League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Marin County, CA November 3, 2009 Election
	Measure G San Rafael Public Safeties Bond Measure City of San Rafael 2/3 Approval Required Fail: 6645 / 61.01% Yes votes ...... 4246 / 38.99% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure G

No one knows when an earthquake, major fire or other emergency will occur. San Rafael's fire stations do not meet basic earthquake safety standards and may collapse in an earthquake. If our fire stations are damanged in an earthquake, firefighters, fire engines, paramedics, ambulances, and lifesaving equipment and personnel will be trapped and unable to respond. San Rafael's aging fire stations cannot accommodate modern firefighting and emergency medical equipment. Electrical systems and communication infrastructure need to be updated. San Rafael's emergency dispatch center, where all 9-1-1 calls are received and routed, is within the Police Station. If this aging building fails, San Rafael's emergency communications would fail, severely delaying emergency response. Measure G will upgrade, replace and renovate our 100- year-old unsafe downtown fire station, neighborhood fire stations, police station and emergency dispatch center. Improvements are planned for all San Rafael fire stations to ensure they are earthquake safe and can remain operational in a disaster. Measure G includes mandatory taxpayer protections: Every penny stays in San Rafael No funds can be taken away by the State No funds can be used for salaries or benefits An independent citizens' oversight committee will ensure funds are spent properly The entire cost is tax deductible The US Geological Survey estimates that there is a 62% chance that a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake will strike in the Bay Area in the near future. That's why Measure G is so urgent to ensure San Rafael's firefighters, paramedics and police are able to respond when San Rafael residents need them the most. Please join local firefighters, paramedics, police officers, business leaders, civic leaders, the Mayor and the entire City Council in voting Yes on G. s/CHRISTOPHER GRAY San Rafael Fire Chief s/JEFF SCHOPPERT San Rafael Attorney and Business Owner s/PAULA KAMENA Retired Marin County District Attorney s/JENNY CALLAWAY Former President, San Rafael School Board s/JARED HUFFMAN California State Assemblymember (No arguments against Measure G were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement from Mayor

An election will be held in the City of San Rafael (the "City") on November 3, 2009, to authorize the sale of not to exceed $88,000,000 in bonds of the City to finance facilities as described in the ballot measure. If the bonds are approved, the City expects to sell the bonds in three series (but may issue the bonds in more than or fewer than three series). Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the City. The following information is provided in compliance with sections 9400-9404 of the California Elections Code: 1. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this statement, is $16 per $100,000 of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2010-11. 2. The City's best estimate of the average tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue over all of the years the bonds are expected to be outstanding is $41 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. 3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this statement, is $53 per $100,000 of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2015-16, decreasing each year thereafter. Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the assessed value of taxable property on the Marin County official tax rolls, not on the market value of property. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions. Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based on the City's projections and estimates only, which is not binding upon the City. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of the sale of the bonds, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of the sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The date of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the City based on the need for construction funds and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each bond sale, among other factors. Actual future assessed valuation will depend on the amount and value of taxable property within the City, as determined by the Marin County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process. Dated: August 3, 2009 s/ALBERT J. BORO Mayor of the City of San Rafael

Full Text of Measure G

Finding: Purposes of Bonds. Firefighters, paramedics, and police officers protect the safety of San Rafael residents each day by providing rapid response services. Due to the age and condition of San Rafael's fire stations, police station and emergency dispatch center, it is unclear if they could withstand a major earthquake and remain operational in a disaster. Aging facilities that were built 50-100 years ago cannot accommodate livesaving emergency medical equipment and technology. To protect the safety of San Rafael residents and businesses, this bond will provide funding to upgrade, enhance, improve, expand, renovate, build, equip, replace or acquire public safety buildings and related community facilities and grounds in the City of San Rafael. Special Bond Account and Mandatory Annual Audits. A separate account shall be established into which proceeds of the sale of the Bonds shall be deposited. This account shall be audited annually and a report shall be made detailing (1) the amount of Bond proceeds received and expended in such fiscal year and (2) the status of any projects funded or to be funded from the proceeds of Bonds authorized to be issued by this measure. No Money For Administrators. Proceeds from the sale of the Bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for costs incurred in connection with funding of the improvement of public safety and related community facilities and the cost of the issuance of the Bonds, and not for any other purpose, including staff and administrator salaries and other operating expenses. Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Council shall establish an independent citizens' oversight committee to ensure Bond proceeds are expended only for the projects authorized by the ballot measure. The committee shall be established within 90 days after the election. All funds stay local for the benefit of San Rafael Public Safety Facilities. All Bond proceeds shall be used to improve police, fire and related facilities within the City of San Rafael for the benefit of the local community. No funds may be taken away by the state government, federal government, or other agencies. ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES As required by Section 53410 of the Government Code, the following accountability measures are hereby made a part of the City's Bond Measure G (the "Measure"): a) The specific purpose of the Bonds is to acquire and construct public safety facilities and related public facilities and grounds to replace, relocate, upgrade, renovate, or expand existing fire and police stations and construct an earthquake-safe dispatch center; b) The proceeds from the sale of the City's Bonds will be used only for the purposes specified in the Measure, and not for any other purpose, including staff and administrator salaries and other operating expenses; c) The proceeds of the Bonds will be deposited into a public safety building construction fund to be held by the City; d) All Bond proceeds shall be used to improve police, fire and related facilities within the City of San Rafael for the benefit of the local community. No funds may be taken away by the state government, federal government, or other agencies; e) The City Manager or Finance Director of the City shall file an annual report with the City Council of the City, commencing not later than one year after the first series of the Bonds have been issued, and annually thereafter, which report shall contain pertinent information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, as well as the status of the projects listed in the Measure; f) The City Council shall establish an independent citizens' oversight committee to ensure Bond proceeds are expended only for the projects authorized by the Measure. The committee shall be established within 90 days after the election.