San Mateo may seek new tax

The assessment includes medium- to high-priority updates at the recreation centers, numerous parks, Fire Station 27, the Corporation Yard, City Hall and other facilities.

At the end of last year, the City Council approved almost $1 million for fixes at the Joinville and Martin Luther King Center pools, however, more work remains. Some residents had voiced concern that while the upgrades were critical, they also wanted a commitment to a full design and renovation or rebuild of the King Center.

The Joinville facility, located in the Shoreview neighborhood, is more than 60 years old and has several structural defects, as well as mechanical and electrical issues and inadequate storage space. The pool at the King Center, located in the North Central neighborhood, was built in 1969 and also has a number of issues, including filtration and circulation problems.

Public Works Director Matt Fabry said the city can expect that costs for all of the necessary projects will increase by about 6% every year. While deferring maintenance may save funds in the short term, it’s led to larger issues, such as significantly more expensive Joinville pool updates, he said.

“At our Joinville facility in 2001, based on a prior assessment report, we had an option at that time as a city to renovate and extend the life for $250,000 or build a new facility for $1.7 million. At that time the city chose to defer so 24 years later, here we are, and the pool is beyond repair and could close within the next year or two so replacing it is now estimated to cost in the $8 [million] to $9 million [range],” Fabry said.

The city can continue using general funds to support some of the work, and it will likely use some of the $25 million capital reserves to start on some of the most important work. It’s likely the city will also need to explore a tax measure as well.

“Ultimately, in order to make the improvements, we are going to have to look at a potential revenue measure in the future,” City Manager Alex Khojikian said.

The council also supported potential consolidation of some facilities to open them up to additional uses.

“I think converting some properties into housing for example and consolidation is a positive idea. I think redeveloping [the Corp Yard] as multistory might open up a potential land sale or land opportunity for housing,” Mayor Rob Newsom said. “I think we need to be looking at all these things.”