Voters would go for library, community bond Voters would go for library, community bond (February 27, 2002)

Experts tell city infrastructure bond would be rejected

by Geoff S. Fein

Two experts helping Palo Alto craft a bond measure for the November election say voters could either support a bond measure for libraries or one that includes community facilities, but would reject a bond encompassing storm drains or upgrading the city's 911 dispatch system.

The pair also warned city officials and residents that both sides in the local library debate must drop their partisan stand and come together to mount a successful bond campaign. One side of the debate wants a libraries-only bond, the other wants the Art Center or other community facilities to be included.

About 70 people packed into Mitchell Park Community Center Saturday morning to hear two election consultants speak. The two were Larry Tramutola -- who helped the Palo Alto Unified School District with its successful 1995 Measure B bond and its 2001 parcel tax -- and Ruth Bernstein -- a professional pollster who handled last year's city survey and a similar study for the library advocacy group Libraries Now!

Drawing from the city survey, Bernstein told the gathering there is a high awareness in the community that something must be done about storm drains and 911 dispatch, but said throwing those issues into a bond measure confused people.

"Aside from that (there were a) significant number of people that found libraries important," she said. "Both polls show that two-thirds of the community would support a package that includes libraries and something."

Councilwoman Hillary Freeman, who is also a founding member of Libraries Now!, asked if those at the meeting could discuss the results of the Libraries Now! and city surveys.

But Mayor Vic Ojakian said the meeting was just a study session to allow city officials and the community to pick the brains of experts.

Bernstein said the results of an upcoming city survey will build on what is already known.

"The first survey said to move forward, that's a big thing," she said. "We have 65 percent to 67 percent saying (the bond proposal) is a great thing. We know we are already close."

State law requires that a bond measure must receive at least 66 percent of the vote in favor for passage.

The next survey, scheduled for April, will also give city officials an indication of what voters support and why, said Bernstein, who emphasized the importance of learning the priorities of undecided voters.

"We are going to try to get to why they'd support or not support the measure," Bernstein said. "We want to use the poll to help us phrase the measure; to test the language."

Councilwoman Judy Kleinberg questioned how city officials can deliver a clear message to the voters, especially if two different messages are being touted.

At times the push for a bond measure has been contentious as Libraries Now!, a community group that has loudly advocated a libraries-only bond measure, and city officials, who are considering adding community facilities to the bond language, have been at odds.

"If I felt the only way to pass (a bond measure) was to have libraries only, I'd tell you," Tramutola said. "But I don't think that's what the information says. I believe we are getting close to a package that can be passed."

While Tramutola said he believes a bond measure that includes some funds for renovating the Palo Alto Art Center will not fail, he chastised both sides in the ongoing debate. "There is an inability to be inclusive," he said.

Although Tramutola said he recognizes that people are lobbying for different bond measures out of the sincere desire to do what is best for the community, he said advocates can get rigid in terms of their positions.

"There is a desire to promote one's perspective,' he said. "That's inappropriate and it's intellectually dishonest."

City officials need to prepare a project list for what they want on the ballot as well as the cost for those projects. Cost estimates made months ago may have changed over time, Tramutola said.

He recommended that both a campaign committee and finance committee be formed as soon as possible, even though the costs and the ballot items are not yet known.

"You need to communicate to the community what you are doing," Tramutola told city officials.

Bond measure advocates will also need to know how much money must be raised and identify possible contributors, he added.

The cost to run a bond campaign depends on the number of people who participate in the election, Tramutola said. In elections where approximately 30,000 voters turned out, the cost to run a campaign has been around $100,000. That translates into about 70 cents per mailer, Tramutola said.

"If you don't think all things out, you are sowing the seeds of (destruction)," he said.

City Manager Frank Benest said the City Council cannot move forward, however, until staffing and operational issues for the renovated libraries have been discussed.

City officials also expect to have a better handle on the costs of renovating Children's, Main and Mitchell Park libraries as well as the Art Center and Mitchell Park Community Center once they receive a study in March. The completion of the second community poll is also expected to give the council specific direction.

E-Geoff S. Fein at gfein@paweekly.com