Atherton: Is voter OK needed for public spending on civic center?

While it is important and necessary that the police have a larger, new and more modern facility, the need for a costly civic center is ridiculous. When using public funds for this misadventure, the streets will not be fixed, the flooding on every block will continue and holbrook palmer park will suffer from lack of funds. i see no reason for a fancy civic center unless it is to bolster the town manager's resume when he leaves for a larger city.

If we have already spent $3 mil on plans, seems to me we ought to build it, yes? I would love to see and enjoy a new Town Center, and if we have some public funding, let's do it! Resident here since 1955. Our old center is crumbling.

Mary says "the need for a costly civic center is ridiculous. When using public funds for this misadventure, the streets will not be fixed, the flooding on every block will continue and holbrook palmer park will suffer from lack of funds."

This is not accurate. In fact, the new building is very cost effective and highly functional. It isn't fancy. Just look at the plans, which are at the post office. The only possible "fancy" thing is if we get the $2m grant to make it zero net energy, then we will generate energy from solar panels, which will GREATLY reduce our operating costs. The only general funds that would be used are unallocated surplus funds that will not impact our continued commitment to having the best road conditions in the Bay Area, as well as investments to improve drainage and the park (as we have been doing).

Tricia is right, we have invested more than $3m in the design (mostly from private donations and some library taxes). This decision to access unallocated surplus general funds won't take away any of the commitments that we have made. I think that this is a wise use of our surplus, but it is definitely up to the residents to decide. In my opinion, it is a better strategy than seeking a bond or some other tax, which I don't believe is necessary.

Our town’s employees have been working in run down trailers for years, and our police station is in disrepair. How can Atherton be “disaster ready” when our town center is crumbling? It’s time to build this new civic center which will better serve our community and give our employees some dignity! Many thanks to the residents who have given generously toward our new center.

Rick Degolia, fancy is a matter of opinion, not fact, and very much related to how you define "fancy". Some might define it as luxurious and extravagant, others as more than what is absolutely needed in an environment in which other areas of the town are lacking. This is Mary's point, and it is a valid one. Many blocks flood regularly. It would make sense to scale the plans back to the minimum and use the monies saved for these other needs. Before you say the town center plan is already at a minimum…don't. We don't "need" a cafe or a gymnasium, etc.

@Fancy

Since the cafe is part of the library, not the admin center, library funds will be paying for it. The money won't be coming from the Atherton budget whether it's built or not built.

I suspect what you're thinking of as the gymnasium is the tactical and physical training room. Police work requires a significant physical component. The police need a space to work on techniques to subdue suspects, self defense, etc.

With respect to the drainage projects, those are going on and will be executed as scheduled. The civic center project will affect none of them as indicated by the staff report: Web Link

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