San Diego

The City Council endorsed in principle Tuesday a plan to charge development projects $244 million, which would go for public safety equipment, park and recreation facilities, and the construction of libraries over the next 20 years.

But the council delayed a decision on the precise amount of the so-called impact fees until it can review a separate report on how to finance more than $1 billion in similar facilities needed in the city’s older neighborhoods, increase the size of the police force and meet other city operating expenses. The council also is awaiting the results of another study being conducted by the San Diego Assn. of Governments on the cost of regional transportation needs.

A commission headed by former Assistant City Manager John Fowler is scheduled to report on the local needs next month.

The $244 million is scheduled to pay for so-called “citywide facilities,” such as a new central library, police and fire communications equipment, major parks and city equipment yards that serve residents regardless of where they live. The money would pay to keep service levels stable as the city grows from 1.1 million to 1.38 million by 2010.

Even so, the money would be far less than the $503.1 million needed for all facilities citywide, a sum that includes a new $91-million central library, $168 million for Mission Bay and Balboa parks, and $58 million for a police and firefighter training facility.