YORBA LINDA : Council Unreceptive to Child-Care Study

A majority of City Council members once again expressed opposition to funding a study of child-care needs in the area, making it more doubtful yet that they will vote to chip in $10,000 when the proposal comes up for a formal vote in October.

The Yorba Linda/Placentia Child Care Task Force asked council members Thursday to finance a share of the $28,000 study, which would identify what types of child care residents use, need and can afford. Supporters also told council members that the professional study is necessary to get federal funding, grants and private donations for child care, and would help set up loan programs and workshops.

“A city that already supplies many services for its residents should consider being supportive in an area of great need for young families,” Connie Haddad, chairwoman of the Yorba Linda/Placentia Child Care Task Force, told council members.

If the Yorba Linda City Council approves the funding, the study would begin immediately. The Placentia City Council has pledged $10,000, and the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District will chip in the remaining $8,000.

“We are not suggesting that old values be abandoned, only that times change and we must change to meet the times,” said Dave Baker, who helped lead the city’s incorporation drive in the late 1960s.

But just as they had when the proposal was brought before them earlier this year, several council members said they were skeptical of what the study would accomplish, and feared that it would lead to the city bearing the cost of child care.

“It’s a job for the private sector,” said Councilman Gene Wisner. “I don’t feel this city should get involved in any social programs or any part of social programs whatsoever. . . . I am upset with the concept of a single-income family’s tax dollars being spent on double-income families.”

But Councilman Irwin M. Fried noted that the council has supported other studies on the need for social programs, including ones on teen-agers and even horse owners, and that those studies have not led to the city bearing the cost of new programs.

In a straw vote, only Fried and Councilman Henry W. Wedaa supported the study. Even so, council members voted to place it on the Oct. 1 agenda for a public hearing and formal vote.

At that time, Mayor Mark Schwing said, he could support the study if he had evidence that private sources, such as businesses, parents and day-care providers, were willing to chip in money for the study.