East Palo Alto voters will decide in the coming election whether to fund the building of new amenities like a city hall, library and police department.
The $125 million bond must be approved by two-thirds of the voters, and they would be taxed $105.26 per $100,000 of assessed value.
If passed, the bonds would raise around $8.9 million each year. The city is looking to build a new 100,000-square-foot civic center at 2535 Pulgas Ave. Complete with a new library, community space and city hall.
There are also plans to build a 20,000-square-foot police department with an emergency operations center and a track and field area nearby.
If the bond is approved by over 50% of voters, $35 million would be set aside for improving drinking water and storm drain infrastructure.
East Palo Alto’s mayor, Webster Lincoln, is the lone signer in favor of a ballot measure limiting council members to 12 years of consecutive service, while those against the measure believe this would only limit the people’s choice.
Termed-out members would be able to run after two years. The measure needs a simple majority to pass.
Two of the city’s councilmen, Ruben Abrica and Carlos Romero, have been on and off the council for decades. This ballot measure is seen to target the two elder statesmen as they do not agree with Lincoln or councilmembers Mark Dinan or Martha Barragan.
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