YES -Pool proponents have stated Piedmont needs a working, non-leaking municipal pool, and it is timely and cost-effective to issue the bonds to allow the designing and building of two enlarged pools and Aquatic Facilities. Pools were costing the City $1,000 per day prior to the closure by Alameda County COVID-19 mandate. Proponents note the new pool facility will be used by the schools, swim teams, Recreation Department, and the general public. The added operating costs of the Facility are projected to be covered by an increase in community-at-large usage.
NO – City records show tens of millions of dollars in outstanding City financial obligations, and opponents state the City should first fund current obligations and needed Police and Fire facilities before a yet-to-be-designed expensive multi-pool Aquatic Facility. A lack of prioritization of City needs, increased congestion next to schools, higher taxes, poor economic timing, environmental impacts, financial money-pit, mis-management, oversized costs, and Covid -19 are noted as negatives.
Official Measure UU – Pool Construction Bonds information
*The “City Attorney’s Impartial Analysis of Measure UU” is provided by Piedmont’s contract City Attorney.
Measure UU is found near the end of Piedmont voters ballots.
This forum will be on YouTube. The City of Piedmont is legally not allowed to use public resources for political purposes. Prior to the forum, the Piedmont League of Women Voters endorsed Measure UU.
Join the League of Women Voters of Piedmont for a virtual Election Forum featuring proponents and opponents of City of Piedmont Ballot Measure UU. Measure UU authorizes the city to issue bonds to reconstruct the Piedmont Community Pool. Each side will be given two minutes to present an opening statement, followed by a question and answer session where each side will have one minute to answer each question. Submit your questions concerning Measure UU now or during the event.
You may submit questions during the livestream by using the YouTube comments or anytime prior to or during the event by completing the anonymous form below or sending an email to lwvpiedmont@gmail.com.
For more information about Measure UU, review LWVP Pros & Cons.
When I think about Piedmont, the iconic image that comes to mind is the center of town – the 4 schools, the tennis courts, Piedmont Park and City Hall. And, in the middle – the pool. We live in a really beautiful place and the pool is a vital part.
This picture fades when you foresee the pool drained and the site pad-locked. Further, it is difficult to imagine it replaced by anything else. I can’t see, and don’t want, it “developed” for alternative (commercial) purposes. That’s not Piedmont. What belongs there is a pool. This is where our kids learn to swim. This is where my parents took me to learn to swim. Why would we take that away from our community and future residents? A cost/benefit analysis falls woefully short of responding to that question. Nobody applies that logic to the other amenities.
We rightfully take pride in our city. We should be a community that does not require a “fiscal” conclusion to support inherently valuable projects. We have parks, fields and courts for our citizens and students to pursue their athletic interests. Swimmers and water polo players deserve the same. Make no mistake, the pool augments the quintessential Piedmont “selling point” – the Schools.
Should UU fail, Piedmont High School and it’s swimming and water polo teams will be without a pool. Would some families opt for private schools that have pools? Seems likely. Replacing the pool is a great opportunity. The proposed plan ties the pool and the tennis courts together and creates a modern and attractive recreational facility. This is more than a replacement – it’s an improvement.
Think about recent projects. Does anyone regret remodeling Hampton Field? Do we wish we hadn’t spent the money to replace Havens? Of course not. All things have a lifespan whether we are talking about civic amenities or personal property. Well, the pool’s life has ended and it is our responsibility to get it replaced.
Those that oppose Measure UU because they ‘don’t use the pool’ or ‘don’t like how it will be funded’ should consider the risks of shuttering the pool. How does creating a blight improve our city? Whatever the objection, in the long-run this project enhances Piedmont, which benefits us all. Because Piedmont’s a community and not just an address, we owe it to the past and future to get this done.
Please vote ‘YES’ on UU.
Chris Hart, Current President Piedmont High School Boosters, Prior President Piedmont Baseball Softball Foundation
A Piedmont press release stated: Sample Ballot / Voter Information Pamphlet
“The Alameda County Registrar of Voters began mailing Sample Ballot / Voter Information Pamphlets to registered voters on Thursday, September 24th. You can also view your personalized Voter Information Guide on the Registrar of Voters My Voter Profilepage. If you have not received your sample ballot by October 16th, please contact the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Office at (510) 272-6933.”
Voted ballots may be returned in a U.S. Postal Box or deposited in the Alameda County BALLOT BOX located in central Piedmont at the corner of HIGHLAND WAY and HIGHLAND AVENUES next to the Wells Fargo Bank. POSTAGE IS NOT REQUIRED ON BALLOT ENVELOPES.
Because of issues related to mailed ballots, voters are encouraged to vote their ballots early to assure timely delivery to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
For your ballot to be counted, you must sign your ballot envelope. Every voters signature is carefully checked by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
++++++ VOTER GUIDE INFORMATION ++++++
Piedmont’s Ballot Measures TT (Transfer Tax Increase) and UU (Pool Bonds) are found on the very last page of the ballot. Links to official information on Measures UU and TT are below.
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If you have questions or concerns regarding voting, contact Piedmont City Clerk John Tulloch at 510/420-3040.
Current residents of Piedmont have benefitted from the generosity of prior residents who built, paid for, and in many cases donated our buildings, parks, playfields and of course, the pool. Their generosity toward future generations has allowed us, as taxpayers, to focus our collective resources on our excellent public schools.
It is now our turn to step up to rebuild our failing infrastructure. The two measures on the ballot in November are about repairing and replacing what is broken. Measure UU will allow Piedmont to issue, for the first time ever, municipal bonds to rebuild the failing 56-year-old Piedmont Pool. Municipal bonds are like a 30-year fixed-rate community mortgage, repaid through property tax assessments. Measure TT will align the real property transfer tax – only paid when a home is bought or sold – to match those of Berkeley and Oakland, and use the funds to repair and maintain our city facilities and failing roads and sidewalks.
To us, six former Piedmont Mayors, the focus on long-term planning is a sign of pragmatic and strategic thinking. The current City Council unanimously placed Measures UU and TT on the ballot because our failing infrastructure can’t wait. Spending more to repair a crumbling pool facility makes no fiscal sense. Borrowing money at low interest rates to rebuild a necessary civic asset is the prudent decision.
Soon the City Council will be forced to make the decision that no one wants to make: to permanently close the Piedmont Pool. If Measure UU does not pass, Piedmont will then fail to provide a basic public amenity that every other city in Alameda County provides to its residents. Whether you swim or not, the lack of a municipal pool would be a profound loss for our community and our schools.
Please join us in supporting the future of Piedmont and voting yes on Measures UU and TT.
Dean Barbieri
Michael Bruck
John Chiang
Abe Friedman
Susan Hill
Valerie Matzger
The League of Women Voters of Piedmont Board, composed of both Piedmonters and non-Piedmonters, voted to endorse Piedmont’s Measures TT and UU. The Piedmont League, a non-partisan political organization, supported the measures without hearing from both proponents and opponents. The League’s Board has sole authority on endorsing Piedmont ballot measures. The League’s general membership is not involved in the endorsement of ballot measures.
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The press release linked below was prepared by the Piedmont League of Women Voters on their Pros and Cons of Measures TT (Tax increase on property sales) and UU (Pool bonds for new municipal pools).
The following information from the City of Piedmont website was submitted by Measure UU Pool Bond supporters.
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Below are answers to frequently asked questions regarding Measure UU, which, if approved, would authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to replace the Piedmont Community Pool.
1. The City proposes to issue $19.5 Million in bonds. What is the actual expected borrowing interest rate assuming the bond passes this year?
Municipal bonds can be issued in stages as the funds are needed, and the applicable interest rate is determined at the time the bonds are issued. As a frame of reference, the interest rate as of September 16, 2020 is 2.8%.
2. What is the City’s current total outstanding general obligation debt?
The City currently has no outstanding general obligation debt.
3. What is the term of the bond repayment?
Measure UU provides that the term of the bond repayment is 30 years with a fixed interest rate.
4. How long will the tax be imposed on properties, and will the amount of the tax ever decrease?
Measure UU, if adopted, would impose a tax on properties for 30 years. In the event our property tax roll increases at 3.5% per year (10 year average is ~4.5%), the tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value will drop from $0.26 (if all bonds are issued) to approximately $0.10 in thirty years. The total tax assessed would still be the same, but redistributed based on the individual property assessment.
5. How can a property owner ascertain the assessed value of property?
Each year, the Alameda County Assessor’s Office notifies all property owners of the property’s annual assessed value. This number can also be found on a property owner’s property tax bill. Residents can ascertain the assessed value of their home on the Alameda County Assessor’s web site.
6. How does Measure UU impact the City’s General Fund?
Measure UU does not have an impact on the City’s General Fund.
7. What is the proposed concept for replacing the existing pool?
In the event Measure UU is adopted, the exact design of the pool facility will be finalized through a public process. The current proposed concept to replace the existing pool is the establishment of two pools: (1) a warmer, shallower recreation pool with areas for safe water play, swim lessons, therapeutic swim, and physical rehabilitation, and (2) a wider and deeper pool for recreation, physical education, water aerobics, water polo, swim team, and lap swimming. Each pool would be larger than the current “medium” and “big” pools.
8. What are the estimated costs of the project compared to bond revenues and what steps will the City take to limit project costs to available bond revenues?
The measure would authorize the City to issue bonds with a principal value that does not exceed $19.5 million. In the event the City receives an AA+ bond rating, it is conceivable the bonds would be sold at a premium and Measure UU would provide revenues in excess of the face value of the bonds. The City determined that the $19.5 million figure was appropriate based on rough “hard cost” estimates as follows: $8 million for the two pools to replace the current “medium” and “big” pools, $3.5 million for site preparation, and $6 million for a building to house the pool equipment, restrooms, offices, and community space. If necessary, the concept can be value-engineered during final design development to meet the budget parameters.
9. Can the City repair the existing pool?
The City has determined that repairing the existing pool is not a feasible option. The City has been continuously repairing the existing pool since it took over operations in 2011. The repairs required to keep the facility safe and operational have become increasingly expensive every year, and the facility is now at the point where pool decks need to be removed in order to address structural issues. A renovation of the existing facility would require not only major structural repair and equipment replacement, but would also trigger significant site work required to meet current health, safety, and accessibility regulations.
10. What oversight is in place to ensure that the bond funds are used properly?
Measure UU provides that a bond oversight committee be appointed to make sure the bonds are issued and spent in accordance with the terms of Measure UU. As with any project, staff and the City Council will also work to ensure proper use of public funds. The project will also be subject to the City’s project risk management policy.