Measure F

“Shall an initiative measure be adopted to withdraw the Town of San Anselmo, including all parcels of land in Town, from the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Zone 9?”

After 17 years and $52 million dollars – the County has provided no flood mitigation to San Anselmo. It’s time we end this waste by voting “Yes on F.”

Under the structure of Flood Zone 9 San Anselmo residents have no control over the decisions the County makes or how our money is spent. For 17 years the County Flood District hasn’t listened to us.

To be heard, in 2015 residents had to use the public ballot process to protect Memorial Park from more County waste and exploitation. A majority of San Anselmo residents voted to stop the Memorial Park detention basin and protect our beloved park.

Now residents need to protect Creek Park Plaza from destruction. The County’s claim that the plaza is unsafe and should be demolished is false.

The Town of San Anselmo hired an expert engineer who found that Creek Park Plaza isn’t dangerous and can be adequately reinforced for generations of use. The San Anselmo Town Council has set aside the money necessary to protect our Plaza.

FEMA regulations require that neighbors not be harmed by flood projects without adequate compensation and mitigation. If the County removes Creek Park Plaza without protecting our neighbors, it will violate FEMA regulations. Whether or not a “baffle” is installed, San Anselmo will be exposed to liability, our neighbors will suffer, and we’ll lose Creek Park Plaza, the heart of our town.

A “Yes on F” vote will not impact flood insurance availability or price.

Withdrawing from FZ9 will ensure we take on no additional financial liability for ineffective County projects and deliver a strong message to the County to leave Creek Park Plaza alone.

The State of California Primary Ballot and “Measure F” will come to your mailbox in February.

With your friends and neighbors VOTE “YES ON F.”

SIGNED BY: ANN POLITZER; PAUL CHIGNELL, Former Mayor, Town of San Anselmo; JEFF KROOT, Former Mayor, Town of San Anselmo; DAVID J. BOHN; FORD GREENE, Former Mayor, Town of San Anselmo

No argument against Measure F was filed

INTRODUCTION: This measure was placed on the ballot by an initiative petition signed by the requisite number of voters. If approved by a majority of voters of the Town of San Anselmo (“Town”) voting on the question, the measure will withdraw all land in the Town from the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (“District”).

BACKGROUND: The State Legislature created the District in 1953 to control flood and storm waters and to conserve water for use when practicable. The Town withdrew from the District in 1971, before rejoining in 2006. In 2007 the District imposed a storm drainage fee on property in the Ross Valley, which the District designated as Zone 9, including the Town (hereinafter “Flood Fee”). The Flood Fee expires on June 30, 2027.

THE MEASURE: Under State law, a majority of Town voters voting on the measure can approve the Town’s withdrawal from the District. State law specifies that withdrawal will not release land so withdrawn from the duty to pay fees to fund debts and obligations the District becomes responsible for before the withdrawal. Accordingly, withdrawal from the District is unlikely to release property owners in the Town from having to pay the Flood Fee to fund projects to which the District is already committed. However, withdrawal can protect Town property owners from having to fund any projects the District initiates after withdrawal.

State law also provides that parcels of land withdrawn from the District remain subject to taxes for the maintenance of improvements constructed within the flood zone before the withdrawal. Maintenance of improvements within Flood Zone 9 is funded with a portion of the 1 percent property tax collected on properties in Town under Proposition 13. This property tax will continue to be collected and a portion will continue to be allocated to maintenance of improvements in Flood Zone 9, regardless of the Town’s withdrawal from the District. The Town’s presence in, or withdrawal from, the District will not affect the amount of the 1 percent property tax, but may affect distribution of tax proceeds to the agencies which benefit from it.

THE VOTE: A “Yes” vote is a vote in favor of the Town’s withdrawal from the District. A “No” vote is a vote against withdrawal from the District. This measure will be approved if it receives a majority of “Yes” votes.

s/ MEGAN HOLT ACEVEDO
San Anselmo Town Attorney

https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/election-info/march-5-2024/vig/001?tabnum=4