San Gabriel Valley : CENTER APPROVED

Ignoring threats of a recall, the Duarte City Council has unanimously approved a $1.1-million teen center at a local park after city officials said an alternate site was not viable.

The city plans to build a 6,000-square-foot center for boxing, a computer lab and other activities on an acre at the southwest corner of Duarte Park. The center is expected to be completed by early 1997.

“We are going to make it look nice and make it appropriate for the neighborhood,” Councilman James Kirchner said. “I think most of the people will be happy.”

In recent weeks, park neighbors have protested what they see as the destruction of a local recreation area. Two weeks ago, opponents served notices of intent to recall on Kirchner and fellow council members Philip Reyes and Margaret Finlay. But City Atty. E. Clarke Moseley promptly rejected the notices because of technical errors.

Recall advocate James Silence said residents may now try to recall the entire council. The council had hoped to placate the opponents by moving the teen center to a school district property. But city officials told the council Tuesday that it would take up to three years to get state approval for such a move, and a grant to help build the center expires in June.