The Marina City Council is moving to put a $50 million general obligation bond measure for constructing new facilities on the Nov. 2024 ballot. (James Herrera – Monterey Herald)
MARINA >> The Marina City Council voted to specify a dollar amount of $50 million for a general obligation bond to be placed on the November ballot for construction of new city facilities at its most recent City Council study session.
The motion to specify the dollar amount of the bond using option 3 to be placed on the ballot passed 3-1 with Mayor Bruce Delgado dissenting.
“My comment is that I will be voting no, not because I don’t think it’s needed but because I don’t think it’s realistic to be successful with that option,” said Delgado before the vote.
City staff was seeking specific direction from the council on the dollar amount and which types of facilities are to be funded from the general obligation bond.
The City Council needed to take action as it has a deadline of Aug. 7 to put a measure on the ballot, according to City Manager Layne Long.
With the council’s action on Tuesday, city staff can have the ballot measure language together in time for final approval.
After hearing presentations about the needs of the city and comment from the public, council considered four options for construction and costs.
Option 1 would be the construction of a new fire station with an approximate cost of $16 million dollars.
Option 2 would be the construction of a new fire and police station with an approximate total cost of $33.5 million (fire $16 + police $17.5).
Option 3 would be the construction of a new fire and police station and a community center including city council chambers, community rooms, and recreation, with an approximate total cost of $55 million (fire $16 + police $17.5 + community center $21.5).
Option 4 would be the construction of a new fire and police station, city offices, and renovation of existing public safety building and community center into a recreational campus at Hillcrest with an approximate total cost of $62.5 million (fire $16 + police $17.5 + community center $21.5 + renovation Hillcrest campus $7.5).
The approximate cost for a $50 million bond for a median single-family home in Marina with an assessed value of $497,000 would be $22.70 per month or $272 annually.
The Tuesday study meeting included an open house for the public, presentations by city staff and RNT Architects, that covered topics such as facility needs assessment review, cost estimates and potential locations.
At the Aug. 7 City Council meeting, the council will need to approve a resolution with the exact language for the ballot measure in order to get it on the November ballot.
At previous meetings, the Council reviewed several potential sites for city facilities including the existing civic center site, Locke Paddon park, a site adjacent to the Marina/Salinas Transit station, Cypress Knolls and Vince DiMaggio Park.
The Council decided not to identify a specific site for the community center buildings, since several of the potential identified sites will work. A more engaged process with the public identifying the specific sites for the community center facilities will happen later if the bond is approved.