs and allow for more flexibility in fire station placement. Fire Department resources will remain available in their local communities for mandatory and required training.

The Fire Stations will be more accessible to the local community; existing neighborhoods will remain intact and the impact of construction of new fire stations on the surrounding communities would be minimized. The Fire Department would continue to fully meet operational needs to protect the public health and safety. The change would allow the construction of a more flexible fire station floor plan, which will improve service to those communities.

We urge you to support this technical change to ensure that all areas of the City have the fire services they need at the lowest possible cost.

(No arguments against Measure J were submitted)