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Voters say yes to Measure A
By Jeff Kearns
It wasn't even close.
Cupertino residents on Tuesday approved Measure A by an overwhelming margin, casting more than two thirds of all votes in favor of the city plans to spend up to $22 million on a new library. The advisory measure passed with 7,918, or 71 percent voting yes and 3,264, or 29 percent voting against the measure.
Now that the issue has received voter approval, city councilmembers will pick up where they left off when they put the item on the ballot last fall. Two major issues must be decided: where to put the building and whether to not to put a parking garage under it. The two available sites are the open field to the south of the existing library and in the parking lot that now serves the library and City Hall. If city officials decide to put parking under the building, it would add about $4 million to the price tag, which would bring the total to an estimated $22 million.
Supporters of the measure formed a "Yes on Measure A" group and sent fliers to Cupertino residents to bolster support for the item. Cupertino Librarian Mary Ann Wallace, Mayor John Statton and Councilmember Michael Chang also voiced support for Measure A prior to Tuesday's election.
Although the county library system operates the library, which county library officials say is the busiest in the county, the City of Cupertino is responsible for paying for the building.
The existing library opened in 1972 and was expanded in 1988. City officials have guaranteed that building a new library building won't mean an increase in taxes for residents.
Several voters who cast ballots for the measure said they were tired of waiting in the check out line in the Torre Avenue facility.
"I'm not sure if $22 million is reasonable but I do know that anytime I'm at the Cupertino Library it's very busy and it gets plenty of use," Marjene MacIntyre said as she left her polling place.
Laury Smith, who voted against the measure, said he wasn't against a new building as much as he was unsatisfied with how much thought city officials put into the ballot question.
"I'd like to see them do a better plan," Smith said. "I'm not sure what they hope to do has been planned thoroughly. I'm not necessarily against a new building, but I think they could stick to the old library--I think it could meet the needs of the city."
Voters in Saratoga also passed a library-related measure Tuesday, voting for a $15 million bond measure for a library expansion there.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
