CASTAIC CLOSING DELAYED COUNTY VOTES TO FUND LAKE UNTIL JANUARY.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

Ending months of public turmoil over the fate of the Castaic Lake Recreation Area, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday to increase entry and boat launch fees and allocate $753,000 to keep it open at least through January.

State lawmakers have promised to revive in January a bill that died this year that would fund the continued operation of the state-owned lake.

The supervisors voted behind closed doors because the state had threatened to sue the county for breaching a 50-year contract signed in 1969 to operate the popular recreation area. Supervisor Gloria Molina was absent.

The money will come out of the county's general fund, or possibly its reserve fund, which now totals $23.1 million after the supervisors voted earlier this month to use $186 million to offset state budget cuts.

As a result of the county's financial difficulties, the Department of Parks and Recreation proposed fee increases to help keep the lake open until the Legislature can revive Senate Bill 1043.

The fee increases include vehicle entry and boat launch fee increases from $6 to $7 from Oct. 1 to April 30, rising to $8 from May 1 to Sept. 30.

The annual vehicle entry pass fee will increase from $90 to $120. The annual boat launch pass will increase from $80 to $120.

Lake supporters told the supervisors that ``closing the lake would close the town of Castaic.''

They said thousands of people from throughout the county and Southern California use the lake for boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking, junior lifeguard programs, the Love Ride motorcycle fund-raiser and a country fair.

With the increase in fees, supporters said a task force formed to keep the lake open has proposed other ideas to generate more use at the lake, including concerts, boat races, camping adventures, petting zoos, motocross races, horseback riding, company reunions, corporate parties and more weddings.

``Castaic Lake truly is the jewel of Los Angeles County and it would be a shame to have its gates closed,'' said Tere Tucker, a Castaic Lake Area Town Council Parks and Recreation Committee member. ``We are in support of raising the fees and polls (of thousands of people) we've taken at the park show that even if the fees were doubled, patrons would still come and enjoy the lake.''

Lloyd Carter, treasurer for the Castaic Town Council, said the Castaic Chamber of Commerce estimated that closing the lake would force 35 percent to 45 percent of the businesses in the area to close.

``Many companies like Sun Country Marine and other stores depend on the lake to subsidize 45 percent of their business,'' Carter said. ``There is also another aspect beyond the 45 percent of businesses that would be affected because there are a significant number of businesses that support businesses like Sun Country Marine and others for accounting services, food and lunches that would be impacted further down the chain.''

Timothy Gallagher, director of the county Department of Parks and Recreation, said he has been in negotiations with state officials regarding SB 1043, which was intended to save the lake with an infusion of $900,000 to keep it open.

``Unfortunately, that bill got tied up in the bigger budget issues,'' Gallagher said. ``We have commitments from various Senate and Assembly members to push the bill forward in the first few weeks of the session in January.''

Park spokeswoman Sheila Ortega said the combination of the fee increases and the board's decision to allocate $753,000 to the department will keep the lake open through January. She said officials have not calculated yet how much less money will be needed from SB 1043 as a result of additional funds generated by the fee increases to guarantee the lake's continued operation beyond January.

The lake was scheduled to close at the end of September after the Assembly recessed without considering SB 1043.