Council OKs New Library Bond Plan for April Ballot

Voters will be asked to approve a new version of a defeated bond issue that would finance three new libraries in the San Fernando Valley and rebuild and enlarge branch libraries throughout the city.

The measure is one of three bond issues the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved Tuesday for inclusion on the April 11 primary ballot.

The other measures would finance low-interest loans to make apartments earthquake-safe and pay for the installation of fire sprinklers in city-owned buildings.

The council action came on 12-0 votes, sending the proposals to the city attorney for drafting. The top-heavy vote and the lack of opposition during the council meeting appears to make final approval certain in January.

Added to Property Taxes

If approved by two-thirds of the voters, the three measures, along with a police bond previously put on the ballot, would add $38.55 a year to the average property tax bill, according to a report by the city administrative office.

The library bond is similar to one narrowly defeated in the November election--with one important exception:

It would provide $53 million to build the San Fernando Valley libraries and to enlarge 26 other facilities throughout the city and make them safe from earthquakes.

But unlike the measure that was narrowly defeated last November, Proposition L, this version would not provide money for the rebuilding of the downtown Central Library, a feature that attracted the intense opposition of one councilman, Nate Holden, who went on a successful campaign to beat the bond proposal last month.

Rather, the Central Library reconstruction will be financed from existing city revenues. Proposition L was supported by 62.4% of the voters, falling short of the two-thirds needed for victory.

Holden attacked a separate finance provision that raised money by selling the Central Library to private investors. The investors could claim tax credits because of their participation in the restoration of a historic building. After the restoration, the city would lease the building from the investors, and eventually buy it back.

“Inasmuch as there is another way to fund the Central Library project, we believe every effort should be made to keep the ballot proposal non-controversial and subject to the widest possible support,” said City Administrative Officer Keith Comrie.

The other measures for the April 11 ballot:

- A $60-million bond issue to pay for the installation of sprinklers and asbestos removal in City Hall and five other tall, city-owned buildings. The measure was prompted by the May 4 fire at the 62-story First Interstate Bank building.

- A $100-million bond proposal to bring 15,000 low-cost rental units up to earthquake standards.

Some of the money in that bond fund could also be used for construction of homeless shelters.

A city administrative office report says the bond issue is needed to “maintain the city’s stock of affordable low-income housing.” Already, 3,538 units have been razed by owners unwilling or unable to pay for rehabilitation.

A city law requires an estimated 44,000 seismically unsafe rental units in the city to be brought up to earthquake safety standards by the end of 1991. City housing officials say it is difficult for some owners to obtain private financing to make repairs “due to the high risk of seismic damage while such loans are outstanding.”

The city proposes to use bond funds to make low-interest loans to owners of seismically unsafe buildings housing low-income people.

The bond issue was also recommended by a panel appointed by Mayor Tom Bradley to recommend ways to ease the city’s rental housing crisis.

In a separate action, the council voted to draw up plans to implement a number of recommendations made by a Blue Ribbon Committee on Affordable Housing.

Proposals include creating a housing commission to oversee a housing program for the city and requiring commercial developers to pay fees for development of new housing. Specifics for each proposal will now be worked out by council committees and returned to the full council for approval.

The council also voted to require that all future city actions be reviewed for their impact on housing.

In its report, the committee found that the city’s population is growing so fast, compared to housing production, that the city falls short of meeting housing needs by 10,000 units each year. At the same time, the report said, the economy is generating an ever-higher proportion of low-wage jobs.