Meeting Overview

The special City Council meeting on May 19, 2026 (called to order at 4:03 p.m.) reviewed results of Lake Research Partners’ April 21 survey and sought Council direction on developing two potential November 3, 2026 ballot measures: a $300 million general obligation (GO) bond for infrastructure and a 0.5% sales and use tax to help close an estimated ~$30M annual General Fund structural deficit. Mayor Adena Ishii, Vice Mayor Igor Tregub, and Councilmembers Shoshana O’Keefe, Brent Blackaby, Cecilia Lunaparra and Mark Humbert were present; Councilmembers Rashi Kesarwani, Terry Taplin and Ben Bartlett were absent. Staff framed the bond as addressing an estimated $1.5–$2.0 billion unfunded backlog and said the meeting sought affirmation to continue drafting ballot materials; no final ballot language was adopted at the meeting.

Main Agenda Items

• Polling: Lake Research polled likely November voters (±4.4% MOE). The $300M GO bond initially polled 69% support (fell to 64% after pro/con messaging, slightly below the ~66.7% supermajority needed). The 0.5% sales/use tax polled 52% initially and 56% after messaging, with notable softness versus February results. Consultants noted multiple other local/regional measures on the ballot likely suppressed support by a few points and recommended active campaigns; survey also tested ballot order effects and regional/demographic variations.
• Financial framework and delivery: Staff modeled the $300M bond as $100M issuances roughly every five years, producing program capacity ≈$313M (principal + interest earnings). Proposed portfolio totals ≈$272.5M with ≈$40.5M for project delivery, compliance and audits. Sales tax projected to raise ~$9–$10M/year, proposed to fund public safety positions (including maintenance of Station 4, 15 police officers, 6 dispatchers) and Parks/Recreation staffing/programs.
• Project prioritization and highlights: Staff used a weighted six‑factor scoring tool emphasizing life/safety, infrastructure condition, accessibility/resilience, equity, and sustainability. Key proposed projects include:
  • Critical infrastructure & accessibility: sidewalk 50/50 acceleration (~$14.6M), ADA barrier removal (~$4.5M), elevator/building upgrades, and civic/public‑safety building work (2100 MLK modernization).
  • Parks/PRW: Francis Albrier Community Center replacement; Harrison Field turf conversion and restroom additions; Cedar Rose and other playground/open‑space projects; Outline Corridor greening and median conversions to native landscaping; waterfront perimeter path, seawall and South Cove seawall replacement (urgent).
  • Fire/public safety facilities: station renovations/replacements driven by seismic and operational needs; funding for a replacement fire training center under consideration.
  • King Pool: reduced scope from a $25M replacement to a ~$5M systems renovation (pool shell, piping, pumps), excluding locker‑room/building envelope work.
• Grants, contingencies and scope tradeoffs: Staff prioritized projects to fit the $300M target, deferred or removed some items (dog parks, certain park components, portions of sea-level-rise work) and included contingencies and grant‑leverage assumptions. Council and public speakers urged higher funding for the Civic Center/Old City Hall to avoid long delays.

Decisions Made

• The Council directed staff to proceed with preparing ballot language and legal review for: 1) A $300 million general obligation infrastructure/resilience bond, and 2) A 0.5% increase in the City’s sales and use tax.
• Staff will return with draft ballot language (target June 16), refined project lists, delivery and oversight proposals, and campaign/communications planning. County deadlines cited: submission by Aug 7 (preferably by July 28). Staff were also asked to refine civic center funding options, provide more detailed fire facility cost breakdowns, and incorporate audit/oversight language and clearer project descriptions.