Pass: 89,240 / 70.79% Yes votes ...... 36,820 / 29.21% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

YES
NO

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote on this measure means:

If a majority of voters vote "yes" on the measure, the City will be able to convert one acre of the park area to public use as a fire station.

A NO vote on this measure means:

If a majority of the voters vote "no" on the measure, then the City will not be able to construct a fire station on one acre of the area presently designated as Silver Creek Linear Park.

Under Section 1700 of the City Charter, "the public parks of the City shall be inalienable unless otherwise authorized by the affirmative votes of the majority of the electors voting on such a proposition in each case...." The purpose of this ballot measure is to obtain voter approval to locate a new fire station on a portion of a public park, thereby complying with this Charter section.

The proposed fire station construction is a project funded by Public Safety Bond funding, approved in Measure "O" by San Jose voters in March, 2002. The proposed location of the new fire station was selected upon analysis indicating that in comparison to other potential locations, it would provide better access to major thoroughfares and greater opportunities for efficient responses to emergencies, as well as meeting seismic and grading site requirements specific for a fire station.

The proposed location for the fire station is currently used as a trail with tree landscaping. As part of this fire station project, approximately 300 linear feet of the trail will be re-aligned around the fire station. Location of the new fire station in this area will not preclude recreational uses of other portions of the park nor will it prevent or impede access to existing park facilities.

If a majority of voters vote "yes" on the measure, the City will be able to convert one acre of the park area to public use as a fire station. If a majority of the voters vote "no" on the measure, then the City will not be able to construct a fire station on one acre of the area presently designated as Silver Creek Linear Park.

/s/ Richard Doyle, City Attorney

City Of San Jose

Measure K will:

Strategically locate a fire station that will improve response time performance and capability, thus improving fire suppression and emergency medical service (EMS) delivery.
The proposed fire station; its designation as a "Safe Place" and "Safe Surrender" location; provision of 24-hour emergency medical staffing; as well as, storage of park maintenance equipment will add to the safety and utility of the park as a community resource.

The department in partnership with Council District 8 Office, City Manager's Office, and Department of Public Works has conducted three community meetings to date to describe the scope of the project and receive community input. This proposal was presented at the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on February 1, 2006 and endorsed by the Commission.

Measure K is a unique opportunity to improve emergency response service while taking advantage of the use of City owned property as opposed to having to pay market rates for property and/or needing to use the City's eminent domain rights to acquire property.

/s/ Phyllis Lazzarini

Chairperson, Public Safety Bond Citizen Oversight Committee

Chairperson, Parks Committee Silver Creek Valley Community Organization