Measure Would Levy Trash Fee, Aid Police : Council: City decides to put the question on the ballot after all. Another ballot measure will seek to raise $170 million for libraries.

Reversing itself for the second time in less than six months, the San Diego City Council decided Monday to ask voters in November whether they are willing to pay for trash pickup in exchange for police protection.

The 5-2 vote is the latest turnaround over the politically sensitive question of charging trash fees to about 300,000 households, or about half the residences in the city. The service has been free since 1919. Charging residents will raise about $26 million a year.

Condominium dwellers, renters and commercial businesses pay a fee outright for trash pickup or through condo fees or rent and would not be affected by the vote.

In February, the council voted, 5 to 4, to put the measure on the June ballot. If approved, the proceeds--about $9 per month per homeowner--were to be used to pay for recycling and enhancing police, fire and library services. Two weeks later, following public pressure, the measure was taken off the ballot by a 5-4 vote.

On Monday, the council reversed itself once more, this time making it clearer where the money would be spent. Council member Ron Roberts insisted that voters be told that $26 million would go to the San Diego Police Department. The council has been unable to find enough money for more officers.

“People have to know what they’re voting for,” he said. “If you are going to impose a tax, you’ve got to say it’s going to the police.”

A two-thirds vote is required for the ballot measure to pass in November.

The council’s proposal Monday languished on a 3-3 vote, meaning it will have to be delayed for another week. But, after it was refashioned to include discount rates for the poor and elderly, and after the appearance of another council member who had not been present for the first vote, the council approved it, 5 to 2.

City attorneys will prepare precise language for the ballot measure. A final vote is expected next week.

If the trash fee-for-police ballot initiative is approved, it will join a second measure approved unanimously Monday. Council members, after lengthy debate, agreed, 6 to 0, to place a $170-million bond issue for libraries on the ballot.

If approved, about $93 million would go toward a regional library and $77 million for 21 branch libraries throughout San Diego. Paying off the debt would cost each homeowner about $25 for each $100,000 of assessed property value.

Like the trash ballot measure, the library issue requires a two-thirds vote.

The council scuttled a companion tax that would have raised $9.8 million for library furnishings, fixtures and equipment that started out as $2.50 per single-family home and slides upward, hitting $28.69 per home by 2002. Council members said the added fee was excessive.

A citizens Ballot Finance Committee recommended both library proposals and the trash initiative.

“I support the libraries,” said Judy McCarty, the council member most associated with library issues. “We need libraries. We all know the importance of education and the opportunities for learning. We know we have to provide that in our community if we are to survive as a civilized society.”

Mayor Maureen O’Connor, who is leading a movement to build a new library on Layne Field, was not present for the vote.

A third ballot measure will ask voters to change City Council elections so that they will coincide with statewide and national elections, including those for governor and President.

By a 6-2 vote, the council approved a plan to hold elections in districts 1, 3, 5 and 7, for seats now held by Abbe Wolfsheimer, John Hartley, Tom Behr and McCarty respectively, in 1993 for a three-year term, then proceed with normal four-year terms in 1996.

Elections would be held in districts 2, 4, 6 and 8, for seats now held by Roberts, George Stevens, Valerie Stallings and Bob Filner respectively, in 1995 for a three-year term and then in 1998 and thereafter for regular four-year terms.

The elections for mayor and city attorney are being held this year, already an even-numbered year, and will not be changed.

Backers of placing the measure on the ballot say that the council elections will benefit from the greater turnout for higher-profile offices. Opponents say the local elections will get lost among the larger contests.