ELECTION: All Marin Measures Pass, Including Plans for Permanent San Rafael Farmers Market

By Bay City News Service:

Voters in Marin County approved all six measures on Tuesday's  primary election ballot, according to unofficial results.

Voters in San Rafael handily approved Measure B, a proposal to make the Marin Civic Center the permanent home of the Farmers Market run by the nonprofit Agricultural Institute of Marin. The measure needed a majority of the vote and received 81 percent approval.

Measure B will create a permanent home in a Farmers Market Hall building at the vacant Christmas tree lot on the Civic Center campus in San Rafael. The permanent home would be pedestrian, bike and public transit friendly and come at no cost to the public.

The Market Hall and Plaza will serve as a community hub for farmers, ranchers, food purveyors, artisans and the public. The Agricultural Institute of Marin will raise 100 percent of the money from private sources.

Measure A asked voters countywide to extend a $49 parcel tax approved in 2010 for nine years for county library services starting in fiscal year 2015-2016. It needed two-thirds approval and received 77.7 percent of the unofficial vote.

Proponents said the revenue will prevent library branches from closing and reducing hours and protect programs and services for children and people with disabilities.

The Petaluma Joint Union High School District asked voters to approve Measure C, a $68 million bond issue to upgrade classrooms and facilities, plumbing, sewer, electrical, heating and ventilation and air conditioning systems. It received 60 percent approval in Marin County and needed 55 percent.

In Sonoma County, as of 11 p.m., 63 percent of the voters in the school district also had approved the bond measure.

The Larkspur-Corte Madera School District sought approval of Measure D, a $19 million bond issue to relieve overcrowding, modernize elementary and middle schools by replacing portable classrooms with new classrooms, making fire and earthquake safety upgrades and other infrastructure improvements. Measure D received 68.7 approval and required 55 percent to pass.

San Anselmo's Measure E passed with 72 percent approval. It asked voters to approve a special library services tax of $54 a year per parcel with a 3 percent annual cost of living increase for nine years.

The special tax revenue will maintain and enhance library hours, adult and children's programs and general library services. Measure E needed two-thirds approval.

The Stinson Beach County Water District's Measure F passed with 90 percent approval. It establishes a $1.4 million appropriations limit for an additional four years.

Proponents said Measure F will not increase taxes and will allow full use of the property tax revenue the water district already receives.

Measure F will continue using existing service levels without increasing water rates to make up for lost tax revenue, proponents said. Measure F needed majority approval.