City Parks Bond Closer to Fall Ballot

The San Diego City Council on Monday took preliminary steps toward placing a $100-million open-space and parks bond issue on the November ballot. But, in a bow to the growing belief that California is entering a recession, it delayed consideration of a library bond issue until November, 1992.

Several council members indicated that this fall might be the wrong time to seek voter approval for several new taxes, given the nation’s growing economic malaise and the potentially explosive situation in the Middle East, which has already pushed up energy prices.

During this morning’s council meeting, members are scheduled to determine if a police bond issue and a garbage pickup and recycling fee should appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.

It was uncertain Monday if a majority on the council would support a bond issue that would allow the city to hire more uniformed police officers in order to improve response times to citizens’ calls for assistance.

Similarly, Mayor Maureen O’Connor and Councilman Bruce Henderson said they would oppose the garbage pickup fee for San Diego homeowners of $8.50 a month. Councilman Ron Roberts said he was undecided about the fee.

During a lengthy session Monday, the council voted to prepare an ordinance that would place the $100-million parks and open-space bond issue on the Nov. 6 ballot. The property tax, which requires a simple majority for approval, would add about $18 per $100,000 of assessed valuation for residential property owners, Roberts said.

“It seems to be a small price to pay for what we would get out of this,” Roberts said. “We should go forward here today.”

The council is expected to resume discussion of the bond at today’s meeting.

Councilwoman Judy McCarty, a strong proponent of both the trash pickup fee and the library, acknowledged Monday that November is the wrong time to seek voter approval of the library bond issue, if only because library proponents lack the time needed to prepare an effective campaign.

McCarty won unanimous council support to instead place an advisory measure on the upcoming ballot that would determine if the public supports a massive library overhaul by 1992.

“We do have more work on the bond issue before it’s ready to put before the people,” McCarty said. The advisory ballot would be designed to determine if the public is interested in building a new central library and refurbishing the branch system.