October 13, 2005

County Park Charter Fund the focus of AVCA meeting

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

The Santa Clara County Park Charter Fund, essential for growing and maintaining County parks, was the focus of the Almaden Valley Community Association’s (AVCA) meeting held at Almaden Pizza Company Monday evening.

Garnetta Annable and Kitty Monahan ask AVCA members for support of the Santa Clara County Park Charter Fund as Michael Boulland shares scenic photos of county parks taken by Ron Horii.

Established by a ballot mandate in 1972, the Santa Clara County Park Charter Fund is a set-aside of existing property taxes (1.425 cents per $100 of assessed valuation) to provide stable revenue for the Parks system. About $28 million a year is currently raised through the Park Charter Fund.

“County parks preserve open spaces and provide land for people to exercise and enjoy nature,” said AVCA Director Kitty Monahan. It is through the Park Charter Fund that County parks, reservoirs and regional parks, like Los Gatos Creek, Almaden Quicksilver, Anderson Reservoir and Vasona Lake Park are maintained.

Amending and renewing the Park Charter Fund, which will appear on the June 2006 ballot, was the focus of a presentation made by Monahan and Santa Clara County Open Space Authority Director Garnetta Annable. It is their hope that the public will support the resolution for a 12-year extension of the charter fund, which is critical for purchasing and preparing trails and waterways for public use, as well as maintaining existing parks.

The Charter also allocates how the money is spent. Currently, 80 percent is spent on maintenance, operation and development, with 20 percent going to acquisitions. The “Yes On Parks!” Committee would like to revise the allocation, apportioning 80 percent to maintenance and operations, 15 percent for acquisitions, and 5 percent ($1.5 million over 12 years) for park improvements and the development of new trails.

“There is something like $50 million of capitol improvement ideas that have sat on the shelf for 10 years,” said Annable. “That’s why we feel that this 5 percent for development, which would only be $1.5 million over 12 years, is worth it.”

ABA Member Rich De La Rosa advises AVCA members about the Texas Hold’em Benefit Tournament, which will raise funds for the Children’s Story Time Area of the new Almaden Branch Library.

As parks are provided for community use, the Committee and Board of Supervisors are putting the decision before the public. “The Board needs to know that this is an acceptable change,” said Monahan, who along with Annable, urges the public to support and promote the renewal of the Park Charter Fund by contacting their County Supervisor or responding online at: www.YesOnParks.com before Oct. 31.

On Nov. 8, after hearing a resolution from various Santa Clara County neighborhood groups, the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors will determine the specific wording of the Santa Clara County Park Charter Fund, as it will appear on the June 2006 ballot measure. The issues surrounding the wording include renewing the Park Charter Fund for 12 years, continuing the set-aside of existing property taxes (1.425 cents per $100 of assessed valuation) and revising the allocation.

Annable is concerned that the county executive prefers not to renew the Park Charter Fund. “They’re currently looking at asking the public to pass a ¼-percent sales tax that can be used generally instead,” she said. However, she doesn’t believe that small business owners would support a sales tax at this time. “There is pressure on the Board not to act on this current mandate until they do a survey into whether or not they can pass the sales tax,” she added. “Currently, about $18 per citizen is being spent on County parks, and we feel it’s a reasonable expense and an appropriate use of our tax dollars.”

The Park Charter Fund is essential for developing parkland for public use. “We’re trying to raise enough money to develop parks [prepare them for public use] as well as purchase land to connect them,” said Monahan. Alviso Marina, for example, which includes about 100 acres of land and connects to a wildlife refuge, was a slough before Santa Clara County Parks took it over and cleaned it up. “It was such a mess that no one could use that whole section of the Bay,” said Monahan. “Today, people can go for a nice walk, picnic and take a boat out. Now it’s a beautiful park open to the public.”

In addition, Santa Clara County Parks recently spent millions of dollars on an environmental clean up of mercury-contaminated soil at old mining sites in Quicksilver County Park.

Santa Clara County Open Space Authority Director Garnetta Annable and AVCA Director Kitty Monahan ask the public to support the Santa Clara County Park Charter Fund by saying, “Yes On Parks!”

The Park Charter Fund is also used to purchase additional parkland. “We’re trying to connect all of our county parks in a ‘necklace of parks’ so you can follow a trail from one park to the next,” said Monahan. Along this line, Santa Clara County Parks recently provided a trail connecting Calero County Park with Rancho Canada del Oro, and purchased Harvey Bear Ranch, which connects with Coyote Lake. Their new Master Plan includes restoring a network of creeks and trails along Coyote Creek, which will run from Anderson Reservoir to Hellyer County Park.

As the County is projected to grow by another 400,000 residents to a population of more than 2 million within the next 20 years, the Santa Clara County Park Charter Fund is considered vital by Monahan for protecting watersheds and natural areas, assuring that current and future community needs are met and contributing to the quality of life for County residents.

Friends of Santa Teresa County Park President Michael Boulland is also in favor of the Park Charter Fund. “It’s truly a well-planned bond issue,” he said. “It is those funds which allow people to enjoy the parks.”

For information on the AVCA online see: www.avca-sj.org. For information on Santa Clara County Parks online see: www.parkhere.org.