PLACERITA CANYON STILL WAITS PROPOSITION A FUNDS SPENT ON SAN DIMAS.

Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - It's been eight years since taxpayers approved a $1 million bond to improve and expand the Placerita Canyon Nature Center, and four years since an additional $500,000 was added.

But nothing has been done and the money sits idle, though the county's parks department used part of the money earmarked for Placerita elsewhere without taxpayer approval.

Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation officials said the $1.5 million of Proposition A funds taxpayers approved in 1992 and 1996 hasn't been spent on improvements because the funds are allocated for land acquisition.

Mustafa Rustan, the owner of 260 acres located on the southwest corner of the park, is refusing to sell the land to the county and has for nearly 15 years. Until Rustan decides to sell, the bond money won't be spent. Rustan didn't return phone calls Friday.

Meanwhile, the county reallocated $273,000 of Proposition A funds earmarked for the Newhall center to make improvements to the San Dimas Nature Center, without taxpayer consent.

Jim Park, assistant director of the capital projects agency of the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department, said there is a stipulation in the proposition that allows the county to use the money for other projects if needed.

Though the money won't be replaced, he said the Proposition A fund is now valued at about $1.9 million with interest - more than taxpayers contributed.

Conal McNamara, a deputy to county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, said the Parks and Recreation Department approached the board more than a year ago, saying it didn't have enough money to finish the San Dimas project but it could get the funds from Proposition A.

The Board of Supervisors approved the reallocation because it wouldn't take money away from the Placerita Canyon project, McNamara said.

``The money is still there, and then some,'' McNamara said. ``It's . . . very important to us and the city of Santa Clarita. All the money that is committed will be there.''

Critics said that's not acceptable and want the money returned.

Karen Pearson, founder of the Santa Clarita Valley Sierra Club chapter, said the funds were to be used for land acquisition, not to rebuild the San Dimas Nature Center when Placerita's needs repairs.

``If you make a promise to the public, you should keep it and it's unethical not to,'' she said. ``It's like snubbing your nose at the public.''

Pearson and others who worked on the Placerita proposal said they envisioned buying more land and building trails leading to area waterfalls.

To her surprise, Pearson discovered reallocation and the stipulation allowing the county to do it.

Regardless, Pearson said the money should be paid back.

``We would be in much better shape with the $273,000,'' she said.

Until Rustan agrees to sell the 260 acres near the park, no improvements can be made, Park said.

Currently, the county is working with the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit group that assists public agencies in working deals with private property, and the U.S. Forest Service to buy the land that sits empty.

Park said that could take several more years. Until then, Placerita Nature Center remains in dire need of repairs.

Ian Swift, recreation leader at Placerita Canyon, said the land acquisition is a frustrating process as park officials continue negotiations with Rustan. At the same time, the center needs a new roof and other upgrades, if not an entire new building.

``The nature center is in bad condition, to say the least,'' Swift said. ``It's in disarray and needs a lot of improvement.''