BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Residents fighting a tax measure in Mountain View say the city is narrowly focused on building a $230 million police headquarters when really the city needs more parks.
“While our police force certainly deserves a safe, modern workplace, this goal cannot be our sole priority,” said the argument against Measure G, signed by residents Jim Zaorski, Joan MacDonald, Robin Lin and Judy Levy.
In response, supporters of Measure G said the revenue would be spent on more than a new police headquarters — the city also wants to buy land for parks, plant trees, subsidize housing and add bike lanes.
“The city of Mountain View plans on using revenue from this measure to fund many projects, not just one, two or even three,” supporters said.
Measure G would tax property sales over $6 million at 1.5%, or $90,000 on a $6 million transaction. Five of six people who signed arguments against Measure G live in the Monta Loma neighborhood, where there is only one sizable park that doubles as a field for Monta Loma Elementary School.
The city battled last year with the Mountain View Whisman School District over which entity should maintain the five-acre field, who can use it and when it’s open.
Superintendent Ayinde Rudolph accused city workers of cutting 27 district padlocks to get to lawnmowers. City Manager Kimbra McCarthy took issue with the district taking down park signs that said “City of Mountain View” without consulting her first.
In the end, the school board voted to add a fence and unlock the gates after school hours. New signs show the city and district as partners at Monta Loma. McCarthy told council in June that the city is trying to buy more parkland.
“We are really trying to make inroads, especially in neighborhoods like Monta Loma and other neighborhoods that are north of Central Expressway that have less parkland. That is a commitment that this council and the city has made,” McCarthy said on June 25.
Polls showed funding for public safety was more likely to pass, she said.
“The other language was really on the verge,” she told council before a unanimous vote to put the measure on the ballot.
The city is trying to build a new police headquarters at 1000 Villa Street with a 16-bay shooting range for officers to train. The new building would hold up to 243 employees, up from 165 employees today, Public Works Director Dawn Cameron told council in December.
“A public safety building must be seismically sound since it is the center of operations for fire and police in emergencies. It is not possible to retrofit the existing building,” said the argument supporting Measure G.
The arguments for Measure G were signed by nine people: Councilman Lucas Ramirez, firefighter union president Zeyad Abouata, former school board member Fiona Walter, business owner Jason Reynolds, Downtown Committee member Merry Yen, Councilwoman Lisa Matichak, residents Judy Plaska and Shari Emling, former police Chief Max Bosel and former Councilman Mike Kasperzak.
“The community will be able to adjust the spending priorities over time in response to changing circumstances and priorities,” supporters said in the ballot argument.
Residents Jill Rakestraw and Vivek Chopra also signed arguments against the measure.
“With home prices in Mountain View nearly doubling in six of the last seven decades, those staying in their homes for 20 more years could face substantial tax bills upon sale,” they said. “Additionally, landlords are likely to pass these costs onto tenants.”
The tax would’ve applied to 60 commercial properties and two residential properties over the last five years, Assistant City Manager Arn Andrews said in a report for council.
The tax would add $9.5 million per year to the city’s general fund, which can be spent however council decides, City Attorney Jennifer Logue said in her analysis of Measure G.
We do not need any more parks in Mountain View. There are plenty within walking distance of any community! Just look at the map. Our police department does need a new efficient building. The disaster response team is not even equipped to handle a disaster! We need this done.