March 2, 2021 - Measure B

COUNTY COUNSEL’S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE B

RIDGEWOOD AVENUE PERMANENT ROAD DIVISION

SPECIAL PARCEL TAX MEASURE

This Measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Marin upon receiving a petition signed by a majority of property owners within the Ridgewood Avenue Permanent Road Division. The purpose of this proposed tax is to provide roadway improvements for the Ridgewood Avenue Permanent Road Division, which includes 22 improved parcels fronting Ridgewood Avenue, beginning at the intersection of North Ferndale Avenue in Mill Valley. The funds must be expended on improvements on this portion of Ridgewood Avenue only.

If this Measure is approved by two-thirds of the votes cast on this special tax proposal, a new tax will be levied upon parcels within the Ridgewood Avenue Permanent Road Division beginning July 1, 2021. From July 1, 2021 until June 30, 2031 the tax will be $1,620 per parcel per year. From July 1, 2031 and thereafter, the tax will be $200 per parcel per year. On or after July 1, 2031, the yearly $200 per parcel tax can be increased based upon the State of California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

The estimated revenue from the tax is approximately $35,640 annually for ten years and approximately $4,400 annually thereafter, possibly subject to increase from the relevant Consumer Price Index.

Should the tax pass, the County of Marin Board of Supervisors may borrow against projected tax proceeds to fund road maintenance projects prior to the collection of the tax proceeds, with loan and financing costs paid for by the tax proceeds.

s/BRIAN E. WASHINGTON
Marin County Counsel

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE B

Ridgewood Avenue was last updated over 24 years ago, and it’s showing. We now average over 125 car and truck trips every day, and we are seeing alarming deterioration of the road, which is clearly accelerating and will only get worse with repeated rainy seasons. The width of the road is narrowing as the edges collapse and there are several deep depressions in the road surface that indicate that the road base has been compromised.

Your neighbors have been donating their time and energy to create the Ridgewood Avenue Permanent Road Division. Our goal is to develop and fund a comprehensive and feasible plan to repair and upgrade the road before major problems arise. We implore you to vote yes on this measure to support these required repairs. It is critical that we act to repair the road now, as further delay will dramatically increase the costs of repairs.

The proposed repairs are not optional. It is our legal obligation to ensure a safe and passible roadway so that our road can support access to properties, truck deliveries, trash pick-up, and, most importantly, access for emergency vehicles.

The road repair plan allows us to borrow the funds now and re-pay over 10-years, thus sharply reducing what would otherwise be very high initial out-of-pocket costs for each of us. Furthermore, the yearly payment includes funds for ongoing maintenance over time, thus providing us with the resources to support fire abatement, drainage ditch cleaning, and surface repair (so we don’t have to do this again for a long while) without additional assessments.

Support your community and your home’s value, and let’s repair Ridgewood Avenue before it gets any worse and repair costs escalate.

Your neighbors urge you to vote YES on this measure.

RIDGEWOOD AVE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PLANNING COMMITTEE

s/ WHITNEY BARDWICK
Planning Committee Member

s/ PATRICK WYMAN
Planning Committee Member

s/ DAVID G. STROEBE
Planning Committee Member

s/ KEITH CHAPMAN
Planning Committee Member

s/ MATT GOLDEN
Planning Committee Member

ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE B

No argument against Measure B was filed.

FULL TEXT OF MEASURE B

RESOLUTION NO. 2020-124
RESOLUTION OF THE MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE SPECIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED ON TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 TO IMPOSE A SPECIAL TAX UPON PARCELS WITHIN THE RIDGEWOOD AVENUE PERMANENT ROAD DIVISION FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING IMPROVEMENTS AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF ROADWAYS WITHIN THE DIVISION; ADOPTING INTENDED BALLOT LANGUAGE; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION

WHEREAS, this Board has received a petition signed by a majority of property owners within the Ridgewood Avenue Permanent Road Division pursuant to Street and Highways Code Section 1170; and

WHEREAS, the petition recommends certain improvements and maintenance be performed on the roadways within the division and that an election be held on March 2, 2021 on a special tax to pay for the cost of the work; and

WHEREAS, the petition proposes to levy a special tax of $1,620 per parcel per year for 10 years, beginning in Fiscal Year 2021-2022, resulting in a total assessment of approximately $356,500. Thereafter, each lot shall be assessed $200 per year for ongoing maintenance, with a provision for an annual increase effective July 1 in accordance with the change in the State of California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the previous calendar year; and

WHEREAS, should the tax pass by 2/3rds of the votes cast by registered voters in the district, the County may borrow against the projected tax proceeds for the improvement project assessment term in order to fund the roadway work in advance. Loan and financing costs shall be paid for by Ridgewood Avenue tax proceeds; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Street and Highways Code Section 1173, when a division petitions for a special tax, the Board shall immediately order the election to determine whether such tax will be levied.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that this Board of Supervisors hereby orders as follows:

1. Should the tax pass by 2/3rds of the votes cast by registered voters in the district, the County may borrow against the projected tax proceeds for the improvement project assessment term in order to fund the roadway work in advance. Loan and financing costs shall be paid for by Ridgewood Avenue tax proceeds.
2. The tax will start beginning Fiscal Year 2021-2022. Assessments will be shown on annual tax bills in two installments with payments due by December 10 and April 10 respectively.
3. That the parcels as indicated on the map in Exhibit A and Exhibit B attached hereto be the parcels boundaries of the Division and that any tax to be levied will be on the parcels set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B.
4. That a special election be called and that the Registrar of Voters conduct said election, and further that the Clerk of the Board post the Notice of Election, attached hereto as Exhibit C, calling for a special election of March 2, 2021, and such notice to be posted and published in the manner provided California Streets and Highways Code Section 1174.
5. That said election shall be consolidated with the Special Election scheduled on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.
6. The Measure to be submitted to the voters shall be in the following form:

MEASURE SUBMITTED TO VOTE OF VOTERS OF RIDGEWOOD AVENUE PERMANENT ROAD DIVISION FOR APPROVAL OF SPECIAL TAX AND LOAN AND ITS REPAYMENT

Shall Ridgewood Avenue Permanent Road Division impose an immediate special tax on parcels within the Division of $1,620 per parcel per year for 10 years beginning Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and thereafter assess on all parcels $200 per year for ongoing maintenance, with a provision for an annual increase effective July 1 in accordance with the change in the State of California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the previous calendar year.

PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Marin held on this 10th day of November 2020, by the following vote:

AYES: SUPERVISORS
Dennis Rodoni
Judy Arnold
Damon Connoly
Kathrin Sears
Katie Rice

NOES: NONE

ABSENT: NONE

s/KATHRIN SEARS
President, Board of Supervisors

ATTEST:

s/MATTHEW H. HYMEL
Clerk

EXHIBIT A

Parcel information of the Ridgewood Permanent Road Division

EXHIBIT B

Boundaries of the Ridgewood Permanent Road Division

A larger printable PDF of Exhibit 1 is available.

EXHIBIT C

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special tax election will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, with ballots distributed by mail, on the issue of a special tax for the Ridgewood Avenue Permanent Road Division. The amount of money proposed to be raised is approximately $356,500 for initial improvements and $4,400 per year for maintenance. Should the special tax pass it would result in assessments of $1,620 per parcel per year for 10 years, beginning in Fiscal Year 2021-2022, resulting in a total assessment of approximately $356,500. Thereafter, each lot shall be assessed $200 per year for ongoing maintenance each year, with a provision for an annual increase effective July 1 in accordance with the change in the State of California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the previous calendar year. The special tax will start beginning Fiscal Year 2021-2022. The special tax is proposed to improve and maintain the road surface of Ridgewood Avenue from North Ferndale Avenue to the end of Ridgewood Avenue. Ridgewood Avenue will receive a new asphalt surface, asphalt dig outs will repair base failures along portions of the road, minor road widening will be performed in select locations, and some drainage improvements will be included.

MATTHEW H. HYMEL
Clerk of the Board