Does this sound familiar? Godbe market research indicates 65% of likely voters will say yes. At the same time, the city who hired the market research firm says the money is needed to help services. (Bob Hutchinson).
San Jose Mercury News/Daily Review/Rebecca Parr. "Hayward puts half-cent sales tax on June ballot."
| Well of course I want a library for my children, a reliable fire department, police in my neighborhood, and streets that do not ruin my car. |
If voters OK the sales tax increase, it would be the same as Union City's, according to the staff report.
In addition to supporting more police, a library and fire station upgrades, residents who took a city survey also favored a new fire department training center, street repairs and more maintenance workers. Library supporters promised the council they would work to get the measure passed." Read article.
Reference - City of Hayward/City Manager's Office, 2/25/14, "Update on Potential June 2014 Revenue Measure," background pages 2-3. "Godbe Research,"a full-service market research firm", report to the "City of Hayward: 2014 Revenue Measure Feasibility Tracking Survey, February 2014," from pages 4-26.
1. POSSIBLE funding priorities, based upon $10,000,000 annual funding (20 year annual cost or bond debt), page 22:
Library and Community Learning Center, total unfunded cost: $50,000,000, ($3,990.000).
Other Fire Station Retrofits/Improvements, total cost $10,000,000, ($798,000).
New Fire Station #6 Training Center, total cost $8,200,000, ($654,400).
Street repairs, 2 miles of overlay and 4 miles of slurry seal, ($1,000,000).
Addition of 5 police officers, cost per officer $200,000, ($1,000,000).
Restoring 5 maintenance workers, cost per worker $100,000, ($1,000,000).
Total annual cost: $7,942,400, contingency $2,057,600.
A. Potential ballot question language (from tracking poll), page 23:
"To protect and sestore city services and facilities, including: increasing neighborhood police patrols; repairing potholes and maintaining streets and sidewalks; updating fire stations to meet neighborhood needs and earthquake standards; replacing the outdated and undersized library with a 21st century library and community learning center, and other city services; shall City of Hayward increase the sales tax by one-half percent, for twenty years, providing locally controlled funding that cannot be taken by the State?"
B. Possible alternative ballot language, page 24:
"To restore and maintain Hayward city services/facilities, including firefighting/emergency medical services; improving police protection for neighborhoods; replacing the aging library with a 21st Century facility including safe space for after-school homework/tutoring; repairing potholes, streets and sidewalks; updating aging neighborhood fire stations: and other city services; shall the City of Hayward increase the sales tax by 1/2 percent, for twenty years only, providing locally controlled funding that cannot be taken away by the State?"
Reference - Godbe Market Research. "For more than 17 years, Godbe Research has developed innovative research methodologies designed to assess market situations, evaluate public opinion and assist both private and public sector organizations with the development of effective strategies. Our customized primary and secondary research studies employ established data collection methods with precise measurement and analysis techniques to deliver the knowledge you need to make sound, strategic decisions. We pride ourselves on providing personalized service from seasoned researchers, and the agility to mobilize resources to ensure your project is completed on time and on budget."
Submitted by Bob Hutchinson
Note photograph: Thoughtful interview from Smartbridge (creating exceptional).
Posted by Kathy Meeh
12 comments:
I guess we are running out of Pacifica news!
This city has been known to hire consultants to sell taxes to Pacificans. The latest was Measure V, 11/5/13, which did not pass (lost by 65.9%). The market research firm, which setup that vote with the "researched" opinion that 65% of voters would say "yes" was Godbe (I think). And we all paid for that consultant.
The need for more or better essential services is somewhat similar in leading questions, yielding a "researched" result. (Apparently about 65% of voters will say "yes"). So, we'll see, Hayward is a different city (as 700 noted).
Then there is the separate library bond vote in our city's future. The advance market "research" will likely show 65% will say "yes".
700, the invitation remains open to submit articles (Pacifica or other) under your own name, to fixpacifica@gmail.com.
@ 700 this IS very relevant to Pacifica. Godbe Research is still being used by our city. They are out there and ready to perform the next bogus poll. You can bet Banco and the rest are now pushing council to go for a sales tax increase too. We need to be aware of them and hopefully influence the city not to use them in the future.
There's always an element in this community, and probably any other, for whom the answer to "where's the money going to come from?" is taxes. They're willing to pay more, and they can, so they push it forward. City Councils, this and others, don't just pray for these people to appear, they appoint them to task forces and committees to carry the ball. They cultivate them. Our very own city council, several of whom are well-versed in the use of pollsters, PR and such from either serving on the school board (Ervin and O'Neill) or running successful school tax measures (Nihart) is no stranger to this type of theatre. Scripted from start to finish with an occasional improv moment.
This starts and ends with council. Nothing new. And beyond this library nonsense the question is still where's the money to run this city going to come from?
3 seats up this November. Who wants to run with a library bond or anything fiscal on the same ballot? Wouldn't they feel honor-bound to state their position on a bond? I'm sure the Trib will ask. You know, go down to noble defeat clutching their bond or be swept into office by the enlightened for the renaissance of Pacifica?
Or is it 4 seats?
The 3 are Stone, O'Neill and Digre. Ervin and Nihart in 2016.
The Library Bond may be doomed if they don't let go of the idea of closing and selling the Sanchez Library Site to apartment or condo developers. A sale might be congtingent upon a planning commission approval and do you remember how long assisted living project was delayed, and who helped delay that? But not selling Sanchez that would only mean a bigger and more expensive bond. I'm not sure the city council is serious about selling any property really. Hey I just saw "Shored Up" and it looks by the time the bond is paid off, the customers of the library may also include whales, dolphins, crabs and fishes. I hope they include a boat dock and stilts, or design it to be an aquarium too.
I'm not sure they can sell that Sanchez property for private development. The use may be permanently restricted to public buildings, recreation, community use. What are we talking about? Why would this even come up? Library bond s/b a non-starter. Just like any politician who supports the idea. Last thing we need. Sell off that rapidly disappearing beachfront property fast!
Who owns the Sanchez library dirt the county or the city?
The building and all the property are owned by the City. The books, DVDs, staff and other collections are all provided by the County.
City of Pacifica owners the land. There are restrictions on what the land may be used for, public recreation and services, as I recall. It comes up everytime someone says turn it into senior housing or anything else.
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