City Manager's Blog

The City Manager's Blog is an online educational tool to provide general information to the community in open communication style. Periodically, the City Manager will post articles of general interest covering topics such as the Town's budget, budget process, capital projects, upcoming meetings, community issues, public safety, and general Town operations.

Articles in the blog are not designed as press releases or Town publications, rather, they are written in more of a conversational style. The Blog does not have a comments feature but readers are free to respond to the Blog and its entries view email directly to the City Manager.

View All Posts

Feb 16

Election - June 6, 2017

Posted on February 16, 2017 at 3:15 PM by grodericks grodericks

On February 15, 2017, the City Council adopted a Resolution calling a Special Election for June 6, 2017. The election is an all-mail ballot election. The Town has created a public information webpage for the Election and will provide links to available public information related to the Election. 

The Council placed the following advisory measure on the ballot for consideration:

Ballot Question

Should the Town of Atherton supplement private donations with available non-dedicated General Funds to meet the funding shortfall, where one exists, for construction of the new Town Center? 

Text of the Measure

Measure L was approved by Atherton voters in 2012 as an advisory measure supporting the use of donor funds as the primary funding source for the Civic Center Project. Since 2012, the Town has spent four years in the design process, completed 100% Design Development and is now engaged in the preparation of construction documents. Donor funds have served as the primary funding source for all of this design work; but current donations are not sufficient to complete construction of the designed project. 

The City Council has developed a funding plan that would supplement current and future private donations with available general funds without adding any new project-specific taxes, changes to the current Parcel Tax or use of the Town's mandatory reserves. Other funding sources include funds derived from building fees and grants. The City Council would like input from the voters as to how best to proceed with respect to additional funding needs. They pose the following question: 

Should the Town of Atherton supplement private donations with available non-dedicated General Funds to meet the funding shortfall, where one exists, for construction of the new Town Center?

Staff Report History

The City Council discussed the issue over several public meetings. When available, video links to these meetings can be found via the video link near each item. Links to the staff reports are also below. 

February 15, 2017 - Staff Report with Resolution Setting Rules for Ballot Arguments and Rebuttals Video Link

This staff report provides a Resolution governing the submittal of arguments, impartial analysis, and rebuttals. 

February 15, 2017 - Staff Report with Resolution calling the Special Election for June 6, 2017  (Video Link)

This staff report provides a summary of the proposed ballot measure and the attached Resolution calls the Special Election for June 6, 2017.

February 1, 2017 - Staff Report on the Civic Center Project - Review, Discuss and Provide Staff with Feedback Regarding Funding Status and Options Related to Measure L  (Video Link)

This staff report provides a more detailed summary of the estimated project cost, a proposed Funding Plan, and a discussion of the possibility of Certificates of Participation.

February 1, 2017 - History Report for the Civic Center Project  (Video Link)

This staff report outlines the history and progression of the Project from its inception to February 1, 2017. 

January 18, 2017 - Staff Report on the Civic Center Project: Review, Discuss and Provide Staff with Feedback Regarding Funding Status and Options  (Video Link)

This staff report provides details on the Funding Status for Atherton Now, Design Costs for the Project, Project Cost Estimates, Available "Other" Funds, a discussion of any "At Risk" Capital Improvement Projects, and a discussion of possible Funding Alternatives. 


Project Webpage

The Project Webpage for the Civic Center Project can be found via this link. The project webpage provides a history of the project, related documents, history documents, design photos, and other design-related documents.