COUNCIL VOTES TO PURSUE PARK ASSESSMENT.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

The Los Angeles City Council took another step toward asking voters to approve a $750 million park assessment on the Nov. 5 ballot Tuesday, while rejecting a motion to kill the controversial proposal.

The assessment district, if approved by voters, would provide money for new facilities at Hansen Dam, the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area and scores of other parks around Los Angeles.

The council voted 14-1 to direct the Parks Department to draft a report showing which proposed parks projects would require additional staff or other expenses to operate, and which new projects could be operated without additional staff.

Councilman Hal Bernson cast the lone dissenting vote.

In addition, the council also delayed action on a motion by Bernson that would cancel the process now. Instead the council agreed to consider Bernson's motion after a July 9 public hearing on the parks assessment.

Councilman Joel Wachs said he wants to wait to decide which way to vote until after the July 9 public hearing.

Wachs is leading the opposition to a Community College District proposal to establish an assessment district, saying it is a ``sham'' because it would not be placed on the ballot for a vote.

He said he will likely oppose seeking a city assessment because of concerns about raising taxes and opposition to any proposal to only require a majority vote for approval.

``I am strongly leaning against it, but in fairness I want people to have a chance to have their say,'' Wachs said.

However, Bernson noted that hundreds of people attended a June 4 hearing on the proposal to voice opposition, including many opposed to the idea of requiring only a simple majority for approval rather than the two-thirds vote generally required for tax increases by Proposition 13.

Because it is an assessment district, no actual public vote is required. The council, however, said it would conduct a vote and abide by its outcome - even though notices mailed to the public made no mention of the planned vote.

``I think what we had here in the first public hearing was the tip of the iceberg,'' Bernson said. ``I think that the public indignation over the way this entire matter was handled is going to reach out and bite all of us unless we start over again with this project. I would urge that we abandon this project now.''

Council members Mike Hernandez and Jackie Goldberg led the fight against Bernson's motion, saying it will stifle debate on an important issue.

``The law permits this to happen,'' Goldberg said. ``The ultimate voice will be on Election Day, where people will decide whether the children, youth and families who use the recreation and park facilities of this city are to have greater access and better facilities.''

Hernandez said during Tuesday's council debate that the current funding mechanisms have shortchanged inner-city areas.

``We've developed some inequities in terms of recreational facilities and things that deal with youth and I have a problem with that,'' he said. ``I'm willing to put it on the ballot, understanding that I'm taking the risk of being on the wrong side.''