DEVELOPER LOAN PLAN DEALT BLOW : COUNCIL STYMIES PACKAGE FOR VALLEY CITY HALL PROJECT.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer A proposal to give the future developer of a new Van Nuys Civic Center a $75,000 loan to help cover predevelopment expenses hit a snag Wednesday in the City Council. 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 said the loan will help foster construction of a new City Hall for 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. - a project he says is central to plans for revitalizing re·vi·tal·ize tr.v. re·vi·tal·ized, re·vi·tal·iz·ing, re·vi·tal·iz·es To impart new life or vigor to: plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; tried to revitalize a flagging economy. Van Nuys and consolidating city workers. But some City Council members said they are opposed to pursuing a loan that could be written off by the developer if the project is not built and without it first being considered by the council's Budget and Finance Committee. ``We don't have money in the unappropriated un·ap·pro·pri·at·ed adj. 1. Not designated for a specific use. 2. Not possessed by, spoken for, or formally assigned to a particular person or organization. balance to take out $75,000 and do this,'' said council member Rita Walters Rita Walters (1930-) is currently the commissioner of the Los Angeles Public Library. Prior to this position, she served on the Los Angeles City Council representing the 9th district. During that time, she chaired the Arts, Health & Humanities Committee. , noting that the city is facing a budget shortfall of at least $50 million. Braude said the loan should be expedited, citing an analysis by the city that the project could save the city millions of dollars in the long run. ``The likelihood of being repaid is very, very high,'' Braude said. ``There's no risk to the city at all. It will be a disaster if this project doesn't go through in one form or another.'' 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. also called for the loan to be approved, adding ``Give the Valley a vote.'' Walters denied that her concerns stemmed from parochial politics. ``This is not about the Valley,'' she said. ``It's about sound fiscal management.'' The council sent the loan proposal to the committee with the goal of having it brought back to the full council in two weeks. A developer soon will be picked for the Van Nuys project, which would include an office building that would be leased to the city for 50 years and would house civic workers now scattered throughout the Valley. |
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