CITY EMBRACES LIBRARY, ZOO BONDS; COUNCIL LOSES OUT ON MEASURE FOR SIDEWALK-REPAIR FUNDING.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

Los Angeles officials Wednesday hailed the passage of library and zoo bond measures, but now must scramble to find money to fix city sidewalks after voters turned down a $769.4 million special tax for the repairs.

``The defeat of Proposition JJ shows that the voters of Los Angeles are looking to the city to maximize the services we provide with existing dollars,'' said Mayor Richard Riordan, who opposed the sidewalk measure.

Officials said Tuesday's election results showed that well-planned, bare-bone bond measures with unified backing by the city's political leaders can get a two-thirds vote.

That lesson will be taken to heart as the city considers putting more than $1 billion in police and fire bonds on the April 1999 ballot.

``We have to present to voters plans that are exceptionally well-thought out, where we can look the voters in the eyes and say we can deliver the projects we promise,'' said City Councilman Mike Feuer.

On Tuesday, Proposition DD, which will provide $178.3 million to expand and renovate 28 city libraries - including 12 in the San Fernando Valley - was approved by 72 percent of the vote, well-above the two-thirds majority needed for passage.

Proposition CC, which will provide $47.6 million in improvements to the Los Angeles Zoo, was approved by 79.1 percent of the vote.

Proposition JJ for sidewalks, which was rushed to the ballot, was rejected by 56.8 percent of the voters.

``You just can't expect people to sign a blank check,'' said Councilman Joel Wachs. ``People can make a distinction.''

City officials said the defeat of the sidewalk tax means another way will have to be found to repair more than 4,600 miles of damaged sidewalks, and to install 108,000 curb cuts to comply with federal disabled-access laws. Lawmakers had said the measure was needed because the council has been unable to decide for two decades whether property owners or the city is responsible for the cost of sidewalk repairs.

``Right now the city has to begin a very intensive effort to find alternative ways to fix our sidewalks,'' said Feuer.

The city now must develop a scaled-back plan using general fund money, Wachs said. If that does not meet the needs of the Americans With Disabilities Act, Wachs said, the council could consider putting a much smaller bond measure before voters to deal with disabled-access issues.

Proposition EE, which would have provided $46.5 million to improve Exposition Park, was also placed on the ballot at the 11th hour and the mayor remained neutral on the measure. It garnered 59.86 percent of the vote, not enough to achieve the two-thirds margin needed for passage.

Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose district includes the park, said he will consider going back to voters with a proposal.

Joel Fox, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said the election found voters in a selective mood.

``The voters said, Yes, we have some money to spend, but we're discriminating and we don't want to just helter-skelter scatter dollars over City Hall,'' said Fox.