Measure F: Alamo's parks and recreation Around Town, posted by [removed], a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on May 6, 2011 at 8:27 am
Dear Editor,
MEASURE F Shall the appropriations limit under California Article XIII-B for County Service Area R-7A (Alamo Parks and Recreation) be increased to $1,650,000 and adjusted for changes in the cost-of-living and population, with the increase effective for the Fiscal Years 2010/2011 through 2013/2014 (inclusive) to provide for the expenditure of funds that will be available to the County Service Area during the stated fiscal years?”
This measure to be decided by Alamo’s mail-in ballots in the next few weeks has gathered discussion among Alamo neighborhoods. Neighbors are considering voting NO to send a message to the county concerning the lack of voice in current and future uses of R-7A funding. With neighbors wanting funds for protection of natural open space, walkways & trails and even municipal wifi, county organizations continue formal parks and recreation programs not used by Alamo residents (reference: CC LAFCO report). Further, neighbors are questioning proposed uses of funds to beautify 680 interchanges that will only invite more commute traffic onto Danville Blvd. A proposed tree lighting project in Alamo’s business district also is seen as “semi-rural hokum” when immediate rejuvenation and renewal is needed to provide a modern business district for Alamo.
Alamo neighbors should consider this appropriations increase carefully and realize that it is not a tax increase. It simply insures that R-7A parcel taxes will remain in Alamo for current and future parks and recreation programming. Further, neighbors should consider separating this appropriation measure from the issues of representation of the majority’s will and interests in operating and planning Alamo parks and recreation programs. Legitimately, there is little interactive discussion, consideration and mitigation available to Alamo residents provided by the county, but protection our R-7A parcel tax fund for Alamo use should be a considered priority by Alamo residents.
Posted by [removed], a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on May 10, 2011 at 8:53 am
Dear Editor,
A discovered county document describes the resulting uses of additional appropriations of R-7A funds created by the successful Measure F vote yet to be made by Alamo voters. Within the list is a grouping of county studies with budgets exceeding $300,000 in 2011 – 2013. Other costs are simply maintenance costs for current parks/programs and new development phases for Hap Magee Ranch Park. More than $1 million is planned for consumption of R-7A parcel taxes in further development of parks and programs that Alamo residents do not use. CC LAFCO has confirmed that current R-7A parks and recreation programs serve few in Alamo. And yet, the county plans to study greater establishment of formal parks, more recreation programs and expand Hap Magee Ranch Park offerings at R-7A expense.
There is strong support in Alamo for transfer of Hap Magee Ranch Park to Danville’s sphere of influence for county and Danville operations without R-7A participation. Yet, in 2011, the county and Danville continue to impose these unwanted facilities on Alamo and require our parcel taxes support their imposition. EMCEB editors have a newsworthy story to cover that illustrates the issues of county planning purposely opposing residents’ interests simply to insure parcel tax budget support for county departments.
Posted by [removed], a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on May 12, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Dear Editor,
Let's ask Alamo voters to separate the appropriations of money for R-7A parks and recreation and vote YES on Measure F on their mail-in ballots. The need to change course to match the will and interests of a majority in Alamo is a function of combined efforts at the highest levels of the county. Few in Alamo use the current parks and programs and many want natural open space, trails, walkways and rest areas for our self-directed recreation activities.
Let's vote YES so that our majority in Alamo can use full appropriations to specify our will and interests in the future protection of our environment and its enjoyment.
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