Measure FP
The reason this bond is on the ballot this November comes down to fact that we just can’t put this off any longer. Our fire and police stations are now approaching their 70th birthday and can no longer accommodate the staff and equipment needed to support our population that has nearly doubled since these facilities were built. They are not up to earthquake-ready building codes, they have mold and asbestos, and they use out-of-date technology.
For decades there has been talk about rebuilding these facilities and the time is now. I met a resident who retired from the Redondo Beach Police Department in 1982 who said they had outgrown the current station BEFORE he had retired. That was over 40 years ago. To delay any longer will ultimately cost residents more. The council voted unanimously to put a $93,350,000 general obligation bond on the November ballot so we can responsibly address these immediate needs:
Rebuild Fire Station #1
Rebuild Fire Station #2
Rebuild Police Headquarters
Remodel Police Annex
This bond is for public safety facilities only. Yes, there are other needs in our community, but ultimately, we as a council chose our public safety facilities as the priority and eliminated anything else from the scope of this bond.
Currently, more than 90% of calls to our fire department are for paramedic and life-saving services. Our locally controlled dispatch center is the heart of our public safety response and must be updated to ensure it can handle today’s demands. And across the state we are seeing a shortage of firefighters and public safety officers, making recruitment a challenge. It is essential we upgrade these facilities so we can continue to attract the best firefighters and police officers.
The cost of this bond will be $17.45 per $100,000 of assessed property tax value. Assessed value is not what your home is worth should you sell it, but rather what you paid for it (with inflation adjustments) and can be found on your annual property tax bill. This investment will ensure our first responders have the best technologies, safe working conditions and continue to provide first-class response times.
We heard you loud and clear when we were discussing whether or not to contract our local fire department out to the LA County Fire Department. Overwhelmingly, residents wanted to keep their local Redondo Beach Fire Department. This bond keeps our local dollars invested in what we value greatly, our own locally controlled public safety.
Please join me in voting YES on Measure FP.
To show your support please sign up to host a lawn sign here.
For more information about why this Bond is so important visit: residents4fp.com
