Yes on Measure F

Campaign Literature

Voter Alert! Brentwood Press Confirms Antioch Risk

LAFCO’s 7 commissioners decide Brentwood or Antioch.

Here is what 5 of them have stated:

“If the people of Antioch decide to expand their urban limit line to include the area along Balfour Road, LAFCO could give that great weight.”
Helen Allen, Rob Schroder
LAFCO Commissioners
Brentwood Press, June 4

Potential for Antioch Annexation is “Accurate.”
Brentwood Press, June 4

“I agree with what Helen and Rob said.”
Martin McNair
LAFCO Chairman

Regarding the Allen & Schroder letter
“I couldn’t agree with them more.”
Dwight Meadows
LAFCO Commissioner
Brentwood Press, May 13

Allen & Schroder letter laid out
“the reality of the LAFCO process.”
David Piepho
LAFCO Vice Chairman
Brentwood Press, June 4

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If You Think No on F Means No Homes ... Think Again.

Measure F opponents would have you believe that No on F will stop development. Things aren’t ever that simple!

• The Measure F area has been planned for homes for many years. Either Antioch or Brentwood will develop the site.
• Balfour Road needs widening. American Avenue needs to be extended. These roadway fixes cost $27,000,000. Homes are the only way to pay for this.
• Antioch has announced it may be going bankrupt. They’ve already laid off police officers. They need ever penny they can get. Antioch needs growth in order to fund public services.
• Antioch’s Roddy Ranch also needs more growth to fund roads and utilities.
• Antioch has an average density of 4.5 homes per acre. Measure F limits potential growth to no more than 1.75 homes per acre. An Antioch approval could allow much more development.

LAFCO’s seven commissioners would decide if Antioch can annex this area. Five commissioners have stated that Antioch could take the area when Antioch’s voters say yes if Brentwood’s voters say no.

So, the question ISN’T IF the area will be developed. The question is BRENTWOOD or ANTIOCH?

YES on F Means
BRENTWOOD!

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Join Us.Yes on F!

Join Us. Yes on F! By Voting Yes on Measure F! If Homes Are Ultimately Approved...

• Extra Parks
• New Sports Fields
• $800,000 Annual City Surplus & Help for the Brentwood Economy
• $27,000,000 to Widen Balfour & Extend American
• Elementary School & Scholarships for Brentwood Students
• New Paramedic Service
• No New Taxes!
• $20,000,000 to expand the Bypass
• Brentwood Decides, Not Antioch
• Additional Brentwood Police
• Tools to Fight Crime
• Jobs for Brentwood
• No Homes Until At Least June, 2015!
• Low Density, Upscale, Owner-Occupied Homes

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The Truth about the Antioch Debate

Much of the current debate about Measure F is turning on the question of whether or not Antioch might take control of the area if Measure F is defeated.  Our opposition has provided an impressive sounding argument.  Unfortunately, it’s full of misinformation half-truths and does not tell the whole story..

Here are the facts.

1.  The site is NOT within Brentwood’s City Limits.  Until it is within the actual City Limits, the determination of the area’s ultimate control remains unresolved.  This is the law.

2.  The Contra Costa Local Agency Formation (LAFCO) has the power to decide whether the area goes to Brentwood or Antioch or stays unincorporated.  It is made up of 7 members.  Contra Costa LAFCO has a longstanding policy of abiding by the express will of the people.  In this case, if the people of Brentwood reject this area for a 2^nd time, LAFCO Commissioners have indicated that they are open to sending it to Antioch if Antioch’s voters want it.

3.  The area is within Brentwood’s Sphere of Influence (SOI).  This does support the idea that Brentwood should ultimately control this territory.  We agree.  That’s why we’re trying to finalize the steps of coming into Brentwood by passing Measure F.  We would much rather join Brentwood.  That’s why we wrote an initiative to come to Brentwood instead of Antioch.

It’s important to understand that a SOI status can be changed at any time LAFCO deems it appropriate.  As recently as 2008, LAFCO removed hundreds of acres from Brentwood’s SOI after that land was made part of the state park system.  LAFCO does a regular review of SOI’s to see if they still make sense.  We’re concerned that a 2^nd rejection of our land by Brentwood’s voters would be a substantial basis for removing our land from Brentwood’s SOI.  This is the kind of reasoning that LAFCO uses throughout the County.

4.  Opponents seem to think that the position of the City of Antioch somehow decides whether land is placed under their control.  Not true.  In fact, Antioch’s City Council could even OPPOSE the proposed annexation.  In the final analysis, the relevant issue is the policy of the 7 LAFCO Commissioners.  State law gives them the sole power to decide this question.

But don’t be fooled.  Antioch has NOT rejected the idea of bringing our land into their control should Brentwood reject it.  Even more important, with their recent announcement that they may be facing bankruptcy, Antioch would have a strong motivation to go after this area.  Brentwood’s staff concluded that homes on our site would generate annual net $800,000 surplus.  Not only would the tax dollars and fees be of great benefit to Antioch, they have made it clear that development is needed to fund roads and sewer lines to allow them to implement their plans for Roddy Ranch.  Antioch voters approved Roddy Ranch via the Measure K initiative in 2005 by nearly a 60% to 40% vote.

5.  The real question surrounding Antioch is what will the voters of that city do?  Because of the approval of Measure K in 2005, Antioch has its own Urban Limit Line.  Pittsburg and San Ramon’s voters have the same power and authority over their own area.  Currently, Brentwood does not.  If Measure F passes, Brentwood will have its own Urban Limit Line which it will control.  Right now, Brentwood is only a 5% fraction of overall countywide line.

6.  An initiative in Antioch would change that city’s Urban Limit Line and would amend its General Plan.  These are the key factors which would allow Antioch to annex the Balfour area. 

7.  Once Antioch’s voters approved the initiative, all that would be left is for LAFCO to finalize the shift to Antioch.  It is true that a full review and public hearing would be part of that process.  However, given LAFCO’s stated policy of respecting the will of the people, ask yourself this basic question:  if Brentwood’s voters say no while Antioch’s voters say yes, why wouldn’t LAFCO put the area in the city which wants it?  They almost certainly would.  They always have.

8. Regarding an Antioch initiative, there are at least 4 groups who can put one on the ballot.  A) the Antioch City Council, B) a group of Antioch citizens, C) other property owners, and D) the Measure F property owners.  Please understand that initiatives get on city ballots a number of ways, often without the consent of the impacted property owners.

9.  Finally, when our opponents say that Antioch can’t take this area, please remember that Roddy Ranch was outside Antioch and outside the Urban Limit Line.  It became a part of Antioch because of the passage of Measure K and the votes of the 7 LAFCO Commissioners. 

That’s it.  As complicated as it may sound, it’s ultimately a 3 step process.  Our land can come into Antioch if:  A) Measure F loses, B) an Antioch initiative passes and C) LAFCO approves the move.

Please ask our opponents that if Roddy Ranch could come into Antioch by initiative, why couldn’t the Balfour area?  Regardless of what they say, the simple fact is that it can.

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It’s Happened Before. Don’t Let It Happen Again!

1. Slatten Ranch: After Brentwood said No to annexing Slatten Ranch, Antioch said Yes to the 53 acre, 570,000 square foot retail development. Result: Antioch receives more than $1.5 million annually in taxes. Brentwood gets the traffic.
2. Ginochio Property. When Brentwood's voters defeated Measure L in 2005, this opened the door for Antioch. Antioch has targeted the 792 acre Ginochio area calling it a "Focus Area" in its General Plan. Given Antioch's average development density of 4.5 units/acre, Antioch approval of Ginochio could lead to more than 3,000 homes. Antioch would get the fees and taxes, we'd get the traffic.
3. Measure F Initiative Area: On Tuesday June 8 Brentwood voters will decide Measure F. If F passes, this area will be annexed to Brentwood and Brentwood will decide if homes are allowed, not Antioch nor the County. Yes on Measure F means Brentwood Control & Brentwood Benefits.

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The Choice. Know the Truth Before You Vote!

Opponents of Measure F aren't telling the truth.

They claim that annexation of the Measure F area to Antioch "can't happen" and is "impossible."

The opposite is true.

If Measure F is approved, the land will be annexed into Brentwood and Brentwood will decide if homes are allowed. Brentwood will have control.

However, if Measure F is defeated, here's how the area can get into Antioch:

1. Antioch's voters approve an initiative including this area in Antioch's own Urban Limit Line
2. The Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approves the shift to Antioch. LAFCO members have already indicated that they are open to putting this area into Antioch depending on the results of the Measure F election.

That's it.

This is the process Measure F opponents claim "can't" happen. Their allegations are especially strange since this is exactly howRoddy Ranch was annexed to Antioch!

Some additional details.

1. An Antioch initiative can be brought forth by ANY of the following:
   1. The Antioch City Council
   2. A group of Antioch citizens
   3. Other property owners
   4. The Measure F property owners
2. The City Council of Antioch is NOT required to either approve or even support the annexation.
3. Brentwood residents would NOT be allowed to vote.

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Reason #3: Put Brentwood in Control

Full Implementation of Measure F means:

• Brentwood Establishes its own Urban Limit Line
• Brentwood Voters Decide What Happens Around our Borders, not Outsiders
• Widen and Improve Balfour Road Extend American Avenue to Balfour
• Additional Dollars to Expand the Bypass
• More Police and Improved Public Safety
• Local Jobs, Job Retraining and Scholarships
• $800,000 Annual Surplus to the City of Brentwood
• Low Density, Higher Priced Homes Near Balfour and Deer Valley
• Brentwood Kids in Brentwood Neighborhood Schools

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Reason #2: Put Brentwood in Control

Balfour Road - Measure F requires land owners to widen Balfour to a 4 lane, divided roadway from American to Deer Valley. Currently, Balfour is two lanes, undivided and unsafe.

American Avenue - Measure F requires land owners to extend American Avenue to Balfour. This would allow for much better pick up and drop off of kids at Heritage High and Adams Middle Schools. Traffic will be reduced and American will become much safer.

The Bypass - Full implementation of Measure F would generate in excess of $20,000,000 to expand the Bypass. More than 88% of the Bypass has been paid for with development fees. Bypass widening and an interchange at Sand Creek are planned.

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Reason #1: Put Brentwood in Control

Currently, outsiders control what happens around our borders. Brentwood residents only have a 5% say about what happens to the existing, countywide Urban Limit Line. Measure F gives Brentwood’s voters 100% control. Our neighbors and City Council know what’s best for Brentwood. We should decide, not them.

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