Sport Center’s Future in Doubt : Recreation: The Redondo Beach City Council rejects bids for the multimillion-dollar pavilion.

Without examining a single proposal, the Redondo Beach City Council rejected four contractors’ bids for the planned multimillion-dollar sports pavilion called Aviation Park, raising doubt about the project’s future.

Flaws in the bidding process led the council to refuse to hear the contractors’ scheduled presentations this week. But a May 14 City Council election, which will replace one of the project’s chief council proponents, could sharply alter the facility, the cost of which is estimated at $7 million.

Some City Council members have concerns about the annual costs to operate and maintain the center.

The board this week asked the contractors to rebid the contract, but gave no assurances that it will go ahead with the recreation complex as currently envisioned.

After lengthy debate, the council unanimously agreed to discuss the project’s scope at its April 2 meeting, and said it will set a public hearing as soon as possible to accept the new bid proposals.

But in interviews after the meeting, a majority of the board said that a state-of-the-art recreation center is unlikely to be built the way it was originally planned. The May 14 runoff election that will replace Councilman Ron Cawdrey “will definitely change the outcome of the project,” Councilwoman Barbara Doerr said. Cawdrey cannot run for reelection this year because of a two-term limit.

The council voted 3 to 2 in September to seek proposals for a center that would include two swimming pools, lockers and a new gymnasium.

However, council candidates Michael Herman and Joseph White said this week that they object to the plans. Instead, they support Doerr’s proposal for a more modest center, which might include a single pool, a basketball court and improvements to the existing gym.

The latest delay is yet another chapter in the city’s seven-year effort to build a large recreation center on the grounds of the long-defunct Aviation High School.

Longtime opponents of Aviation Park believe they might persuade the new council to kill even the $7 million plan, for which an October groundbreaking had been scheduled. “With the new council member, I think we might have a chance,” said Councilwoman Kay Horrell.

Although initial construction costs will be financed with bonds, tax increments and redevelopment funds, council members Horrell and Stevan Colin repeatedly criticized the project Tuesday night, saying it could cost the city more than $500,000 yearly just to operate and maintain the facility.

To defray those expenses, Horrell and Colin argued, the city might be forced to turn the complex into a commercial enterprise, which would invite thousands of Southern California sports enthusiasts into Redondo Beach and increase noise and traffic.

Because of those possibilities, the council also agreed to discuss on April 2 whether it should order a referendum to allow residents to vote on the final design proposal. “The people who have to foot the bill,” Horrell said, “should get to vote on it.”

The rejection of the bids and the indecision about the project angered builders. “Are you ready to build the park,” asked contractor David Miank, speaking for the other bidders, “or are you wasting our time?”

“Sorry,” Mayor Brad Parton responded. “That’s the risk you take with elected officials.”