SANTA CLARA COUNTY BALLOT MEASURES

Cupertino Advisory Measure A

If passed this measure would allow the city of Cupertino to spend $22 million on a new library.

Pro: Supporters say Cupertino's current library is the busiest in Santa Clara County. They say its annual circulation has almost tripled in the last decade. Expanding the existing library, they say, is not practical and would not meet the community needs. A new library would be built on currently owned city land and would require no new taxes.

Who's for it? Dr. Martha J. Kanter, president of De Anza College; C. Donald Allen, chairman of Cupertino National Bank; Dr. Michael Chang, Cupertino city councilman; Dorothy Stow, community volunteer; James G. Walker, former American Youth Soccer Organization Commissioner.

Con: Opponents say building a new library would strain the city's resources. They say financing the measure would cost more than $1.5 million annually from the city's general fund. Enlarging the present library to the required size, they say, would cost just $12 million.

Who's against it? Nick Szabo, former mayor.

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Palo Alto Measure G

If passed this measure adopts a new ordinance restricting demolition or alteration of buildings included in the new ''Palo Alto Historic Register.''

Pro: Supporters say Palo Alto's historic buildings define the city's character and are currently facing economic pressures that favor demolition. They say alterations to the interior of homes would not be regulated by the measure. They say the measure achieves a balance between preserving architectural heritage and individual property rights.

Who's for it? Gary Fazzino, former mayor and city councilman; Gail Wooley, former mayor and city councilwoman; Jean McCown, former mayor and city councilwoman; John C. Northway, architect; Nancy Lytle, city councilwoman.

Con: Opponents say this measure would cause the simple remodeling of some homes to be tied up in red tape. They say the maintenance of truly historic structures is made more expensive and burdensome by this measure. They say the measure covers 770 homes initially and allows more homes to be added in the future without limitations. They say if a home is listed, its value and marketability could be hurt.

Who's against it? Micki Schneider, city councilwoman; Larry Klein, former mayor; Margaret Woodworth, owner of Cowper Inn; Craig Woods, founder of Palo Alto Homeowner's Association; Joan Jack, owner of historic home.

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Santa Clara Measure H

If passed, this measure would amend the Santa Clara City Charter to make it gender neutral, make it consistent with current legal requirements and make minor revisions to modernize the Charter.

Pro: Supporters say this is a chance to reform the City Charter for the first time in more than 30 years. They say the measure eliminates gender biases in the charter and brings it into compliance with the Brown Act. They say it would allow the flexibility to have neighborhood city council meetings.

Who's for it? Ron Diridon, Jr., city councilman; Judy Reinartz, chairwoman of Charter Review Committee; Jamie Lee Matthews, city councilman; Miles H. Barber, member of Charter Review Committee; Judy Nadler, mayor.

Con: No argument against Measure H was submitted.

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Santa Clara Measure I

If passed this measure would require Santa Clara police chief candidates to meet the same minimum eligibility and qualification requirements as candidates for the elected office of sheriff.

Pro: Supporters say this measure would change the current situation where any registered Santa Clara voter can run for police chief - with no law enforcement experience. They say this measure ensures that residents would have qualified, experienced candidates for police chief.

Who's for it? Donald C. Ferguson, retired Santa Clara chief of police; Jamie Lee Matthews, city councilman; Frank G. Vasquez, retired Santa Clara chief of police; Judy Reinartz, chairwoman of Charter Review Committee; Kathleen Lockwood, member of Charter Review Committee.

Con: No argument against Measure I was submitted.

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Santa Clara Measure J

If passed, this measure would provide for an increase in compensation for city council members, other than the mayor, from $200 to $600 per month. It would allow annual increases for the mayor and city council members equal to the consumer price index, but not to exceed 5 percent per year.

Pro: Supporters say compensation for city council members hasn't been raised since it was set at $200 per month in 1967. They say Santa Clara is the third largest city in Santa Clara County, but its council is the lowest paid. Since 1967 the Consumer Price Index has increased nearly 400 percent, but supporters say the council's compensation hasn't changed.

Who's for it? Judy Reinartz, chairwoman of Charter Review Committee; Miles H. Barber, member of Charter Review Committee; Lorie Garcia, member of Charter Review Committee; Kathleen Lockwood, member of Charter Review Committee; David C. Delozier, member of Charter Review Committee.

Con: No argument against Measure J was submitted.

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Santa Clara Measure K

If passed Measure K would allow city property worth $50,000 or less to be sold without publishing a legal notice. Currently, city property worth $500 or less can be sold without publishing a legal notice.

Pro: Supporters say in Silicon Valley a transaction involving $50,000 is nominal. By eliminating the notice requirement, the city could act more efficiently in selling land in a timely manner, they say. The city remains obligated to take bids and sell to the highest bidder under this measure, they say. This charter provision was passed more than 35 years ago, and needs to be updated, they say.

Who's for it? Judy Nadler, mayor of Santa Clara; Lorie Garcia, member of Santa Clara Planning Commission; Foster S. Lopes, member of the Charter Review Committee; Judy Reinartz, chairwoman of Charter Review Committee; Patrick M. Mahan, Santa Clara city councilman.

Con: No argument against Measure K was submitted.

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Santa Clara Measure L

If passed this measure would allow public works contracts up to $50,000 without publishing a legal notice, currently contracts of $1,000 are allowed without publishing a legal notice.

Pro: Supporters say the requirements to allow competitive bids and to award contracts to the lowest qualified bidder remain unchanged. They say this measure's intent is to bring into today's dollars the amount to award contracts without publishing a legal notice. They say a contract of under $50,000 is relatively small when it comes to public works.

Who's for it? Judy Nadler, mayor of Santa Clara; Lorie Garcia, member of Charter Review Committee; Patricia M. Mahan, member of Santa Clara City Council; Judy Reinartz, chairwoman of Charter Review Committee; Earl R. Carmichael, member of Charter Review committee.

Con: No argument against Measure L was submitted.

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Gilroy Measure M

If passed Measure M would authorize a special tax for eight years for Community Facilities District No. 1 to fund paramedic services.

Pro: Supporters say this measure will allow the hiring of 12 firefighter-paramedics and improve medical response in Gilroy. The average response time for ambulances and paramedics in Gilroy is currently 10 minutes, if this measure is passed the goal would be a five-minute response time, they say. They say this measure will only cost $95 a year per household, or $.26 a day. Gilroy would also get a third fire station from this measure, they say, and this tax would end in 8 years.

Who's for it? Art Gillespie, Gilroy fire chief; K.A. Mike Gilroy, former mayor; Thomas W. Springer, Gilroy mayor; Guadalupe Arellano, mayor pro tem; Charles S. Morales, city councilman.

Con: No argument against Measure M was submitted.

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Saratoga Measure N

If passed this measure would issue $15 million in bonds to renovate and expand the Saratoga Community Library.

Pro: Supporters say the Saratoga Community Library was built to hold 100,000 books, but now holds 173,000 volumes and periodicals. They say the measure would provide library space, upgrade wiring for computers and the Internet and ensure modern earthquake standards. They say no money from the measure would be spent on administrators' salaries.

Who's for it? Stan Bogosian, Saratoga mayor; Sally S. Lucas, campaign co-chair; Marcia M. Manzo, chairwoman of Saratoga Community Library Commission; Bill McDonnal, president of Friends of Saratoga Libraries

Con: No argument against Measure N was submitted.

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San Jose Measure O

If passed this measure would bar construction of a new airport terminal and passenger gates until the Route 87 Freeway project - a rail link to the airport, an additional southbound lane on the I-880/Coleman Avenue interchange and three airport entrance projects - are within one year of completion.

Pro: Supporters say San Jose has approved a $1 billion dollar airport expansion without realistic traffic and public transit solutions at a time when the valley's traffic congestion worsens daily. They say this measure will allow for airport parking, safety and runway improvements to begin now and allow terminal expansion to begin once the traffic improvements are within a year of completion. They say the measure guarantees traffic improvements will not be delayed indefinitely and will bring a rail connection to the airport.

Who's for it? Janet Gray Hayes, former San Jose mayor; Citizens Against Airport Pollution; Walter Bowman, physician; Robert Harmssen, attorney; Kenneth Hayes, physician.

Con: Opponents say this measure is no longer needed because the city council has adopted a better airport traffic plan which includes every project in Measure O and saves millions of dollars. It includes connecting the light rail to the airport, improving roadways leading to the airport, completing Highway 87 near the airport and improving the Coleman overpass off Highway 880, they say. They say the original sponsor of Measure O, the Airport Traffic Relief Alliance, now opposes it, but it was too late to take the measure off the ballot.

Who's against it? Ron Gonzales, San Jose mayor; Susan Hammer, former San Jose mayor; Chip Evans, co-chair, Airport Traffic Relief Alliance; David R. Fadness, Airport Traffic Relief Alliance.

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