Board of Supes pass $185 million park bond

By Caitlin Cassady

October 24, 2007

A final reading of an ordinance to establish a $185 million bond to clean up and restore San Francisco neighborhood parks was passed by the board of supervisors Tuesday, and will be voted on by San Francisco residents in February.

Ten supervisors voted for the ordinance. Supervisor Jake McGoldrick was not in attendance.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor President Aaron Peskin proposed the ordinance, which was passed by all 11 supervisors on its first reading Oct. 16.

According to the ordinance, the $185 million bond would go toward the "construction, reconstruction, purchase and/or improvement of park and recreation facilities within the city and county of San Francisco.''

Unlike a park restoration bond that was passed by the board of supervisors in 2000, the bond specifically designates which parks would receive how much money. The bond has set aside $117.4 million for playground safety and repair, as well as seismic work for recreation centers, landscaping and other improvements. According to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission, each park would receive a specific amount of money, and would not be able to expand the scope of the bond.

If the voters of San Francisco pass the ordinance it would incur a $185 million bonded debt to the city, according to the board of supervisors.

This amount is too great to be paid out of the ordinary annual income and revenue of the city, and is too large to be paid out of an annual tax levy.

Under the city's Capitol Planning Program, taxes would not be raised for landowners, because other bonds that have been issued over the last 15 years, such as those to improve branch libraries, will be retired soon. The current tax would then apply to the new parks bond and no new taxes would be passed along to city residents or landowners.

The list of parks and open spaces that would be included under the umbrella of the proposition include everything from Mission Dolores Park to the Pier 43 Bay Trail Link. Portions of the proposed bond would also go toward new or renovated bathroom facilities at parks and improved playing fields. One segment of the bond is a $5 million hunk that would go toward programs that are community nominated, according to the board of supervisors.

A vote on the proposed bond will be held the same day as the California 2008 Presidential Primary election, Feb. 5, according to the board. The same ballot will be used for both elections and voters will go to their regular precincts.

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