LOCAL ELECTIONS / SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO BOND MEASURE : ‘Central Park’ Financing Approved

Voters in this historic South County city handily passed a ballot measure allowing sale of $21 million in bonds to finance construction of a “Central Park,” even though they now face higher property taxes.

“The message here is that people will absolutely vote yes on something that they believe is in the public’s interest,” said Mayor Gary L. Hausdorfer, who supported Measure D.

Members of San Juan Citizens to Save Open Space (SOS) said the victory showed that residents are willing to preserve open space for parks.

“I’m absolutely elated,” said SOS chairwoman Marlene Draper. “As long as people can touch an item, can feel and see the real value of it to them and their future, then they are willing” to pay for it.

City officials late last year proposed the $21-million bond measure as a way to purchase 120 acres of agricultural preserve north of the mission and 20 acres along Del Obispo Street to create two city parks.

The larger park in the northwest section of the city was planned to include horse and bike trails, a community center, playing fields and picnic areas.

Measure D proponents and city officials warned that a handful of developers have been ready to turn the orange groves and strawberry patches into office complexes, shopping centers and houses.

Over the course of the campaign, Measure D supporters remained optimistic over passage of the bond measure, even though it contained a provision to raise property taxes. The bond will be retired after 23 years.

Hausdorfer said that on Monday city officials will announce a timetable for the formation of a citizens’ committee to oversee the sale of the bonds and the overall development of the parks.

The campaign did not heat up until two weeks ago when a company, identified only as S&L; Surveyors, began calling local residents in what Measure D supporters said was an effort to sway voters against the bond.

SOS leaders, who were unable to trace the company or its sponsor, last week asked the district attorney’s office to investigate.

Then, on Monday, Registrar of Voters Donald F. Tanney asked the district attorney’s office to investigate the SOS group for a last-minute mailer that was sent out to all households in the city late last week.

Tanney took issue with a statement at the end of the pro-Measure D mailer, which said, “This accurate information has been provided to you by the Orange County Registrar of Voters and Citizens to Save Open Space.”

Draper said she regrets that the statement was printed. She called it a “typographical error,” adding that the statement was meant to say that information in the sample ballot had been mailed by the registrar’s office earlier in the campaign.

Times correspondent Len Hall contributed to this report.