Committee hears presentations on proposed $628.5 million EASR bond, recommends forwarding measure with amendments

Committee members on June 6 received briefing and technical details on the proposed 2020 earthquake safety and emergency response bond (EASR 2020), a general obligation bond to fund the emergency firefighting water system, fire and police facilities, a 911 call center renovation and other disaster response infrastructure.

Dan Goncher of the Budget and Legislative Analyst's Office summarized the proposal (Files 19‑0500/19‑0494), describing a $628.5 million principal amount with projected total debt service of roughly $1.08 billion over about 20 years (including approximately $451.5 million in interest), and average annual debt service payments estimated at about $38.5 million. The report projected that a single‑family residence assessed at $500,000 would pay an estimated $73.18 a year in additional property tax to cover debt service.

Naomi Kelly, City Administrator, said EASR 2020 is part of the city's earthquake safety and emergency response (EASR) program and laid out estimated category allocations in broad terms, including funding to upgrade the emergency firefighting water system, seismic upgrades and replacement for selected neighborhood firehouses and training facilities, and renovation of the 911 call center. Kelly noted some facilities have a seismic hazard rating that requires urgent remediation and said bond timing would be coordinated so the property tax rate would not increase because the city issues new bonds as prior bonds are paid down.

Charles E. Yaras of Public Works described program components and existing and planned projects—Fireboat Station 35 work, Pump Station 21 upgrades and ongoing EFWS modernization—emphasizing the technical complexity of the firefighting water system and the need to improve reliability and coverage across the city.

Public comment included tenant concerns about the possibility of pass‑throughs of tax increases, a call for attention to the Treasurer—s capacity to manage municipal debt issuance and other fiscal process questions. The committee voted to forward Item 2 to the full Board with a positive recommendation; members also accepted small language amendments to Item 3 and voted to continue that ordinance to a later meeting for the revised language.

Next steps: Item 2 will move to the Board of Supervisors for policy consideration and Item 3 will be continued with agreed technical amendments.