GROUP WANTS BALLOT ARGUMENT PULLED; MENTION OF JARVIS ASSOCIATION VEXES MEMBERS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

Protesting that the city had exploited its credibility, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association demanded the withdrawal Friday of a ballot argument for a $744 million Los Angeles public safety bond issue.

In a letter to Mayor Richard Riordan, association President Jon Coupal said a rebuttal argument - which supporters of the bond measure filed with the City Clerk's Office for publication in the official ballot booklet - invites the taxpayers group to join an oversight committee to monitor the use of money from the bond issue.

``We believe this is an attempt to convince voters that our taxpayers group will serve as watchdog over the bond issue,'' Coupal said. ``We will not.

``We decline the invitation to sit on a bond oversight committee. The bond is too large and because of our experience with Proposition BB, we now believe that oversight committees provide insufficient safeguards.''

In fact, the association is the author of the ballot arguments against the April 13 ballot measure, saying it is too large of a proposal.

Deputy Mayor Noelia Rodriguez said the ballot argument would not be changed, but that the mayor did want the group to be involved in the process.

``There was not an attempt to force them to do anything, but we would like to have a collaborative implementation of the bond measure,'' Rodriguez said.

Kris Vosburg, spokesman for the association, said what was particularly upsetting to Coupal was that no formal invitation to serve on the oversight committee had ever been received.

``It was never presented to us personally,'' Vosburg said. ``It was just put in their ballot argument.''

Vosburg said the association had talked to attorneys about potential legal action but were advised it would not have much chance of success.

The bond issue, which would cost the average residential property owner $32 a year, requires approval of two-thirds of voters to pass.

Proponents say it will provide enough money to build 17 replacement fire stations, one new fire station, four replacement police stations, two new police stations, a new downtown police department headquarters building, a new fire department air operations center at Van Nuys Airport, as well as other public facilities and equipment upgrades.

The measure has been endorsed by Riordan, LAPD Chief Bernard C. Parks, Fire Chief William Bamattre and others.