DISPUTE BUILDS OVER POLICE-FIRE SAFETY BONDS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

With the election only days away, competing groups on Thursday fought over the need for a $744 million police and fire bond measure.

Standing in a helicopter hangar at Van Nuys Airport, Mayor Richard Riordan and other city officials called for voter support for Proposition 1 as the only way the city can both upgrade and expand services needed in the San Fernando Valley and the rest of the city.

``Our fire stations are too old and too small,'' Riordan said. ``A city has to prepare for its future, and the only way to do it is with this bond measure.''

Less than three miles away, in front of Van Nuys City Hall, another group questioned the need for the bond measure.

The No Bonds Now coalition questioned the size of the bond measure and what would happen if the Valley breaks off from Los Angeles.

``If we leave, that's 40 percent of the tax base,'' attorney Bill Powers said. ``Does that mean we will be stuck with those costs for years afterward?''

The measure needs support of two-thirds of the voters to win approval. On average, it would raise a homeowner's annual property tax by about $32 for 25 years.

Councilwoman Laura Chick said that even if the Valley secedes, it still would need the facilities being proposed in the measure.

``This will build facilities that are needed no matter what happens on secession,'' Chick said. ``The important thing is to get modern stations to improve response times and services in the Valley and everywhere else. Also, it will be cheaper to do it now.''

Fire Commissioner Dave Fleming, who also has been active in the study of a separate Valley city, urged support of the measure.

``We need to improve service now, not five years from now,'' Fleming said.

Powers countered that he believes city officials are overstating the problems and not looking at other options.

``They are talking about construction costs of $400 a square foot,'' Powers said. ``We think it should be about one-fourth of that. And we know they need space at some stations, but they should look at some existing buildings to reduce costs.''

Powers said his group has received support from a number of homeowner organizations throughout the Valley, and a telephone-bank type of campaign has sprung up against the measure.

``We aren't doing anything formal,'' Powers said. ``We're just talking to our members to explain this measure.''