COUNCIL PET PROJECTS ACE OUT VALLEY PARKS.Byline: Beth Barrett Daily News Staff Writer Despite promises of dozens of new parks New Parks is an area in the city of Leicester, England. It is in the west of the city, close by the county border (west of which is Glenfield. South of New Parks is the Western Parks area, and to the east is the Newfound Pool area. for at-risk youths, the Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. and its staff wants to seize control of spending a
$750 million parks tax, delaying many high-priority projects while
putting their own pet programs on a fast track, the Daily News has
learned.
Parks Commission President Steve Soboroff Steve Soboroff (born August 31, 1948) is a real estate developer and president of Playa Vista. Mr. Soboroff is the Chairperson of the Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. has been removed from the steering committee steer·ing committee n. A committee that sets agendas and schedules of business, as for a legislative body or other assemblage. steering committee Noun picking new projects, and planning decisions are now being made by a group of three top bureaucrats led by Chief Legislative Analyst Ron Deaton, the City Council's top appointee APPOINTEE. A person who is appointed or selected for a particular purpose; as the appointee under a power, is the person who is to receive the benefit of the trust or power. . Under a proposal that could go before the council next month, projects that were not part of planning at the time of the 1996 Proposition K property tax assessment would leapfrog over dozens of promised park developments. Among the fast-track projects are a new children's museum Children's museums are institutions that provide exhibits and programs that stimulate informal learning experiences for children. In contrast with traditional museums that typically have a hands-off policy regarding exhibits, children's museums feature interactive exhibits that are , undeveloped land in the Santa Monica Mountains The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States. Geography They run for approximately 40 mi (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. and programs at the zoo and observatory in Griffith Park Griffith Park is a large public park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. It is situated in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers 4,210 acres (17 km²) of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America. , while promised Valley recreational and park facilities from Hansen Dam Hansen Dam in Los Angeles County, California was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District in 1939 and 1940. The project is located near the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley on Tujunga Wash, about one mile below the confluence of the Big Tujunga Wash and the Sepulveda Basin to greenbelts along the Los Angeles River The Los Angeles River is an intermittent river flowing through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park in the west end of the San Fernando Valley, 51 miles (82 km) southeast to its mouth in Long Beach. are on hold. The idea to sell $30 million in bonds against future Proposition K revenues to finance seven projects comes out of City Hall, though Deaton said various citizen constituencies pushed it. Only one Valley project, a $2.1 million North Hollywood child-care center would be included in the fast-track plan. Meanwhile, 34 Valley recreation and park projects worth more than $60 million in Proposition K dollars are among dozens of projects citywide that will get little or no funding for at least the next five years under the current scenario, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Recreation and Parks Department records. ``If they do this, they will be making the advisory committees meaningless because we haven't seen this, we haven't approved this, and we won't have had a decision in this,'' said Bruce Bialosky, a CPA (Computer Press Association, Landing, NJ) An earlier membership organization founded in 1983 that promoted excellence in computer journalism. Its annual awards honored outstanding examples in print, broadcast and electronic media. The CPA disbanded in 2000. and chairman of the Valley Regional Volunteer Neighborhood Oversight Committee, one of three committees that were supposed to look out for voters' interests. ``This is beyond my comprehension, unless someone muscled these projects in. It is an improper way to do it.'' A lack of trust Woodland Hills homeowner leader Gordon Murley said he signed the ballot argument against Proposition K because he didn't trust City Hall. ``We knew what they put down in the ballot would be changed to suit their political agenda, which is why we opposed it,'' he said. ``We knew they could change it at any time and that they were using the kids as a reason people should vote for it when it was for their own political ambitions.'' Soboroff said parks tax funds have been so completely taken over by the council and its staff that the department cannot do the things it wants to do, which is to quickly complete dozens of park and sports facilities See:
``We have 40 or 50 projects that are ready to go, that voters expect,'' Soboroff said. ``Every project should be bonded. I want to see all these projects get going.''' Soboroff and others had planned to raise a lot of money by selling bonds upfront against the 30-year revenue stream to provide a citywide crash program for at-risk youths. That process was backed by Esther Feldman, a leading bond-issue expert and author of two county recreation bonds totaling over $1 billion, who said cities throughout the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. often bond against revenue from property assessments. ``By dribbling it out, you're going to end up with a lot of parks in disrepair, while if you yell loud enough, you get something,'' she said. But Deaton has thwarted that effort, saying tax assessments are inadequate to cover all the costs, so general fund money would be needed. He said the steering committee - constituting himself, Chief Administrative Officer A chief administrative officer (CAO) is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental corporations. The CAO is one of the highest ranking members of an organization, managing daily operations and usually reporting directly to the chief executive Keith Comrie and the city engineer's designee des·ig·nee n. A person who has been designated. , Brad Smith Brad or Bradley Smith may refer to:
cash in hand, finances, funds, monetary resource, pecuniary resource - assets in the form of money from other sources. The current list represents those parties who said they had access to a match, Deaton said. Raised expectations Deaton said Soboroff and others should not have raised public expectations and made it clear to voters that improvements would take 30 years to complete. Four of the seven projects on the current list were not among those proposed prior to the 1996 ballot measure. They came up among the proposals for the 20 percent of the Proposition K money that was set aside for competitive grants. Still, they didn't win the grant derby and were only brought into the picture when funding questions reached City Hall. At least two of those projects, worth more than $14.4 million, are tied to City Hall political figures. The projects include $9.4 million that would be bonded for a new children's museum in Griffith Park. The president of the nonprofit museum's board is Doug Ring Douglas Thomas Ring (October 14, 1918—June 23, 2003) was an Australian cricketer who played in 13 Tests from 1948 to 1953. He was born in Hobart. He played schoolboy cricket in Melbourne and in the 1935/36 season played the final matches of the season with the first , husband of Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski Cindy Miscikowski represented the 11th District on the Los Angeles City Council for two full terms from 1997 through 2005. Previously, she was an aide to Councilman Marvin Braude and the Executive Director of the Skitball Cultural Center in its beginning stages. . The museum would need to come up with just over $2 million for its match, which Ring said he believes it can do. The other is $5 million for land acquisition in the Santa Monica Mountains. All or a portion of that money is under consideration to buy about 237 acres in Mandeville Canyon owned by police commissioner and Valley businessman Bert Boeckmann. The Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. Conservancy or some other source would need to fund about $1 million of the total. Deaton said the steering committee relied on citizen input, not politicians or others with vested interests vested interest n. 1. Law A right or title, as to present or future possession of an estate, that can be conveyed to another. 2. A fixed right granted to an employee under a pension plan. 3. in considering which projects to bond. ``I just don't think there was (political pressure),'' Deaton said in an interview. ``It's not Doug Ring, it's the children's museum that pushes the project. It's not surprising it's a high priority. The K in Prop. K was for kids. And the Boeckmann property has long had a high priority.'' Priority list The museum and Santa Monica Mountains acquisitions, however, were not on the Recreation and Parks Department's priority list, according to Ann Kerman, director of resource development. Nor was $10 million proposed to be bonded for a children's discovery area at the zoo, she said, though it was listed in the ballot proposal. The other four proposed bond projects are $5 million to the Cabrillo Aquarium, $7.4 million to the Griffith Observatory Griffith Observatory is located in Los Angeles, California, United States. Sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in L.A.'s Griffith Park, it commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the , $2.1 million to build a child-care center in North Hollywood and $1.4 million for sports fields at Washington Irving Middle School [1] Washington Irving Middle School is a school in the Fairfax County Public Schools System. It serves grades 7-8. Feeder school This school feeds into West Springfield High School for grades 9-12. in Glassell Park. The department's goal was to give the entire city as many new parks, sporting facilities and child-care centers as possible, while targeting a couple of regional projects, including the observatory and aquarium, that were ready to go. Instead, in many cases where land has already been purchased, the lack of parks tax money is stalling projects, Kerman said. For example, property has been purchased for the Riverside Performing Arts Center A performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is a multi-use performance space that can be adapted for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre. along Riverside Drive A number of cities around the world have a Riverside Drive. In the United States:
Land also has been bought for a Branford Recreation Center in the Northeast Valley, but none of the nearly $2 million needed is budgeted. Pool to remain closed Meanwhile, the Sepulveda Recreation Center pool is closed while it awaits $800,000 in Proposition K money that won't materialize until sometime after 2004 under the current plan, according to Kerman and records. ``This is not what was envisioned by the proposition,'' Soboroff said. Further, the list of seven projects did not receive unanimous support from the Central Regional Volunteer Neighborhood Oversight Committee, the citizens group that represents the region with the bulk of the projects on the bond list. Nancy Smith, a central committee member, said she was opposed to including the mountains purchase. She said the expenditure would cut too deeply into the budget for parkland acquisition elsewhere. ``You look at the rest of the city, the need for little parks all over, for kids to be able to sit and play in open spaces. That opportunity should not be lost,'' said Smith, a Lincoln Heights Lincoln Heights may refer to:
Agreeing with Soboroff on overall spending, Miscikowski said that all the projects should get to compete for fast-track financing by bonding against future revenues. She said there should be a level playing field See net neutrality. for all projects, not just those that can pay to get ahead. She called the current process ``clearly inequitable'' and said she did not influence the placement of the children's museum on the list of bond projects. She added the Santa Monica Mountains acquisition proposal came out of the steering committee. Ring said the museum competed with other agencies for funding, and he doesn't know how the final selection process worked. He said the museum needs most of its money upfront to proceed with a relocation from downtown to Griffith Park. ``If the children's museum has to wait 10 years, it will be someone else building it,'' Ring said. The project is for the good of the community and the city's children, not for himself or his wife, he added. Decision needed soon Boeckmann said he never asked anyone to put his project on a fast-track list, but that the city must decide soon whether to purchase his property. Otherwise, he said he may develop it since the costs associated with additional delays are mounting. He said 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. and then-Councilman Marvin Braude Marvin Braude (August 11, 1920—December 7, 2005)served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 11th district from 1965 to 1997. At various times Mr. Braude (pronounced BROW-dee) served as chair of the Finance and Revenue Committee, the Environmental Quality and Waste originally approached him about selling the land for what he said would have been far less than it was worth. Boeckmann said he agreed and later said OK to another reduction to $5 million. The property is gorgeous, he added. ``It's a hell of a deal, in truth.'' Several months ago, he said that Miscikowski, who succeeded Braude, met with him to discuss the property's acquisition. Boeckmann said his position was that he couldn't wait forever, that he'd already spent more than $1 million on the property and that the project needed to move forward. ``Reasonably, this has already gone on too long,'' Boeckmann said. While the seven projects moved quickly through the process and into official city planning city planning, process of planning for the improvement of urban centers in order to provide healthy and safe living conditions, efficient transport and communication, adequate public facilities, and aesthetic surroundings. documents, many other projects floundered, and applicants were never told how to appeal when they lost out, said Smith of the central committee. ``Those that were politically well-connected . . . appealed, but the mom-and-pop groups didn't know they could,'' she said. ``There was a lot of frustration.'' Several council members said they were surprised that a mechanism had been devised for moving some projects ahead more quickly, while others would have to wait to get cash directly from assessment revenues or else find funds from other sources. ``I'm upset that we're not following a more equitable process,'' said Councilman Hal Bernson Hal Bernson served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 12th district. He was chair of the Transportation Committee. Prior to being on the City Council, he served in the Navy. Preceded by Robert M. , who represents the Northwest Valley. In Bernson's district, Mason Park, the Northridge Recreation Center, Parthenia Park, Stetson Ranch and the Winnetka Recreation Center are all on the slow track, with little or no funding scheduled through 2004, records show. Councilman Michael Feuer's district has little Proposition K funding scheduled for four projects, including a Studio City gym and the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks recreation building. While it makes sense to bond some projects, Feuer said ``well-heeled projects'' should not be the only ones that can get bonding to move quickly ahead. Councilman Mike Hernandez, Proposition K's author, said his goal was not to finance major land acquisitions in the mountains or to tie up lots of money in big projects. ``We don't need to tie up so much money this way,'' he said. ``While certain projects might justify some bonding, I have a hard time justifying all of these.'' What is needed, he said, is small parks, recreation centers and other projects to help kids throughout the city. ``We as a city have an obligation to do this faster,'' he said. PROPOSED PARK PROJECTS City Hall is deciding which big-ticket projets to bond against a 1996 voter-approved parks tax, while dozens of parks 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 rest of the city will have to wait years for their cash. Proposed projects, including the Children's Museum, the zoo, aquarium and Santa Monica Mountains property acquisition would have a head start, because they have private matching funds. FACILITY NAME / PROJECT BOND COST Children's Museum $9,467,800 Build children's museum Cabrillo Aquarium $5,000,000 Expand and enhance education wing to include more labs, discovery lab, collection storage and water system improvements Griffith Observatory $7,400,000 Implementation of master plan improvements Santa Monica Mountains $5,000,000 Acquisition of Eastport and/or Mandeville Los Angeles Zoo The Los Angeles Zoo founded in 1966, is a large zoo located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Zoo, located in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, is home to 1,200 animals from around the world. $10,000,000 Construct and develop Children's Discovery area Victory Vineland Child Care Center $2,100,000 Build a childcare center LAUSD LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA) Washington Irving Middle School $1,400,000 Create Park and sportsfields TOTAL $40,367,800 (x) (x) Includes private match of about $10 million Other projects, including recreation centers, sports field and small pocket parks would be at a disadvantage, because they don't have matching funds and therefore would not be eligible for immediate bonding. FACILITY NAME / PROJECT BOND COST Balboa Sports Complex $3,000,000 Construct new aquatic facility Chandler-Burbank Bikeway bike·way n. A bicycle lane or path. $1,000,000 Bikeway along Chandler-Burbank Line from White Oak and Oxnard to Vanowen and De Soto de So·to , Hernando or Fernando 1496?-1542. Spanish explorer who landed in Florida in 1539 with 600 men and set out to search for the fabled riches of the north. Griffith Park Performing Arts Center $3,000,000 Construct a performing arts center for youth Hansen Dam $10,000,000 Soccer complex, RV Park, Ranger Station/Visitors Center, road/trail, improvements, fencing Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Riverfront Park $10,000,000 Land acquisition, greening along area of Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City Orcutt Ranch $2,000,000 Refurbish building and grounds, ADA Ada, city, United States Ada (ā`ə), city (1990 pop. 15,820), seat of Pontotoc co., S central Okla.; inc. 1904. It is a large cattle market and the center of a rich oil and ranch area. access improvement Rim-of-the-Valley Trails $2,000,000 Construction and repair of Equestrian/Pedestrian trail system SE Valley Roller and Skateboard Rink $4,000,000 Acquisition and construction of roller and skateboard rink in the San Fernando Valley Sepulveda Basin $5,000,000 Bikepath, parking, picnic and restroom facilities, soccer field development Sepulveda Basin-Hjelte Field $1,000,000 New athletic fields, lighting, parking Sepulveda Basin-Lake Balboa $2,000,000 Upgrade irrigation irrigation, in agriculture, artificial watering of the land. Although used chiefly in regions with annual rainfall of less than 20 in. (51 cm), it is also used in wetter areas to grow certain crops, e.g., rice. system to water conservation standards Sepulveda Garden Center $1,000,000 Construct modern facility Northeast Roller Rink $3,000,000 Acquire and construct new roller hockey rink Branford Recreation Center $1,000,000 Outdoor refurbishment, ball diamonds, paving, irrigation, gym floor Branford Recreation Center$950,000 Construction of childcare center to enhance recreational opportunities for children North Hollywood Skate Facility $1,000,000 Develop roller hockey, skateboard, BMX BMX abbr. bicycle motocross BMX Noun 1. bicycle motocross: stunt riding over an obstacle course on a bicycle 2. facility, with parking Sepulveda Recreation Center $500,000 Outdoor refurbishment, improvements to athletic fields, swimming pool Reseda Skate Facility $4,000,000 Acquisition and construction of ice hockey and roller blading facility North Hollywood Park $1,000,000 Refurbishment of parking lot, irrigation, gym floor, pool upgrades, restrooms Studio City $3,000,000 Construct modern gym, community center, landscape and irrigation Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park $2,000,000 Construct modern recreation building Blythe Street Recreation Center $250,000 Acquisition of land for new recreation center Blythe Street Recreation Center $2,000,000 Construct recreation center Hubert Humphry Recreation Center $2,000,000 Construction of child care center to enhance recreational opportunities for children Roger Jessup Recreation Center $1,300,000 Construction of child care center to enhance recreational opportunities for children Sun Valley Recreation Center $500,000 Improvements to athletic fields, new field restrooms Sun Valley Recreation Center $200,000 Building refurbishments Serrania Park $280,000 Construct public restrooms Mason Park $1,300,000 Construction of child care center to enhance recreational opportunities for children Parthenia Park $200,000 Facility enhancements Stetson Ranch $1,000,000 Land acquisition, facility expansion Winnetka Recreation Center $1,300,000 Construction of child care center to enhance recreational opportunities for children TOTAL$70,780,000 SOURCES: Los Angeles city Recreation and Parks Department CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO Los Angeles Children's Museum Michael Owen Baker/Daily News BOX: PROPOSED PARK PROJECTS (see text) |
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