Presentation on Parks for the Future at MCC, Wednesday

Board of Supervisors Offer Weak Promises for the Future of Midcoast Parks and Recreation.

Parks for the Future—Measure O is a proposed San Mateo County sales tax increase by 1/8th of a cent for 25 years. The revenue would support parks and recreation in San Mateo County.

Measure O will be on the June 3rd 2008 ballot. It is projected to cost the average person $18 per year. The revenue would generate approximately $16 million of new-dedicated funds per year for San Mateo County parks and recreation.

What would this sales tax increase mean for the unincorporated Midcoast?

San Mateo County will receive 42% of the $16 million per year (in 2002 figures) generated by the 1/8 of a percent sales increase. The County has verbally promised to spend a small percentage (approximately $300,000. per year) of the 42% to help implement the Midcoast Action Plan for Parks.

The 20 San Mateo Cities would receive 52% of the sales tax revenue. The breakdown is based on city population with a minimum going to small cities. Half Moon Bay with an estimated population 12,000 is considered a small city and would receive approximately $205,000.

The population of the unincorporated Midcoast and the city of Half Moon Bay are each approximately 12,000 based on US census statistics.

Out of the County’s 42% the County verbally promised to allocate approximately $300,000.00 per year to the implementation of the Midcoast Action Plan for Parks (MAPP). It was expected that this promise would be memorialized by a Board of Supervisors resolution.

At the October 25th 2007 Parks For The Future meeting at the Harbor House, Parks Director Dave Holland said that he would request the Parks and Recreation Commission approve a resolution memorializing sales tax revenue allocation commitments to the Midcoast Action Plan for Parks (MAPP). The resolution would then need to be signed by the Board of Supervisors. Parks Commissioner Bern Smith attended the October 07 meeting and did not object to the proposed resolution.

Dave Holland said in a December 2007 phone conversation that the County Board of Supervisors would not memorialize sales tax revenue allocation for the Midcoast because it might upset the cites.

It is disappointing that the Parks & Recreation Commissioners were unable to get the "promise" memorialized in writing by the Board of Supervisors.

The Parks Commissioners and the Board of Supervisors missed an important opportunity to advocate on behalf of the unincorporated Midcoast.

Measure O does not guarantee that money will be allocated to the Midcoast on a continual basis.

In addition to the promise of $300,000 per year for implementation of the Midcoast Action Plan for Parks (MAPP) the County said they would spend approximately $100,000 per year on additional resources for the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (FMR) staircase and improvements on the Mirada Surf property (east & west sides of Highway 1 near Surfers Beach) Including a new Mirada Surf bathroom facility located at the Miramar end of the property and the extension of the Coastal Trail through the Mirada Surf property.

While the Midcoast has the support of County Parks and Recreation Director Dave Holland what will happen when Dave moves on? Can we count on Measure O to provide Midcoast Park Funding for the Future?

For more information on Parks For The Future—Measure O go to the May 14th Midcoast Community Council meeting at 7:30pm located at Seton Medical Center.