ROSSMOOR : Election to Be Held on Wall Maintenance

A special election will be held Nov. 8 to determine whether the Rossmoor Community Services District should take over the repair and maintenance of the Rossmoor perimeter wall, officials said.

Voters will also be asked if they are willing to pay an estimated $15 a year for 20 years in additional property taxes to create a fund to pay for the cost of maintaining the wall.

By a 3-2 vote, directors of the Rossmoor Community Services District board last week decided to toss the question of the wall to the voters after struggling with the issue for the past two years.

“We’re delighted,” said Shirley Bailey, president of the Rossmoor Homeowners Assn., which has been asking for the special election. “Our role now is to make sure everyone understands what their choices are.”

The dilemma posed by the 37-year-old brick wall is practical and emotional. Some residents of the unincorporated community argue that the 1 1/2-mile-long wall has historical value and must be preserved.

But since a 100-foot section of it collapsed during an earthquake in 1992, and other sections weakened by the quake are in danger of toppling down, the wall has also become a safety hazard.

The Community Services District, the county and city officials of Seal Beach and Los Alamitos have refused to accept responsibility for maintaining the wall.

But after an October survey showed a majority of the residents want to repair and maintain the wall, board directors agreed to put the issue on the ballot.

“There is sufficient public interest,” board director Margrit Kendrick said. “We don’t know how the (special) election will turn out, but we have to be responsive to the feelings in the community.”

Bill Sheldon, the district’s general manager, said the election would cost about $1,000 and will coincide with balloting for two seats on the Community Services District’s board of directors.

The terms of Kendrick and Joyce Bloom, who opposed the special election, will expire in November. Both said the fate of the wall is likely to be an election issue.

Bloom said it was wrong to spend money on a special election without residents mounting a petition drive to qualify a ballot initiative.

“In my opinion, it is ridiculous” to take over the repair and maintenance of the wall, Bloom said.

Director Jim Alexander also opposed holding the special election. Directors John Hunt and Linda Goodrich joined Kendrick in voting for approval.