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Smart Voter
San Luis Obispo County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
Measure K-14
Local Street Improvements
City of Grover Beach

Bond Authorization - 2/3 Approval Required

Fail: 1646 / 66.34% Yes votes ...... 835 / 33.66% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Nov 4 11:17pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (7/7)
39.6% Voter Turnout (2524/6373)
Information shown below: Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | Full Text

To rehabilitate/resurface deteriorating residential and major streets to improve drivability; maintain emergency response times; enhance safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, neighborhood school crosswalks; and promote economic/job growth; shall the City incrementally issue up to $48,000,000 of bonds at tax-exempt interest rates, requiring funds go directly into the Street Construction Designated Fund with all funds used exclusively for Grover Beach streets; subject to independent audits/citizens' oversight committee?

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote on this measure means:
Approve the Bond Proposition for Local Street Improvements

A NO vote on this measure means:
Do NOT approve the Bond Proposition for Local Street Improvements

Impartial Analysis from Grover Beach City Attorney
Introduction. This bond measure, placed on the ballot by the action of the City Council, if approved by two-thirds of the voters would authorize the issuance of up to $48 million of general obligation bonds. Bond proceeds would be deposited into a designated Street Construction Designated Fund and could only be used to rebuild City streets. The bonds would be issued incrementally over a period of years, as work on the rehabilitation of City streets progresses forward. Though authorized up to $48 million, the total amount of Bonds issued could be less depending on the progress of work on the streets. Each series of Bonds would be authorized for issuance by the City Council.

Accountability Measures. The following accountability requirements were installed as part of the Bond measure:

  • Separate account for the bond proceeds called Street Construction Designated Fund will be established.
  • Starting in January of 2016 and each year thereafter for the duration of the project, City's Finance Director shall file a report with the City Council showing the amount of Bond proceeds collected and expended and progress of the street work financed by the Bonds.
  • A Citizen Oversight Committee, composed of three qualified voters of the City, shall be formed to review all Bond proceeds expenditures and annually file a written report with the City Council regarding Committee's findings with regard to those expenditures.

Financial Implications to Property Owners.

The year after the first bonds are issued, the estimated tax rate required to meet the debt service would be $24.43 per $100,000 of assessed valuation (not property market value) of the dwelling, prorated for any portion thereof. This estimated rate is expected to rise to up to $147.34 (based on the latest tax rate) per $100,000 of assessed valuation in 20 years, and then decrease gradually. The average annual assessment over the life of the Bonds is estimated to be $77.66 per $100,000 of assessed valuation ending in 2054.

The estimated annual tax for a home with an assessed valuation of $225,000 would be $54.00 the first year after bonds are issued and an average of $174.74 per year over the life of the bonds.

If approved by Grover Beach's voters, the Bonds would be issued in 2015 with the work on the streets beginning later that year. The full text of the Ordinance No 14-05 ordering the submission of the bond measure to the voters, as well as other related information, is available at http://www.grover.org.

s/ Martin D. Koczanowicz, Grover Beach City Attorney

 
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Arguments For Measure K-14 Arguments Against Measure K-14
Save our Grover Beach streets + Vote YES on K-14!

Grover Beach's residential and major streets are pitted with potholes and cracks. Our City's street system includes 45 centerline miles + over 10,000,000 square feet of asphalt + constructed decades ago on a sand base. Independent experts evaluated our streets and found that over 65% of them are in "poor to failed" condition, the majority of which are residential streets. Experts say the entire street system will fail in 6 to 8 years.

Grover Beach's budget is the smallest in the County and this, combined with the Sacramento money grabs of $5,000,000 over the last five years, means the City does not have sufficient funding it needs to repair or rebuild streets.

The Grover Beach Street Rehabilitation: Safety Bond Improvement Measure is unanimously supported by the City Council. YES on K-14 will generate local dedicated funds to address these urgent local street infrastructure needs. NO money can be touched by Sacramento or used by the Council for any other purpose.

YES on K-14 makes it easier to drive on City streets, enhancing our quality of life.

YES on K-14 maintains emergency response times.

YES on K-14 improves safety for neighborhood crosswalks, drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

YES on K-14 is fiscally accountable:

  • It upgrades Grover Beach's deteriorating residential and major streets before they get worse and cost more.

  • By law, all funds received will be placed in a designated Grover Beach Street Improvement Bond Proceeds Account to be used solely for street rehabilitation.

  • A Citizen Oversight Committee will review all expenditures and issue public reports on its findings.

  • Rehabilitation of the Streets will increase property values throughout the City. Vote YES on K-14 to fix Grover Beach's streets! The Grover Beach Mayor and City Council unanimously urge your "YES" vote!

For factual information about Measure K-14, visit http://www.grover.org

s/ Debbie Peterson, Mayor
s/ Glenn Marshall, Council Member
s/ Jeff Lee, Mayor Pro Tem
s/ William "Bill" Nicolls, Council Member
s/ Karen Bright, Council Member

No arguments against Measure K-14 were submitted.

Tax Rate Statement from City Manager, City of Grover Beach
REGARDING PROPOSED $48,000,000 CITY OF GROVER BEACH GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS

An election will be held in the City of Grover Beach (the "City") on November 4, 2014, to authorize the sale of up to $48,000,000 in bonds of the City to finance street construction and improvements as described in the measure. If such bonds are authorized and sold, principal and interest on the bonds will be payable only 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 Elections Code of the State of California. Such information is based upon the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience within the City, and other demonstrable factors. Based upon the foregoing and projections of the City's assessed valuation, the following information is provided:

1. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.02443 per $100 of assessed valuation (or $24.43 per $100,000 of assessed value) for fiscal year 2015-16.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.14734 per $100 of assessed valuation (or $147.34 per $100,000 of assessed value) for fiscal year 2034-35.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.14734 per $100 of assessed valuation (or $147.34 per $100,000 of assessed value), for fiscal year 2034-35.

In addition to this information set forth in #1, #2 and #3 which is required by the Elections Code, the following information is provided:

  • The best estimate of the average tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the multiple bond issues, based on a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.07766 per $100 of assessed valuation (or $77.66 per $100,000 of assessed value), over the life of the bond issue.

Voters should note the estimated tax rate is based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. In addition, taxpayers eligible for a property tax exemption, such as the homeowner's exemption, will be taxed at a lower effective tax rate than described above. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills and tax advisors to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

The attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only, that are 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 bond sales, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of each 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 project 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 sale. Actual future assessed valuations will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the City as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

s/ Robert Perrault, City Manager, City of Grover Beach

Full Text of Measure K-14
ORDINANCE NO. 14-05

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ORDERING THE SUBMISSION OF A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROPOSITION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 4, 2014, FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, AND REHABILITATION OF LOCAL STREET IMPROVEMENTS

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH, CALIFORNIA (THE "CITY"), DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

WHEREAS, under the direction of the City Council, staff has retained a civil engineering consultant with expertise in pavement management that evaluated the current condition of City streets; and

WHEREAS, the average condition of the approximately 44.96 centerline miles of streets in the City was rated at 42 on a scale of 0-100, which indicates a "poor" condition of streets citywide; and

WHEREAS, over 65% of the City's street system has been evaluated to be in "poor" to "failed" condition, the majority of which are attributable to residential streets; and

WHEREAS, critical reconstruction and rehabilitation projects are necessary in the City to improve drivability and safety; and, according to the pavement management expert, unless major rehabilitation of the street system is initiated soon, the City street system will reach statistical failure within six (6) to eight (8) years; and

WHEREAS, State takeaways of $5,000,000 over the last five years and the recent recession, among other factors, means that the City does not have the dedicated funding it needs to make significant repairs to streets in "poor" or "failed" condition; and

WHEREAS, passing a local Grover Beach Street Reconstruction and Safety Improvement Bond will generate local funds that cannot be touched by Sacramento, requiring all funds to be used locally; and

WHEREAS, if City streets are rehabilitated, it will make it easier to drive on our streets, as well as maintain emergency response times, improve safety at neighborhood school crosswalks, and enhance safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers; and

WHEREAS, based on the fact that the City receives its revenue primarily from property taxes, there isn't sufficient funds in the City's $7.5 million budget to provide the basic services the City is required to provide and maintain the extensive street system. It is just not possible to initiate the rehabilitation of the street system which has been estimated to be in excess of $48 million; and

WHEREAS, the City would require that funds from such a measure be deposited directly into a Street Construction Designated Fund; and

WHEREAS, the only source of funds that could be available to pay for the citywide rehabilitation of the street infrastructure is through issuance of General Obligation Bonds; and

WHEREAS, on July 7, 2014, the City Council adopted, by at least a two-thirds vote of all its members, a resolution entitled "Resolution of the City Council of the City of Grover Beach Determining that the Public Interest and Necessity Demand the Acquisition and Development of Certain Municipal Improvements ("Street Improvements") with Financing Through the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds¬" (the "Resolution of Necessity"); and

WHEREAS, in order to provide for the issuance by the City of its general obligation bonds to finance the Street Improvements described in the Resolution of Necessity, it is necessary for the City Council to pass an ordinance ordering the submission of the proposition of incurring bonded indebtedness for such purpose to the qualified voters of the City at a regular municipal election; and

WHEREAS, the City Council desires to submit said ballot measure to the qualified voters of the City at an election to be held in the City on November 4, 2014, and to consolidate the bond election with the general statewide election held within the City on that date; and

WHEREAS, the General Municipal Election has been called by Resolution No. 14-41 adopted by City Council on June 16, 2014, and the City Council hereby orders that there be submitted to the qualified voters of the City a proposition on incurring a bonded debt (the "Bonds") for the purpose set forth in the Resolution of Necessity, at that General Municipal Election, which will coincide with the regular statewide election to be held on November 4, 2014.

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. That the above recitals are true and correct.

Section 2. Ballot Proposition. The City Council hereby submits to the qualified voters of the City, at the regular election to be held on November 4, 2014, a proposition on issuing the Bonds in substantially the following form:

CITY OF GROVER BEACH MEASURE K-14

GROVER BEACH STREET REHABILITATION; SAFETY IMPROVEMENT BOND MEASURE: To rehabilitate/resurface deteriorating residential and major streets to improve drivability; maintain emergency response times; enhance safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, neighborhood school crosswalks; and promote economic/job growth; shall the City incrementally issue up to $48,000,000 of bonds at tax-exempt interest rates, requiring funds go directly into the Street Construction Designated Fund with all funds used exclusively for Grover Beach streets; subject to independent audits/citizens' oversight committee?

YES

NO

Section 3. Object and Purpose of Bonds. The object and specific single purpose of issuing the Bonds is the acquisition, construction and improvement of street improvements throughout the City (the "Street Improvements"), and the proceeds of the Bonds may only be applied to that purpose.

Section 4. Estimated Cost of Street Improvements. The estimated cost of the Street Improvements is $48,000,000.00. The estimated cost includes legal or other fees, and other costs and expenses, which are incidental to or connected with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Bonds.

Section 5. Principal Amount of Bonds. The amount of the principal of the Bonds shall not exceed $48,000,000.00.

Section 6. Maximum Interest Rate. The maximum rate of interest to be paid on the Bonds shall be 12% per annum.

Section 7. Issuance and Sale of Bonds. The City proposes to acquire, construct and develop the Street Improvements and to issue and sell the Bonds pursuant to Article 1, commencing with Section 43600, of Chapter 4 of Division 4 of Title 4 of the California Government Code, or Article 4.5, commencing with Section 53506, of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the California Government Code, in one or more series, in the maximum amount and for the objects and purposes set forth above if two-thirds of all qualified voters voting on the proposition set forth above vote in favor thereof. The Bonds will be general obligations of the City payable from and secured by taxes levied and collected in the manner prescribed by laws of the State of California. All of the Bonds are to be equally and ratably secured, without priority, by the taxing power of the City.

Section 8. Consolidation; Manner of Conducting Election. The date of the election is November 4, 2014. The election shall be held and conducted, election officers appointed, voting precincts designated, ballots printed, polls opened and closed, ballots counted, and returned, returns canvassed, results declared, and all other proceedings incidental to and connected with the election shall be regulated and done in accordance with the provisions of law regulating the election as specified herein. The City Council has requested, pursuant to Resolution No. 14-42, the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County (the "County") and the San Luis Obispo County Clerk, Elections Division, the consolidation of the called municipal election with any other election to be held within the City on said date.

Section 9. Procedure for Voting on Proposition. Ballots for the election shall be provided in the form and in the number provided by law. Voters shall be provided an opportunity to vote for or against the proposition on the ballot, in accordance with procedures to be adopted by the authorized officers of the County charged with conducting the election.

Section 10. Accountability Requirements. In accordance with Sections 53410 and 53411 of the California Government Code, the City Council hereby adopts the following accountability requirements relating to the Bonds:

(a) A separate account called Street Construction Designated Fund shall be created and held by the City, into which the proceeds of the Bonds are deposited.

(b) The chief fiscal officer of the City shall file a report with the City Council no later than January 1, 2016, and at least once a year thereafter, showing the amount of Bond proceeds collected and expended, and the status of the project to be financed from the proceeds of the Bonds.

(c) A Citizen Oversight Committee composed of three voters of the City of Grover Beach shall be formed and will be charged with an annual review of all Bond proceeds expenditures and an annual report to the City Council regarding their findings as to those expenditures.

Section 11. Publication of Ordinance. This Ordinance shall be published once a day for at least seven (7) days in a newspaper published at least six (6) days a week in the City, or once a week for two (2) weeks in a newspaper published less than six (6) days a week in the City. The first of said publications shall, in either event, be within fifteen (15) days after the adoption of this Ordinance. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to make said publications and to transmit for receipt, no later than August 7, 2014, a certified copy of this Ordinance to the appropriate officials of the County responsible for preparing the ballots for said election.

Section 12. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by two-thirds vote of all the members of this Council.

The foregoing Ordinance was INTRODUCED and READ at a regular meeting of the City Council held on July 7, 2014, and was PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council held on July 21, 2014, by the following vote, to wit:

AYES: Council Members Karen Bright, Glenn Marshall, William "Bill" Nicolls, Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Lee, and Mayor Debbie Peterson. NOES: Council Members + None. ABSENT: Council Members + None. ABSTAIN: Council Members + None.

s/ Debbie Peterson, Mayor Attest:/s/ Donna L. McMahon, City Clerk Approved as to Form: s/ Martin D. Koczanowicz, City Attorney


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