RIORDAN REJECTS BOND PACKAGE; MAYOR GIVES SUPPORT ONLY TO LIBRARY PROJECT.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

Breaking his silence on more than $2 billion in bond issue proposals, Mayor Richard Riordan announced Wednesday that he supports going to Los Angeles voters in November with only a $169 million library bond measure.

Some $2 billion in other proposals for police, firefighters and other agencies and repair of the city's crumbling sidewalks lack public support largely because of haphazard planning by officials and the failure to set up safeguards to ensure the money is spent as promised, the mayor said.

Without Riordan's support, the bond package is all but dead at least until the city elections next April.

Under pressure for not taking a stand on the bond proposals, Riordan sent a letter to the City Council saying that ``a strong oversight process must be developed to guarantee that projects promised are in fact completed on time and on budget.''

``I firmly believe that it is better to move methodically toward success than to rush to failure,'' Riordan wrote.

Riordan suggested that a blue ribbon committee of citizens be appointed to review the tax measures and recommend a package, based on top priorities, within three months. It might then be placed on the April 1999 ballot, he said.

Because many at City Hall believe the mayor's support would be necessary to win the two-thirds vote needed for passage of a bond measure, officials predicted the City Council will agree to delay a vote.

``We can't go forward with this and expect it to pass without the mayor's support,'' said Councilwoman Laura Chick. ``This (delay) is the best way.''

However, noting that Riordan first proposed police, fire and library bonds last year, Chick criticized the mayor for not conducting a thoughtful review of the proposals sooner.

``It's very sad that the city has enormous needs, and all of this waited until the 11th hour and wasn't done in a thoughtful and responsible way.''

Mayoral spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez said the mayor has been working with department heads to polish their proposals, but said city managers did not meet the mayor's requirement for reasonable proposals so the city could guarantee results for taxpayers who agree to pay higher property taxes.

The mayor's decision disappointed some officials who believe new police and fire facilities are needed.

``We would like to move forward but we certainly understand that it's a very large package and should be presented to the voters in the most positive and accurate way,'' said Deputy Police Chief Greg Berg.

``If re-evaluating it and putting it through the mayor's process will improve its chances of passage, then certainly we will work with the elected officials.''

The City Council had begun hearings Tuesday, and faced a July 15 deadline for the November ballot for a $639 million police facilities bond, a $644 million Fire Department facilities bond, a $700 million special tax for sidewalk repairs, a $164 million library bond and a $55.3 million bond measure to install fiber optic cables at city offices.

The mayor said he is confident that voters want police officers and firefighters to have the best facilities and equipment.

``Yet, a successful bond proposal entails more than identifying needs,'' Riordan wrote. ``It is essential that departments build the community support and understanding that is critical in ensuring successful passage.''

Riordan said he is satisfied that the Library Department has a well-thought-out plan, has developed community support and has an oversight system that will allow citizens to ride herd on costs and project timetables.

As a result, the mayor endorsed bonds to pay for replacing 28 libraries and building four new branches.

``Based on this carefully crafted proposal and the library's successful track record in completing prior bond projects, I am confident that libraries will again receive strong voter support.''

However, the mayor said ``significant cost and policy issues'' still need to be evaluated regarding the Fire Department's proposal, and there are ``outstanding operational issues'' requiring review for the LAPD proposal.

Chief among them is whether the city should spend more than $300 million to replace Parker Center.

Outgoing city assets manager Dan Rosenfeld told the Daily News on Monday that an administration building for current staff assigned to Parker Center could be built for $50 million.

Backers of a study of San Fernando Valley cityhood also said it is unwise to approve a massive new downtown headquarters for the LAPD when the Valley could split off with its own police force.

Riordan proposed that Council President John Ferraro name a nine-member blue ribbon committee with experts in finance, labor and construction.

``Its role will be to prioritize needs, recommend a comprehensive package, develop appropriate oversight and governance mechanisms as well as a plan for voter approval,'' Riordan said.

The mayor is particularly interested in the model used by the Los Angeles Unified School District for Proposition BB, in which a committee of officials and citizens scrutinizes and oversees the spending of the money on school projects.