HomeMy WebLinkAbout2. City Attorney's Ballot Title and Summary 2024
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INITIATIVE MEASURE TO BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE VOTERS
The city attorney has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of
the proposed measure:
BALLOT TITLE
An Initiative Measure Amending the City of San Rafael’s Municipal Code to Provide Funding for
Construction of a New Main Library and Community Center at Albert Park in Downtown San
Rafael.
BALLOT SUMMARY
The initiative measure would add a chapter to the San Rafael Municipal Code, titled the “Parcel
Tax for Planning and Construction of a New Albert Park Main Library and Community Center,”
which would enact a non-ad valorem parcel tax on properties in the City to fund the construction
of a new main library and community center, with associated parking lots (the “Measure.”) The
Measure would impose a tax on owners of each parcel of taxable real property in San Rafael at the
rate of: (i) $0.145 per square foot of improved building area; and (ii) $75.00 per vacant parcel.
The tax would commence on July 1, 2025 and would continue for thirty years or as long as bonds
for the planning and construction of the facilities remain outstanding, whichever is longer.
The tax would be a special tax and proceeds would be placed in a special City fund which could
only be used for:
1. Issuing bonds to raise money for the new main library and community center, and
associated parking lots.
2. Planning, constructing, equipping and furnishing a new main library and
community center which will have a size of approximately 0.70 to 0.75 square feet per capita,
excluding parking, outdoor spaces, and landscaping.
3. Expanding branch libraries to achieve the square-footage requirements of
approximately 0.70 to 0.75 square feet per capita.
4. Funding improvements and renovations to the Pickleweed and Terra Linda Branch
Libraries if there is sufficient funding available.
Proceeds from the parcel tax could not be spent on administrator salaries or other operating
expenses. Designs and planning for the new main library and community center must include the
preservation or relocation of the Lonatese Gardens at Albert Park.
The proposed tax would be collected and administered by the Marin County Tax Collector. Senior
citizens—persons over the age of 65 years—would be eligible to apply for exemptions from the
parcel tax for their primary place of residence.
The City already imposes a parcel tax, which funds library programs, services, equipment, and
materials, and helps maintain library operation hours. The tax is codified at Municipal Code
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Chapter 3.36 (Special Library Services Parcel Tax) and went into effect in fiscal year 2017-2018.
The Special Library Services Parcel Tax continues until fiscal year 2026-2027 and would not be
impacted by the Measure.
The Measure would establish an oversight committee of City residents to ensure that parcel tax
funds are being used for their intended purpose. The oversight committee would be required to
submit reports annually or more frequently. Separately, the City would have to prepare an annual
report showing the amount of funds collected from the parcel tax, how the money was spent, and
the status of the new main library and community center.
The Measure would require the City Council to initiate a public planning process within two years
of the Measure’s adoption to guide a proposal to the community to preserve and reuse the historic
Carnegie Library building.