A Sneak Peek at the 35 (!) Local Measures Appearing on San Diego Ballots

By Doug Porter

Labor Day used to be the traditional start of the Fall Election season. That’s no longer the case with the increasing popularity of mail-in ballots driving endorsements and campaigning further backward on the calendar.

August 24th’s endorsement session of the San Diego Democratic Central Committee proves the point. Dozens upon dozens of candidates and ballot measures were considered. The really big deals were the top four ballot measures.

In a nutshell, the Dems opposed SANDAG’s Measure A and the Lilac Hills Measure B, stayed neutral on the Chargers’ Measure C, and supported the Citizens Plan Measure D.

In fairness to the partisans for and opponents of these marquee measures, the final vote tells just part of the story. The opposition came up just one vote short in the Democrats meeting of opposing the Chargers’ stadium proposal.

If this all seems like gibberish to you, you’re at the right place. Here’s your first peek at the 35 (!) ballot measures to be presented to voters in various parts of San Diego County for the 2016 general elections.

Nobody will get to vote on all of these; many are bond measures for school districts, some of which you’ve likely never heard of.

The Democrats meeting. Photo ripped off from Jess Durfee’s Facebook page

This is a very abbreviated guide, with a few comments from me along the way. I advise you to get a cup of strong coffee should you intend to read all the way through this. (I’m still in the early stages of research.)

Fear not, SDFreePress readers. Our General Election Progressive Voter Guide, published at about the time mail-in ballots are delivered, will boil all these ballot measures down and give you the resources to further research issues that are of interest. And it won’t crush your mailbox, leaving room for those all-important flyers from the dinosaurs of retailing.

Measures For All of San Diego

Measure A

Source: Environmental Health Coalition

SANDAG (the regional planning agency) is hoping to get some more funding for transportation and related environmental concerns by way of a 40 year half-cent sales tax.

The nature of the SANDAG beast is that every local jurisdiction has a say. And they all want money to fix their roads, etc. So a lot of horse trading goes on, and mostly the elected officials at the top listen to what their professional staff tell them.

The problem this year is environmentalists and others feel that handing out all those favors conflicts with the State’s mandate to reduce greenhouse gasses and carbon consumption. Some local politicos believe they’ve got to promise more tangible results.

(I know, I’m giving this short shift. We’ll have lots more to say in the coming weeks.)

Because a tax is involved, a two-thirds majority vote is required. The formal opposition of BOTH the Democratic and Republican parties says to me this has a very slim chance of meeting that threshold.

Here’s the Ballot language: SAN DIEGO COUNTY ROAD REPAIR, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC RELIEF, SAFETY AND WATER QUALITY MEASURE Shall an ordinance be adopted to: repair roads, deteriorating bridges; relieve congestion; provide every community funds for pothole/street repairs; expand public transit, including improved services for seniors, disabled, students, veterans; reduce polluted runoff; preserve open space to protect water quality/reduce wildfires by enacting, with independent oversight/audits, a 40-year, half-cent local sales tax ($308 million annually) that Sacramento cannot take away?

Measure B

San Diego County Photo

‘Lilac Hills’ is the shorthand for this. A developer is using the initiative process to sidestep legal and political problems in building a planned housing community in inland North County.

Is this more urban sprawl? Are we paving paradise for a parking lot? Or is Lilac Hills “an Eco-Smart Village Providing Housing Opportunities for San Diego Families?”

Stay tuned.

The ballot language: ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN, COUNTY ZONING MAP AND COUNTY CODE, AND ADOPTING THE LILAC HILLS RANCH SPECIFIC PLAN Shall this Initiative be adopted for the purpose of amending the County General Plan, Zoning Ordinance and Code of Regulatory Ordinances and approving the Lilac Hills Ranch Specific Plan (“Plan”)? The Plan provides for the development of a 608-acre master-planned community including 1,746 dwelling units, three commercial centers, a public park, 10 private parks and 16 miles of trails. The project site is generally located north of Escondido and east of I-15 in the unincorporated area of North San Diego County.

City of San Diego Voters

Measure C

That’s ‘C’ as in Chargers. This is the team’s effort to persuade voters to aid in financing construction of a Convention Center/Football Stadium hybrid. I could go on about this for days and probably will before the election.

The City Attorney has decreed this measure will need two-thirds voter approval. This assessment may be challenged in court.

And I suppose I should include the fact that SDFP editor Brent Beltran is leading the opposition to this measure in Barrio Logan.

The ballot language: DOWNTOWN STADIUM INITIATIVE. Should the measure be adopted to: increase San Diego’s hotel occupancy tax by 6% to build a City-owned downtown professional football stadium and convention center project, and fund tourism marketing; effect the project financing, design, construction, use, management, and maintenance, including a $650,000,000 contribution and 30-year commitment by a professional football entity; end Tourism Marketing District assessments; adopt a development ordinance, and related land use, sign, and zoning laws?

Measure D

Downtown Convention and Entertainment Zone proposed by the Citizens’ Plan initiative

Attorney Cory Briggs attempts here to craft a compromise agreement over the future of tourism and development. It allows for the possibility of lots of things, including a downtown stadium (if hoteliers want to help pay for it).

The tourism mafia hates it because it takes their hands out of the city’s till. The city hates it because it’s Cory Briggs. The Moores family’s interests probably make out because they’re funding it. And –deja vu all over again– I suppose I should include the fact that SDFP editor Brent Beltran is leading the opposition to this measure in Barrio Logan.

There are lots of implications with Prop D, but its premise is simple: who’s running this show?

The City Attorney has decreed this measure will need two-thirds voter approval. This assessment may be challenged in court.

The ballot language: TAX AND FACILITIES INITIATIVE. Should the measure be adopted to: among other provisions, increase San Diego’s hotel occupancy tax up to 5%; end Tourism Marketing District; allow hoteliers to create assessment districts and use hotel occupancy taxes for a downtown convention center and not a stadium; prohibit onsite expansion of existing convention center; create downtown overlay zone for convention and sports facilities; create environmental processes; and allow Qualcomm stadium property’s sale for educational and park uses?

Measure E

Call this the OMG, we can’t ever let Bob Filner happen again measure. It updates the reasons and method for removing certain local elected officials, stipulates that the City attorney has to actually be a lawyer and so forth.

The ballot language: CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING QUALIFICATIONS, VACANCY, AND REMOVAL FOR MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY, AND COUNCIL. Shall the Charter be amended to include a new article adding: incapacity, felony conviction, and removal as grounds for vacancies in office; a procedure for calling a special election to remove an officer for cause; a revised procedure for filling vacancies; to require the City Attorney be a licensed attorney; and to define authority during vacancies and enforcement of office forfeiture?

Measure F

Makes it possible to dump Deputy City Attorneys sooner. There’s gotta be a back story here. I’m on it.

The ballot language: CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING REQUIRED TERM OF SERVICE FOR CERTAIN TERMINATIONS OR SUSPENSIONS OF DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEYS. Shall the City Charter be amended to change the term of service required of Deputy City Attorneys, for protection from termination or suspension without good cause, from two years or more of continuous service to one year or more of continuous service, which protection would continue not to apply to layoffs due to lack of work or insufficient appropriations?

Measure G

A watered-down version of what civilian oversight of law enforcement should be in San Diego. I have lots of opinions on this and you’ll be treated to them all in the coming weeks.

How bad is it? Read this Voice of San Diego story about the “processes” used following the officer-involved fatal shooting of Fridoon Rawshan Nehad. We know that officer Neal Browder wasn’t interviewed by anyone in the district attorney’s office or in SDPD’s internal affairs only because Nehad’s family is suing.

The ballot language: CHARTER AMENDMENTS REGARDING THE CITIZENS’ REVIEW BOARD ON POLICE PRACTICES. Shall section 43(d) of the City Charter be amended to rename the Citizens’ Review Board on Police Practices as the Community Review Board on Police Practices, to replace references to “City Manager” with “Mayor and City Council,” and to require the board to review all deaths occurring while someone is in the custody of the San Diego Police Department and all police officer-related shootings?

Measure H

Leftover house cleaning of the city charter.

The ballot language: CHARTER AMENDMENTS REGARDING PURCHASING AND CONTRACTING PROCESSES FOR THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO. Shall the City Charter be amended to: require contracts for public works, goods, services, and consultants to be awarded through a competitive process in accordance with rules adopted by ordinance, remove the position of Purchasing Agent, eliminate the requirement to publish certain notices in printed newspapers, and update other provisions consistent with state law?

Measure I (Maybe)

Opponents of this ballot measure went to court this week, hoping to prevent ballots from being printed listing Proposition I, which would allow the ‘temporary’ lease on San Diego High School to be extended.

It’s a long story, but the bottom line here is that the school sits on 34 acres of land that was supposed to be part of Balboa Park. Those with ties to the school, which occupies a cherished spot in local history, want the institution to stay right where it is. Some advocates for Balboa Park say the deal was supposed to be temporary and they’d like their parkland back in 2024, thank you.

The people behind the legal action say “the City failed to comply with specific predicate requirements under controlling California law and the California Constitution for placement of a Charter Amendment on the ballot.”

The court has until September 12, 2016 to consider this challenge. That’s when the County Registrar of Voters will send materials to be mailed/emailed to voters for final production.

The ballot language: CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING BALBOA PARK AND SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL. Shall City Charter section 55 be amended to authorize the City Council to lease the dedicated park property in Balboa Park currently occupied by San Diego High School, to the San Diego Unified School District for educational, cultural, recreational, and civic programs and activities, provided that the property is used for a public high school?

Measure J

This is Mayor Faulconer’s grand plan for shuffling the deck chairs on the sinking ship also known as San Diego’s parks system.

The ballot language: CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING USE OF LEASE REVENUE FROM MISSION BAY PARK. Shall Charter section 55.2 be amended to: increase, from 25% to 35%, the allocation of annual Mission Bay Park lease revenues exceeding $20 million, for capital improvements in San Diego Regional Parks; allow Council to add City-owned parkland to Mission Bay Park’s boundaries; combine and coordinate construction of Mission Bay Park improvements identified in this section; and extend operation of this section until 2069?

Measure K

Are you bored with this fall’s local elections? Whose bright idea was it to have most of the major elective offices be decided in June? Let’s fix this.

The ballot language: CHARTER AMENDMENT REQUIRING RUN-OFF ELECTION FOR THE OFFICES OF MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY AND COUNCILMEMBER. Shall the Charter be amended to eliminate the provision that elects a candidate for Mayor, City Attorney, or Councilmember to office if the candidate receives a majority vote in the June primary election, and instead require a run-off election at the November general election between the two candidates who received the most votes in the primary election?

Measure L

Ok, I get it. More people vote in November. But what’s with the loophole?

The ballot language: CHARTER AMENDMENT REQUIRING CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM MEASURES TO BE PLACED ON NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION BALLOTS, UNLESS THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO SUBMIT THEM TO VOTERS EARLIER. Shall the Charter be amended to require qualified citizens’ initiative and referendum measures to be submitted to voters on the next November general election ballot and not at a June primary election, unless the Council chooses to submit the measure to voters prior to that election?

Measure M

We’re developing affordable housing? I’m missing something here and promise to dig further.

The ballot language: AFFORDABLE HOUSING: INCREASING THE LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF UNITS THE CITY AND CERTAIN PUBLIC AGENCIES ARE ALLOWED TO HELP DEVELOP. Shall the voters increase by 38,680 the maximum number of housing units the City and certain other public agencies are allowed to help develop, construct, or acquire for people with low incomes, without this ballot measure approving specific housing units, providing funds for development, removing requirements that otherwise apply, or taking any other action?

Measure N

IF the voters legalize pot (you won’t believe the anti-legalization ads coming down the pike), then the city wants a piece of the action.

The ballot language: NON-MEDICAL CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX. If California voters approve Proposition 64 legalizing marijuana in the state, shall the City adopt an ordinance imposing a gross receipts tax, for general revenue purposes, on non-medical cannabis (also known as marijuana) businesses operating in the City, initially set at 5% and increasing to 8% on July 1, 2019, having a maximum rate of 15%, generating an undetermined amount of revenue and continuing indefinitely?

Okay, all you City of San Diego voters can go Pokemon hunting. The following measures are for specific cities and districts throughout the County…

Measure O – City of Carlsbad

Build a Fire Station: Yes or No?

The ballot language: Do the voters of the City of Carlsbad approve spending existing city funds from various sources, including the General Fund, in an amount to exceed $1 million to construct a replacement Fire Station 2 located at the intersection of El Camino Real and Arenal Road for an estimated cost range of $7 million up to $10.5 million?

Measure P – City of Chula Vista

Half-cent sales tax increase, because they need to fix things.

The ballot language: To repair neighborhood streets and sidewalks, replace storm drains to prevent sinkholes, update police, paramedic and 9-1-1 equipment and facilities, improve parks, repair recreation facilities, and for general city services and infrastructure, shall the City of Chula Vista adopt an ordinance enacting a temporary ½ cent sales tax, generating an estimated $16 million per year, expiring in 10 years, with no further increases without voter approval, with all funds staying in Chula Vista, requiring citizen oversight and independent audits?

Measure Q – City of Del Mar

Half-cent sales tax increase, because they need to fix things.

The ballot language: To provide funding for general city services and infrastructure projects, such as improvement of streets and sidewalks, utility undergrounding, public landscapes, improvement of community parks, trails and recreation facilities; police, crime prevention, fire prevention and other public safety services, shall an ordinance that establishes an ongoing one-cent sales tax be adopted, providing an estimated 2 million dollars annually for the City of Del Mar, requiring citizen oversight and independent audits, and all funds controlled locally?

Measure R – City of Del Mar

Del Marians (?) want to have the final say in changes to the Community Plan involving Commercial Zone properties of 25,000 square feet or larger.

The ballot language: Shall the ordinance which proposes to amend the Del Mar Community Plan, Housing Element, and Municipal Code to require voter approval for certain development projects be adopted?

Measure S – City of El Cajon

Voter districts are all the rage these days. They level the playing field in communities with significant minority populations.

The ballot language: Do you approve amending Section 201 of the City of El Cajon Charter to require election of City Council members by geographic districts in which they reside beginning with the general municipal election to be held in 2018?

Measure T – City of Encinitas

A Hot Potato! It’s being sold as a plan to provide affordable housing for very low- and low-income people, but it doesn’t guarantee much. Some say it’s a get rich scheme for a few very lucky land owners. Or maybe somebody’s afraid of brown people moving into town? I dunno. We’ll try to figure this out.

The ballot language: Shall City Council Resolution No. 2016-52 and Ordinance No. 2016-04, which collectively update the City’s General Plan Housing Element, amend related General Plan provisions, and amend Specific Plans, Zoning Code, Zoning Map, Municipal Code, and Local Coastal Program, in an effort to comply with State law, incentivize greater housing affordability, implement rules to protect the character of existing neighborhoods, maintain local control of Encinitas zoning, and resolve existing lawsuits, be adopted?

Measure U – City of La Mesa

Medical pot ordinance.

The ballot language: Shall the Ordinance amending the La Mesa Municipal Code to authorize and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries, and the cultivating and manufacturing of medical marijuana, in the City of La Mesa, be adopted?

Measure V – City of Lemon Grove

Medical pot ordinance.

The ballot language: Shall an Ordinance to Rescind the prohibition of Marijuana Dispensaries and Add the Medical Marijuana Regulatory Ordinance to the Lemon Grove Municipal Code be adopted?

Measure W – City of Poway

UPDATED: Sunroad Enterprises wants to build a hotel to replace at a golf course. Because population density would be increased, this must be submitted to the voters by local ordinance. There are no specifics on the planned development and some locals have an issue with that.

The ballot language: Do you approve Specific Plan Amendment 16-002 as adopted by the Poway City Council to amend the Old Coach Golf Estates Specific Plan, to allow development of a hotel with up to 240 rooms on the existing Maderas Golf Course site located at 17750 Old Coach Road?

Measure X – Grossmont-Cuamaca Community College

A proposed bond issue for construction and repairs.

The ballot language: EAST COUNTY/GROSSMONT/ CUYAMACA COMMUNITY COLLEGES AFFORDABLE COLLEGE, JOB TRAINING, CAMPUS REPAIR, VETERAN SUPPORT MEASURE. To repair classrooms/ labs, prepare veterans, workers/students for technology, business, science/ other jobs, construct Workforce Training Center, support East County economic development, remove asbestos/lead paint, repair gas, electrical/sewer lines, repair, acquire, construct facilities, sites/ equipment, shall Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District issue $348,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, no money for administrators’ salaries, independent audits, citizen oversight, all funds used locally?

Measure MM – Miracosta Community College

A proposed bond issue for construction and upgrades.

The ballot language: MIRACOSTA COLLEGE JOB TRAINING, COLLEGE TRANSFER, VETERAN SUPPORT MEASURE. To upgrade classrooms and career training facilities for science, healthcare, technology, advanced manufacturing, other growing local industries, provide job training/placement to Navy/ Marines/ other veterans, improve access to affordable higher education to local students, improve disabled access, repair, construct, acquire classrooms, facilities, sites/equipment, shall MiraCosta Community College District issue $455,000,000 in bonds, at legal rates, subject to local control, requiring annual audits, and independent citizen oversight?

Measure Z – Southwestern Community College

A proposed bond issue for repairs and upgrades.

The ballot language: SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE AFFORDABLE EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING/ VETERAN SUPPORT MEASURE. To repair/ upgrade local community college campuses, prepare students/ veterans for jobs/ university transfer, repair deteriorating roofs, electrical wiring, gas, water/ sewer lines, remove asbestos/ lead paint, improve energy efficiency/ campus safety/ security, upgrade, acquire, repair, construct classrooms/ labs/ sites/ facilities/ equipment, shall Southwestern Community College District issue $400 million in bonds at legal rates, no money for administrators’ salaries/ pensions, independent audits, citizen oversight, all funds used locally?

Measure AA – Fallbrook Union High School District

A proposed bond issue for repairs and upgrades.

The ballot language: Without increasing tax rates, shall Fallbrook Union High School District repair and upgrade aging classrooms and school facilities, including deteriorating roofs, plumbing and electrical systems; improve campus safety/security; upgrade career-training facilities, classrooms, and science labs supporting instruction in math, engineering, technology, science and skilled trades preparing students to be college and career ready; by issuing $45,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates, with independent citizens oversight, annual audits, no money for administrators, and all funds staying local?

Measure BB – Grossmont Union High School District

A proposed bond issue for repairs and upgrades.

The ballot language: To upgrade East County high school classrooms/labs/facilities; repair aging roofs, plumbing/electrical systems; modernize technology infrastructure; improve student safety/security; replace deteriorated portables; construct new school facilities to accommodate growth; and renovate career-training facilities for instruction in science, technology, engineering, math and skilled trades; shall Grossmont Union High School District issue $128,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates, with independent citizen oversight, annual audits, no funding for administrator salaries, and all money benefitting East County high schools?

Measure CC – Sweetwater Union High School District

School Board Term Limits. I thought it was a given they’d all be indicted after two terms anyway.

The ballot language: Shall the Members of the Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees be limited to two (2) terms of office?

Measure DD – Bonsall Unified School District

A proposed bond issue for construction and upgrades.

The ballot language: To construct and equip a new high school; install emergency communication systems; reduce traffic hazards for increased student safety; upgrade power/electrical systems; provide health/fitness facilities for student/community use; repair leaky pipes/deteriorating roofs; and replace temporary buildings with permanent classrooms; shall Bonsall Unified School District issue $58 million of bonds with interest rates below legal limits, independent citizen oversight , and all funds spent locally and not taken by the State and spent elsewhere?

Measure EE – Cajun Valley Union School

They want computers and stuff.

The ballot language: To increase student access to computers; maintain and upgrade educational technology; keep pace with 21st century technological innovations; implement statewide technology requirements for testing and learning; and significantly reduce borrowing costs, shall Cajon Valley Union School District issue $20,000,000 of shortterm bonds with the interest rates at or below the legal limit, independent citizen oversight, and no money for administrator/teacher salaries, so long as all funds are spent locally and cannot be taken by the State?

Measure GG – Cardiff Elementary School District

A proposed bond issue for repairs and upgrades.

The ballot language: To improve the quality of education with local funding that cannot be taken by the State; modernize/construct classrooms, restrooms and school facilities; repair/replace roofs; renovate deteriorating plumbing and sewer systems; upgrade inadequate electrical systems; make health, safety, and energy efficiency improvements; and replace portables with permanent classrooms; shall Cardiff Elementary School District issue $22 million of bonds at legal interest rates, have an independent citizens’ oversight committee, and have NO money used for administrative or teacher salaries?

Measure HH – National School District

A proposed bond issue for repairs and upgrades.

The ballot language: To repair and rebuild aging classrooms and facilities throughout the District; meet handicapped access requirements; increase student access to computers /technology; repair roofs; and improve campus security and student loading zones for increased safety; shall National School District be authorized to issue $30 million of bonds with interest rates below legal limits, annual audits, independent citizens’ oversight, no money for administrative salaries and all funds spent locally and not taken by the State and used elsewhere?

Measure JJ – Solana School District

A proposed bond issue for repairs and upgrades.

The ballot language: To replace or upgrade aging, outdated classrooms, science labs, libraries, and school buildings; restore deteriorating roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems; improve student safety and campus security; and, provide students access to educational facilities, science, and technology needed to prepare for high school, college, and careers, and qualify for State grants, shall School Facilities Improvement District No. 2016-1 of the Solana Beach School District issue $105,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates, with annual audits, a citizen’s oversight committee, and NO money for administrators’ salaries?

Measure KK – Rincon Ranch Community Services

A similar attempt to fund highway repair was defeated in 2014. I could tell, the last time I drive up that way.

The ballot language: Shall the Rincon Ranch Community Services District be authorized to establish and levy a special tax override, on all taxable real property within its boundaries for the purpose of providing funds for repair and resurface of the roads maintained by the District, with this special tax not to exceed five dollars and twenty cents ($5.20) per acre, or portion thereof, plus one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per parcel of land per year with a provision for an annual increase not to exceed the annual Engineering News Record (ENR) for the prior year?

On This Day: 410 – The Visigoths overran Rome. This event symbolized the fall of the Western Roman Empire. 1970 – United Farm Workers Union begins lettuce strike. 1979 – B.B. King celebrated his 30th year in show business at a special celebration held at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles.

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