CITY BOND PROS, CONS OUTLINED BOTH SIDES FILE ARGUMENTS FOR MARCH BALLOT PAMPHLET.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Citing the failures of city officials to deliver all they promised from past bond issues and the ongoing debate over secession, the leaders of several homeowners and taxpayers groups urged on Monday that city voters reject a $600 million public safety bond issue on the March 2002 ballot.

Supporters of the measure argued, however, that it is needed to provide the facilities for the police, firefighters and paramedics protecting the city.

``Our safety depends on them and the quality of service they provide,'' says the argument written by Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski and signed by Mayor James Hahn, Police Chief Bernard Parks, Fire Chief William Bamattre and other local officials.

Both sides' arguments were filed with the City Clerk's Office to be published in the ballot booklet that will go to all voters before the election.

In opposing the measure, Richard Close of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association argues that it would raise taxes while not paying to hire any police officers or paramedics. ``There are not enough police officers to staff existing buildings. Why increase taxes to build more facilities?''

Close's argument against the measure was backed by homeowners from Northridge, Woodland Hills, San Pedro, Valley Glen and Sherwood Forest, as well as by the United Organization of Taxpayers, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the United Chambers of Commerce.

In it, Close points out that more was promised than delivered from bonds issues that voters approved in 1989 and 2000.

In addition to the tax implications, Close cited city officials' recent arguments that the San Fernando Valley would not be entitled to any assets if its voters decided to secede.

``The city now asks us to pay for more buildings that we will not own,'' Close says in the written statement. ``If a majority of us vote for the Valley, the Harbor and-or Hollywood to become independent cities, the communities would not own the facilities but would be saddled with the liabilities and the tax increase.''

Secession supporters have called for an election on that issue in November 2002.

In the argument for the proposal, Miscikowski says that new facilities have been long needed for those who provide protection.

``Stand behind those we trust to be our front line of security,'' Miscikowski says.

In addition, she says that city officials have shown they can deliver what is promised with bond issues, that a citizens oversight committee will be created and that independent financial audits will be required to ensure the money is being spent properly.

City officials have argued that the facilities, even if secession is successful, will be needed by whatever new cities are formed.

The bond measure, which needs two-thirds voter approval, calls for replacement of the Los Angeles Police Department's West Valley station - where officers work out of trailers - and for a new LAPD Valley headquarters and facilities for traffic officers to be built on five acres provided by General Motors at the site of its former automobile assembly plant in Panorama City. In addition, the Valley would get its own bomb unit rather than rely on officers being dispatched from either Los Angeles International Airport or the LAPD's Northeast Division.

Other proposed projects include replacing stations at Hollenbeck, Rampart and Harbor divisions, building a new station in the mid-Wilshire area, making repairs to other police facilities, including the Parker Center, and creating a new emergency-operations and dispatch center for both the police and fire departments.