LIMIT BOND ISSUE, PANEL URGES; REPORT SAYS $500 MILLION ENOUGH FOR TOP POLICE-FIRE PROJECTS.Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer A committee of business leaders is urging the city to limit a proposed bond issue for police and fire stations to $500 million, with strict control over planning and construction of the facilities. In its final report to 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 the City Council, the Blue Ribbon Committee Noun 1. blue ribbon committee - an independent and exclusive commission of nonpartisan statesmen and experts formed to investigate some important governmental issue blue ribbon commission on Public Safety Infrastructure said members are convinced of the need for new facilities, but believe the city should raise only enough money through a bond issue to pay for projects that could be completed within five years. If those projects were handled well, voters could be asked for to approve more bonds later, members said. ``We believe that successful completion of the first most critical increment To add a number to another number. Incrementing a counter means adding 1 to its current value. of projects will establish credibility for the program and encourage public support for future increments,'' says the report, released this week. Mayor Richard Riordan was reviewing recommendations in the report, but generally supported it, spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez said Wednesday. Along with any bond proposal placed on the ballot, voters should get a detailed description of what is to be built, not promises that can't be delivered, the report says. Replacing police stations in the West Valley, Rampart, Hollenbeck and Harbor areas should get priority, 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. the committee. Members also urged demolition of Parker Center Parker Center is the headquarters for the Los Angeles Police Department, and is located in Downtown LA. It is named for former LAPD chief William H. Parker. Originally with the prosaic name, the Police Administration Building, ground for the center was broken on December 30, 1952 after a 300,000-square foot administration and operations building is completed. The panel recommended against a separate operations building and said police support and other similar operations should be moved to the Piper Technical Center. The panel also recommended building stations 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 in the metropolitan area. For the Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), also known as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. , the panel recommended replacing fire facilities in Arleta, Studio City and Northridge and building a new air-operations center in Van Nuys. The committee said its main concern is limiting the borrowing through bonds to an amount, such as $500 million, that would not affect the city's credit rating. The city also was urged to try to control costs. To reduce the cost, the panel recommended developing a standard design and assigning a program manager for each project to oversee it from start to finish. |
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