$176-Million Police Facilities Bond Issue Favored by Council

The Los Angeles City Council voted Friday in favor of placing a $176-million police construction bond issue on the April 11, 1989, ballot.

If approved by at least two-thirds of those voting in the primary election, the measure would finance a replacement for the 53-year-old Police Academy in Elysian Park and replace, refurbish or create more than a dozen other police facilities.

The council’s unanimous vote merely ordered the drafting of the necessary papers to place the measure on the ballot, but final approval is expected.

The only stated opposition to the bond measure was from Sallie W. Neubauer of the Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park, a grass-roots group that has fought past efforts to expand the Police Academy.

Neubauer proposed that the question of replacing the academy be put to voters in a separate bond measure and not be included in the $176-million bond question. Replacement of the training facility, which first opened in 1935, would cost about $40 million, according to police officials.

But council members told Neubauer that a decision has not been made as to the location of the academy’s permanent replacement. However, funds are not included in the bond measure to acquire a new site.

In addition to a new academy, the bond issue would finance replacements for the 77th Street and Newton stations that opened in 1925, as well as the 30-year-old North Hollywood station, all at a cost of about $42 million. New regional stations ($20 million each), a driver-training facility for all city departments ($7 million) and an expansion of the central dispatch center in City Hall East ($6 million) also would be built if the bond issue passes.

In addition to the new facilities, the bond measure would provide about $41 million to make refurbishments at Rampart, Foothill, West Valley, Hollenbeck, Southwest, Harbor and Valley stations as well as minor improvements at several other facilities. All of these stations have been built in the last 30 years.

Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky said that reaching the two-thirds majority threshold for approval of the bond measure would be difficult, but that the police construction needs are “no less important” than the Fire Department’s. Yaroslavsky was referring to 71% voter approval last month of a bond measure to provide new Fire Department communications equipment.

Debt service on the general obligation bonds would be paid through increased property taxes. Officials estimate a $17 annual increase in taxes on a $115,000 home.