On Wednesday, the San Francisco Bay Area Restoration Authority, a regional government entity, approved a measure that would place a $12 annual parcel tax on all 9-Bay Area Counties for the next 20-years.
The ballot will require a 2/3 voter approval to pass which is estimated to raise $500 million in order to improve water quality, increase fish and wildlife habitat, and protect shoreline communities from the impacts of climate change.
The parcel tax is aimed at residents in the following 9 bay area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma, and the City and County of San Francisco
Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, who is also Vice Chair of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, is a 7 member board which voted to place the measure on the ballot. Gioia also highlighted how Contra Costa County would benefit from this measure.
“Contra Costa will benefit significantly from this measure since we have one of the largest Bay-Delta shorelines of all nine Bay Area Counties and projects from Richmond to Oakley will be funded through this modest one dollar per month measure. As a result of funding from this measure, we will see less trash and pollution, healthier water quality and habitat for fish and wildlife, increased public shoreline access, and better flood protection.”
The Board approved the measure after a December phone poll of 1,505 people showed 65% would support the tax measure.
Here is a look at the measure:
San Francisco Bay Clean Water, Pollution Prevention and
Habitat Restoration Program.
To protect San Francisco Bay for future generations by reducing trash, pollution and harmful toxins, improving water quality, restoring habitat for fish, birds and wildlife, protecting communities from floods, and increasing shoreline public access, shall the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority authorize a parcel tax of $12 per year, raising approximately $25 million annually for twenty years with independent citizen oversight, audits, and all funds staying local?
According to Gioia, he provided a list of examples of projects across the Bay Area anticipated to be eligible for Restoration Authority Grants. Below is a list for Contra Costa:
- Bay Point Regional Shoreline: Protection and enhancement of habitat for the threatened California Black Rail and Giant Garter Snake, restoration of wetlands and coastal prairie, and shoreline public access to restored areas.
- Big Break Regional Shoreline: Restoration and expansion of Caspian Tern nesting area, installation of protective fencing, and development of viewing areas away from nesting sites.
- Chelsea Wetlands: Restoration and expansion of Caspian Tern nesting area, installation of protective fencing, and development of viewing areas away from nesting sites.
- Dutch Slough: Restoration of tidal wetlands to benefit fish and wildlife at the edge of the Delta on the eastern Contra Costa shoreline, including construction of associated levees to provide flood protection, and construction of public trails.
- East Antioch Creek Marsh Restoration: Restoration of tidal wetlands to benefit fish and wildlife at the edge of the Delta on the eastern Contra Costa shoreline, including construction of associated levees to provide flood protection, and construction of public trails.
- Lower Pinole Creek Restoration: Restoration of tidal wetlands to benefit fish and wildlife at the edge of the Delta on the eastern Contra Costa shoreline, including construction of associated levees to provide flood protection, and construction of public trails.
- Lower Walnut Creek Restoration: Enhancement and restoration of wetlands and riparian habitat at the mouth of Walnut Creek to provide flood protection, improve fish passage, and enhance recreational opportunities, including construction of a creekside trail.
- Lower Wildcat Creek: Restoration at the mouth of Wildcat Creek channel, removal of barriers to fish passage, and improvement of public access to restored areas.
- Martinez Regional Shoreline: Completion of marsh restoration to stabilize and restore the rapidly eroding “shark bite” marsh and protect water quality.
- Miller-Knox, Richmond: Enhancement of beach, restoration of tidal lagoon and drainage, stabilization of eroding shoreline, and improvements to public access.
- North Richmond Shoeline-San Pablo Marsh: Preservation and enhancement of San Pablo Marsh, improvement of California Clapper Rail habitat, removal of imported fill, stabilization of eroding shoreline, establishment of upland-Bay transitional areas, and development of public access for wildlife viewing and education.
- Pacheco Marsh Restoration: Restoration of tidal wetland areas, reestablishment of habitat for sensitive wildlife, and creation of public access and interpretation opportunities. Adjacent to Lower Walnut Creek Restoration
- Point Isabel, Richmond: Protection and enhancment of Hoffman marsh by stabilizing eroding shorelines, removal of contaminated fill, enhancement of upland/Bay transitional areas, protection of Bay water quality, and development of public access to restored areas.
- Point Pinole Regional Shoreline-Breuner Marsh: Restoration of wetlands and prairie at Breuner Marsh, protection of endangered California Clapper Rail and Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse habitat, and creation of public access to restored areas. Development of a San Francisco Bay Interpretive Center, with interpretive exhibits and hands-on educational programs at the restored Breuner Marsh
- Point Molate, Richmond: Restoration of the shoreline, enhancement of the largest eel grass population in San Francisco Bay, stabilization of eroding shorelines, removal of Bay fill, and development of public access to restored areas
- Point Pinole Regional Shoreline – Lower Rheen Creek: Realignment and restoration at the mouth of Rheem Creek, connecting it with restored Breuner Marsh
- Western Stege Marsh Restoration Program: Restoration of tidal marsh and enhancement of adjacent upland habitat for clapper rail and other resident and migratory species.
- McNabney Marsh Enhancement Project: Planning, design, environmental compliance, and construction to enhance habitat value of McNabney Marsh to improve water quality and marsh function to benefit shorebirds, waterfowl, fish, and other wildlife and to provide shoreline public access and interpretive signs to enhance habitat at McNabney Marsh in the Peyton Slough Marsh Complex
8 comments
Another TAX? Time to turn out the lights folks, this party is over!
Every new Tax eats into your family’s spending dollar. I read Supervisor Candice Andersons speech that included adding yet another 1/4 cent to our already high sales tax.
I see Supervisor John Gioia is all for this. Has that guy ever met a tax he doesn’t like? Isn’t he aware that so much of the County cannot afford basic services such as police and fire in his zest for pet projects. Read the details of this tax.
What are these people smoking? We already pay some of the highest income tax, highest gas tax, highest sales tax and now they want more? For what, more substandard service, bad roads, and further erroding the California dream? SMH
These idiots keep making my ballot much easier. I get to vote no on ALL of them.
We’re going to do this but won’t support fire services? Wow
This is what scares me about legalizing marijuana. They all ready have to easy of access to mind altering drugs. If these supposedly educated smart people can not use common senses we are doomed as a society!!!! How about some local leaders in each area step up and teach/clean these areas up with volunteers!!!! I also wonder where the $$ that is slated already for this is truly being spent? The overwhelming amount of taxes,supplemetals,fees, call them what you want are out of control. We’re In trouble folks!!!! Common sense is gone. The inmates are running the asylum and we all are going to pay for it!!!! Just watch what goes on. It’s happening now.
A DOLLAR PER MONTH to improve the health of the Bay and Delta seems like a pretty fair investment. Its hard to imagine $12 per year being a financial burden Think about it — less trash and litter along the shoreline and in the Bay/Delta, flood protection, more public access to the Shoreline, improved Bay/Delta water quality, and a better habitat for fish and wildlife. And to top that off – this $1 per month will leverage hundreds of millions of federal and state dollars to complete these worthy projects!
John, typical liberal response. Tax and spend much? I’m shocked you didn’t use the “It’s only the cost of a Starbucks” rhetoric. While you might be OK with just another small tax, we are not. You are supposed to be representing the people, not yourself. We are taxed out. I don’t care if it’s a dollar or a hundred dollars, it ALL adds up and what you FAIL to see is we are at the breaking point. Your cavielier approach to taxes in general demonstrate there is no end in sight. I have news for you, there is and it’s here now. Read our lips; No new taxes.
Our great state is sucking wind and you have a lot to do with that. Your votes on the California Air Resources board have us paying the highest fuel taxes in the nation. Our fuel prices are off the charts because you can’t see the forrest for the trees. We can’t afford emergency services or proper roadways in this county and here you are trying to justify another tax. That is lunacy.
Last but not least your rational that we should vote for this new tax is because of matching and leveraged Federal funds. How dumb do you think we are?
Federal funds don’t come from another planet. They come from US. WE are the tax payers that put the funds there in the first place and they get used all across the nation for all sorts of projects, some directly benefitting us and some not. Please stop the madness of trying to justify us taxing ourselves further by using a bait and switch with our own money.
Just ask yourself John, have our taxes gone up under your tenure and how has that improved our quality of life? I would argue that you have made a mess of things. Politicians like you have put the state of California and our county in the toilet. You have become blind to the bigger picture and your post here is a picture perfect example of you being out of touch.
Well said Mr. Paycheck.
@ John
I would easily vote yes on this if you would give us back our QRV paramedics you took away. If not use that million dollars to keep the bay healthy. Very disappointed about losing 2 QRV paramedics and get less in return.
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