The Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce board of directors approved recommended positions on ballot Measures D, G, P, and Proposition 26 at its September meeting. “LVCC has reviewed these ballot measures through the lens of impacts, positive or negative, to the local economy. The recommendations support LVCC policy priorities related to the economic vitality of the Livermore Valley economy, now and in the future,” said Dawn Argula, Chamber president and CEO.

LVCC on 2022 Ballot Measures

Click on the measures to expand and see the details.

Support

This amends Measure D approved by voters in 2000. Voter approval (50%+1) allows a slight change, expanding the amount of space allowed to build agriculture related structures on Large Parcel Agriculture zoned areas increasing a maximum floor area ratio from .01 to .025 and also a minimum of 20,000 and maximum of 60,000 square feet for covered equestrian riding arenas in Large Parcel Agriculture and Resource Management zoned areas. After 20+ years of operating under the restrictions of the earlier Measure D, LVCC is disappointed that the amended 2022 Measure D doesn’t go far enough to ameliorate some of the impacts experienced by property owners in rural Livermore Valley in achieving and sustaining economic viability on their land. Nonetheless, 2022 Measure D is progress.

LVCC supports Measure D and the agricultural economy in Alameda County. For more on Measure D visit Alameda County Registrar of Voters and ALAMEDA COUNTY ORDINANCE.

Voter approval (55%) authorizes the LVJUSD to issue $450 million in bonds to fund the aging 1950-1960s circa infrastructure of its classrooms, labs, and job training facilities to meet 21 st Century safety/academic standards; repair and/or replace roofs, plumbing, electrical, heating-cooling systems; keep instructional technology up-to-date; improve security/fire/earthquake safety on its campuses. Costs = $60/$100,000 county assessed property value. Measure G complements Measure J’s $245 million bond measure approved by voters in 2016. The bond measures move the needle on the $1.7 billion in improvements identified in the District’s 2021 Updated Facilities Master Plan.

Note: Beyond initial investment for new construction, community assets such as school facilities, require ongoing public investment to maintain and operate to meet intended needs, under current conditions. Deferred or lack of ongoing maintenance results in degradation of the asset impacting users and it also continues to increase costs to repair and/or replace. Infrastructure is the backbone of a healthy economy. Furthermore, providing students with a safe and modern learning environment supports the effective development of the future workforce. LVCC supports investments in infrastructure necessary to accommodate economic growth.

For more on Measure G visit Alameda County Registrar of Voters and LVJUSD Measure G FAQ.

LVCC is an early supporter of this effort, signing on with partner organizations urging Alameda County and the City of Livermore to take action to extend sanitary sewer service to the South Livermore Valley area. The 1993 South Livermore Valley Area Plan adopted by the City of Livermore and Alameda County established a goal of 5,000 acres planted in wine grapes. Today, plantings have plateaued at 2800 acres with the prospect of 1900 acres of grapes in the ground 20 years or more to be replaced by 2030. The cost of planting and maintaining vineyards over the past 30 years has increased, primarily due to lack of sufficient supportive infrastructure as well as increasingly restrictive regulations. Dependent on installed septic systems, the South Livermore Valley groundwater basin has been impacted by early agricultural activities and today, new and expanded systems are prohibited. Extending sanitary sewer service to the area will help reduce impacts to the basin and support continued operations of the winegrowing industry and its related uses.

For more on the Livermore Valley wine region and current economic conditions check out UC DAVIS STUDY. Predicated on the voter approval (50%+1) of Measure P, the cost to extend sanitary sewer service to the South Livermore Valley region will be funded by Alameda County, State and Federal grants and through connection fees from affected property owners. LVCC has officially endorsed Measure P, supporting the South Livermore agricultural economy.

For more on Measure P visit Alameda County Registrar of  Voters and YES ON MEASURE P.

Oppose

Allows In-Person Roulette, Dice Games, Sports Wagering on Tribal Lands. Also allows sports wagering at certain horseracing tracks; private lawsuits to enforce certain gambling laws. Prop 26 contains a clause that allows legal challenges, lawsuits, to competing gaming establishments. This includes licensed card rooms, two of which operate within the City of Livermore. Additionally, with the exception of Tribal casinos and certain horseracing tracks, Prop 26 excludes other gaming establishments from adding sports wagering to their operations. LVCC is neutral on sports wagering and other forms of gaming at Tribal casinos. However, it is strongly opposed to monopoly of allowable, legal gaming activities to any specific sector of the gaming industry.

LVCC opposes Prop 26 as it jeopardizes the legal and economic viability of two licensed, local casino establishments that provide 260 jobs and generates economic impacts of more than $40 million. Prop 26 will result in unnecessary and harmful regulatory impacts to gaming establishments and to the local economy.

For more on Proposition 26 visit CA Secretary of State and NO ON PROP 26.