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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
Measure L
Fire Station Construction
City of San Jose

Majority Approval Required

Pass: 177,607 / 64.53% Yes votes ...... 97,634 / 35.47% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Nov 25 11:10am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (542/542)
Information shown below: Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

To improve fire suppression, emergency medical services and increase essential emergency facilities available for disaster response within the Willow Glen area, shall the City be authorized to construct a single-company fire station on up to ¾ of an acre on a portion of the Lincoln Glen Park parking lot?
YES
NO

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote on this measure means:
A "yes" vote on this measure is a vote to allow the City to use 3/4 of an acre of Lincoln Glen Park to construct and operate a fire station.

A NO vote on this measure means:
A "no" vote on this measure is a vote against allowing the City to construct a fire station on a portion of Lincoln Glen Park.

Impartial Analysis from the City Attorney
Measure L, if approved, will permit the use of approximately 3/4 of an acre of Lincoln Glen Park immediately south of the Willows Senior Center located on 2175 Lincoln Avenue, for the construction of a fire station. Lincoln Glen Park comprises approximately 6.4 acres along Lincoln Avenue, approximately one mile south of the Willow Glen Business District.

Section 1700 of the City Charter prohibits the City Council from granting permits, licenses, leases or concessions or other interests in a City park for more than 3 years, without voter approval. 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 site for the fire station is currently used as a parking lot. The existing parking lots at Lincoln Glen Park, consisting of 204 parking spaces, will be reduced in size by up to 34 parking spaces as a result of this project. Construction of the new fire station in this area will not reduce recreational uses of other portions of the park. Access to the parking spaces from Lincoln Avenue will be provided by a new driveway constructed as a part of the project.

This measure only addresses construction of a fire station on Lincoln Glen Park. During City Council's consideration of this ballot measure on August 5, 2008, the City Council passed a motion specifying that no decision had been made with respect to the sale or closure of Fire Station 6 which is located at 1386 Cherry Avenue, San Jose.

A "yes" vote on this measure is a vote to allow the City to use 3/4 of an acre of Lincoln Glen Park to construct and operate a fire station.

A "no" vote on this measure is a vote against allowing the City to construct a fire station on a portion of Lincoln Glen Park.

/s/ Richard Doyle, City Attorney
City of San Jose

  Official Information

City of San Jose

San Jose Fire Department
News and Analysis

Google News Search

General Links

Lincoln Glen Park
Photos of the park.

Map to Lincoln Glen Park
Google Map link to Lincoln Glen Park showing parking lot from satellite imagery
Official Version of Ballot Measure

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Arguments For Measure L Arguments Against Measure L
Measure L will grant approval for construction of Fire Station No.37 on a City-owned parking lot next to Willows Senior Center and Lincoln Glen Park. Location of a station on this site will improve fire service to neighborhoods in Southern Willow Glen and Northern Cambrian. These neighborhoods are currently underserved, with fire response times above the City's eight-minute standard. The new station will enable the Fire Department to respond to emergency calls more quickly. Shorter response times will improve fire suppression and emergency medical services.

Construction of this station will also enhance the operation of Willows Senior Center and Lincoln Glen Park. The emergency medical services provided by the new station will be available to assist senior center and park patrons. After construction, there will be an estimated 170 parking spaces available on the site-enough to serve the surrounding uses.

Station 37 is part of a larger strategy to improve emergency services in San Jose. Since voters approved the Public Safety Bond in 2002, San Jose has embarked on a program of building and renovating fire stations. Taken together, these improvements will enhance fire service throughout the City.

Rapid emergency response service is critical for the safety and well-being of San Jose residents. Because Station 37 will enhance this service, we ask you to vote yes on Measure L.

/s/ Chuck Reed
Mayor, City of San Jose
/s/ Judy Chirco
Councilmember, City of San Jose
/s/ Nancy Pyle
Councilmember, City of San Jose
/s/ Phyllis Lazzarini
Member, Public Safety Bond Citizen Oversight Committee

Rebuttal to Arguments For
Measure L would allow the city to open one fire station and possibly close another. Current city policy allows the city to close, consolidate or re-locate fire stations without a vote of the public.

Unfortunately, the City of San Jose does not have a policy that uses response-time data from the San Jose Fire Department as a way to determine when or how fire stations are closed before they include the sale of a fire station in the budget.

On August 14, 2008, I, along with Mayor Reed and Councilmember Chirco wrote a memo asking council to keep current fire stations open and to create a policy limiting the closure of fire stations city-wide. Unless the city adopts this new policy on this issue, I urge you to vote NO on Measure L. Please visit http://www.SanJoseFireSafety.com to get the latest update on the issue before you vote.

Thank you for your consideration.

/s/ Pierluigi Oliverio
Councilmember, City of San Jose District 6

Dear Almaden, Berryessa, Blossom Valley, Cambrian, Downtown, Edenvale, Eastside, Evergreen, Rose Garden, Westside, Willow Glen and all Voters of San Jose,

We cannot recommend the conversion of parkland to another use. Measure L-using parkland for a "new" fire station known as Fire Station 37- needs further attention.

The devil is in the details. Currently, if this new station is built at this location; the city may choose to close Fire Station 6 - we, residents, numerous neighborhood associations, and businesses do not support closing. Closing one station to open another is the wrong way to manage public safety for the city. The city should be investing in public safety and parks; not diminishing these core city services. City management wants to "consolidate" both stations together. This is a bad idea.

In 2002, San Jose voters approved a public safety bond measure which included building new fire stations to meet the need of San Jose's population growth. Building Fire Station 37 was part of that plan; using parkland and selling one of the busiest fire stations in the city was not. On August 5th, the City Council passed a motion that no decision has been made with respect to the sale of Fire Station 6.

Unless there is a sudden change of policy by the City Council before November 4th, you should vote against Measure L. For updates on this issue, visit http://www.SanJoseFireSafety.com

Thank you for your time and consideration.

/s/ Dave Cortese
Vice Mayor, City of San Jose
/s/ Pierluigi Oliverio
City of San Jose, District 6 Councilmember

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
As residents of San Jose, we can all agree that emergency services should be the City's top priority. Every resident has the right to a rapid response when they call 911 in an emergency. Unfortunately, even today, there are neighborhoods in San Jose where response times are too slow. Passage of Measure L and the construction of Station 37 give us the opportunity to eliminate our largest remaining underserved area, and ensure that all residents can rely on rapid emergency response.

We understand that residents who live near Fire Station 6-an existing station-are worried that the passage of Measure L will cause the closure of Station 6. We want to take this opportunity to reassure them that Measure L will not have any effect on Station 6-its only result will be to allow construction of a much-needed Station 37.

In voting yes on Measure L, you will join a broad coalition that supports construction of Station 37. San Jose Fire Department experts have recommended the parking lot site as the best location for a new station. The Public Safety Bond Citizen Oversight Committee supports the proposal, as do Mayor Chuck Reed and members of the San Jose City Council. We ask you to join with us in this opportunity to ensure the safety of San Jose residents.

/s/ Chuck Reed
Mayor, City of San Jose
/s/ Judy Chirco
Councilmember, City of San Jose
/s/ Nancy Pyle
Councilmember, City of San Jose
/s/ Phyllis Lazzarini
Member, Public Safety Bond Citizen Oversight Committee


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