COUNCIL OKS $744 MILLION BOND FOR BALLOT.Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer Acknowledging they face a credibility gap credibility gap n. 1. Public skepticism about the truth of statements, especially official claims and pronouncements: "The credibility gap [is] with voters, Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. members voted Friday to place a $744 million bond measure
for police and fire improvements on the April 13 ballot.
Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. , who originally wanted the measure capped at $500 million, said he would approve the measure because of safeguards that were included to oversee how the money is spent. ``It's not the amount of money, it's making sure that it is spent responsibly and as we promise,'' Riordan said. Passage of the bond measure requires approval of two-thirds of voters. It would add $32 to the property tax bill of the average $162,000 house. Council members repeatedly referred to a $176 million bond issue approved by voters in 1989 after a campaign that said new police stations would be built in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. and the Mid-City area. Neither was constructed because the money ran out. ``It wasn't a promise,'' Chief Legislative Analyst Ron Deaton said. ``The measure clearly said those would be built if money was available.'' The difference with this new proposal, Councilwoman Laura Chick said, is that it will spell out the work to be done, including construction of a new Parker Center Parker Center is the headquarters for the Los Angeles Police Department, and is located in Downtown LA. It is named for former LAPD chief William H. Parker. Originally with the prosaic name, the Police Administration Building, ground for the center was broken on December 30, 1952 police headquarters, six new or replacement police stations and 17 new fire stations, among other work. ``We've learned some hard lessons from the past where, frankly, mistakes were made,'' Chick said. Included in the proposal is creation of oversight committees to make sure the work is done and the hiring of project managers to oversee each phase and control cost overruns Noun 1. cost overrun - excess of cost over budget; "the cost overrun necessitated an additional allocation of funds in the budget" cost - the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor . City Administrative Officer Keith Comrie said it is the same approach taken with the Convention Center expansion that came in on time and under budget. Councilman Joel Wachs Joel Wachs served for several terms as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 2nd district. He was first elected by defeating incumbent James B. Potter. While in office, Wachs chaired the Public Works Committee and vice-chair of the Environmental Quality & Waste Management said the city has to be honest with voters if it hopes to be successful. ``The question people will ask is why don't we have the new 911 system that voters approved or why we don't have a sixth (LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. ) division in the Valley,'' Wachs said. ``People will ask why and it is a legitimate question. We have to be straightforward and admit our failures and say what will be done differently here or we will continue the credibility gap.'' The bond issue is the first in what is seen as a series of three or four to be sought over the next 20 years for $2 billion in police and fire facilities. City officials originally had estimated this bond issue would have been $890 million, but reduced it after receiving $11 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency responsible for coordinating emergency planning, preparedness, risk reduction, response, and recovery. The agency works closely with state and local governments by funding emergency programs and providing technical for repairs needed because of the Northridge Earthquake The Northridge earthquake occurred on January 17, 1994 at 4:31 AM Pacific Standard Time in the city of Los Angeles, California. The earthquake had a "strong" moment magnitude of 6. and reducing cost estimates. FUNDING FEATURES Here are the key features of the $744 million bond issue the City Council agreed Friday to place on the April 13 ballot: Adds $32 per year on property tax bill of average homes valued at $162,000. Replaces four police stations: West Valley, Rampart, Hollenbeck and Harbor, which will have a 60-bed jail. Builds new police stations in the mid-Wilshire and North San Fernando Valley areas. Adds six regional fire stations in Arleta, Northridge, Woodland Hills, South Central, Westchester and Hollywood. Builds 10 standard fire stations in Studio City, Sun Valley, Encino, Watts, Pico Union, Palms, South Central, Westwood, Mar Vista and Hollywood Hills The Hollywood Hills, an unofficial designation of part of the City of Los Angeles, California, are part of the eastern section of the low transverse range of the Santa Monica Mountains, which extends from the Los Feliz District and Hollywood, on the south side of the Valley, to as well as a satellite station in San Pedro. Replaces Parker Center police headquarters with a new building. Rehabilitates four floors in City Hall East for the Fire Department. Constructs new fire dispatch center. Constructs an air operations and maintenance facility for the Fire Department. CAPTION(S): Box BOX: FUNDING FEATURES (see text) |
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