Bond measure considered for Marin City athletic field upgrades

Voters in the Sausalito Marin City School District could soon be asked to support a $10 million bond measure to rebuild an athletic field.

Emilio Flores, a consultant for the district, told trustees Thursday that it would be possible to place the measure on the June 2 ballot.

Proceeds from the measure would pay for restoration of Phillips Field, a district-owned athletic field in Marin City that is in disrepair after years of neglect. The measure also would pay for features such as restrooms, lighting and parking, he said.

“The district has an assessed valuation of about $5.5 billion,” Flores said at the trustees’ meeting. “In the last 15 years, the district has experienced an average annual assessed value growth rate of 4.13%.”

Flores suggested that his firm craft a resolution calling for the bond measure for potential board approval at its Feb. 11 meeting. The deadline to place a measure on the June 2 ballot is March 6, he said.

“If it passes in June, you might have access to the bond money by about September,” Flores said.

Previous Sausalito Marin City bonds include the $41.6 million Measure P in 2020, approved by a 74% majority. It covered the recently completed construction of a new elementary school on the Sausalito campus and extensive renovations throughout the entire site.

Measure I, a $15.9 million proposal, was approved in 2004 by a 73.5% majority. A general obligation school district bond measure requires a 55% majority.

“The current total bond-related tax for district property owners is $42.60 per $100,000 of assessed valuation,” Flores said. He said a $10 million bond would add about $7 per $100,000 to that total.

Another consultant, Bill McGuire, told the board that the district has also about $3 million from various funding sources to support the Phillips Field project.

“We have about $1 million available now,” said McGuire, who was waiting to hear about the other funds.

According to comments at several previous public meetings, there is high community interest in having an athletic field for youth soccer teams, youth recreation nonprofits and other Marin athletic groups that might rent it.

The bond measure idea follows unsuccessful attempts by the district and some local leaders to develop a strong fundraising effort for rebuilding Phillips Field.

More than 100 people attended a board meeting last fall to protest any action from outside youth sports groups, such as the Mill Valley Soccer Club, to offer financial support in exchange for some type of stake in the project.

After the meeting, the Mill Valley group withdrew its offer and the district suspended all negotiations on leasing the field.

The idea of a “small, targeted bond measure” was suggested by Emily Uhlhorn, a trustee for the Tamalpais Union High School District, at a board meeting toward the end of last year. Uhlhorn also volunteered to help the district with a bond campaign.