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Half Moon Bay to vote on Measures O, P
Oakland Tribune, Oct 21, 2005 by Julia Scott, STAFF WRITER
Half Moon Bay residents will vote on two advisory ballot measures in November, one concerning the development of recycled water for use by farmers, the other restricting the city's eminent domain authority to certain narrow circumstances.
Both measures are of an advisory nature and not binding, but the City Council will view them as a referendum of public will and take action accordingly, said officials.
Supreme Court ruling
The Half Moon Bay City Council first proposed Measure O, the eminent domain initiative, in July, a few weeks after a controversial Supreme Court ruling affirming seizure of private property for the sake of business development, even if the property is not blighted.
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Many Half Moon Bay residents worried that the court had given officials carte blanche to forcibly replace homes, farms and small businesses with strip malls, office buildings and parking lots.
Measure O was designed to reassure them, said Councilman Mike Ferreira.
"Historically, eminent domain has been a sore point for Half Moon Bay. Rather than wait for the state to do something, we wanted voters to have the chance to tell the city not to go there," Ferreira said.
He said eminent domain should be reserved for streets, roads, and schools -- instances what would benefit the citizens, "not fill the coffers of a city."
Half Moon Bay has used eminent domain laws to seize a number of small business properties near the intersection of Highway 92 and Main Street to make way for several new lanes to be built as part of a state-funded road widening project.
No one has submitted an argument opposing Measure O, and officials anticipate that it will pass handily.
At least a dozen states began considering legislation to limit the use of eminent domain after the ruling.
Measure P: Recycled water
Residents will also decide whether to support the use of recycled water, also known as "tertiary" water, for use on farms, nurseries, and at the Ocean Colony golf course south of the city.
With potable water at a premium and wells throughout the Coastside beginning to dry up, officials have long supported the use of treated wastewater as a substitute for large-scale users.
If voters approve Measure P, the city would work with the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside to find grant funding for a new treatment facility.
Measure P is supported by Half Moon Bay council members Mike Ferreira, Jim Grady and David Gorn; "Farmer John" Muller, a board member of the Coastside County Water District; and Jack Olsen, executive administrator with the San Mateo County Farm Bureau.
"The Farm Bureau supports any and all solutions that will provide safe, reliable, affordable water for agricultural production," Olsen said.
Officials are seeking a strong mandate from voters to make recycled water a priority. The project is years away from completion, pending permits, funding, and firm commitments from customers.
The SAM would look for a
$5 million grant to build the new facility, and charge users $300 to $400 per acre-foot for access to the water.
Staff writer Julia Scott can be reached at 348-4340 or by e-mail at jscott@sanmateocountytimes.com.
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