Budget Impact on Valley Unclear

The budget unveiled Monday by Mayor Richard Riordan proposes a new fire station, more money for the police training center in Granada Hills and two new libraries for the San Fernando Valley, among other expenditures.

But the document does not specify the overall Valley impact of the 1998-99 budget, making it difficult for observers, including some City Council members, to react.

Deane Leavenworth, the mayor’s press deputy, said that in the past, expenditures for the Valley were singled out, but not this time.

“He’s the mayor of the whole city, so his objective is to be sure the money he provides benefits the whole city,” Leavenworth said.

At a morning news conference, Riordan cited several items targeted for the Valley, including a new firehouse in the northeast Valley, additional street sweeping and repairs, and funding to build or rebuild at least 11 Valley-based city libraries.

“I think we have done a very good job for the Valley,” Riordan said. “I think they will do much better staying with the city than splitting off.”

But most council staff members said they hadn’t had enough time to review the budget sufficiently to comment on its impact for the Valley.

“We have just received the budget and have just begun the review process,” said Karen Constine, Councilwoman Laura Chick’s chief of staff.

A representative of Councilman Joel Wachs’ office said the councilman also is reviewing the document and is interested not only in what is included in the budget but also what has been left out.

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Councilman Richard Alarcon said his initial reaction to the proposed budget was favorable.

“It’s a good start for discussion’s sake,” he said.

Of special interest, he said, was the proposed $1.1-million northeast Valley fire station, which was in Riordan’s budget last year.

“In terms of the Fire Department, one of the weakest service areas is in the community of Arleta,” he said. “It has one of the busiest stations, and the greatest amount of coverage area.”

Alarcon said three sites in the northeast Valley are being considered.

Councilman Mike Feuer also applauded the additional funding for the Fire Department.

“I’m pleased that the budget recognizes the importance of the Fire Department in public safety,” said Feuer, a member of the council’s public safety committee. “It reflects a recognition that the department has been underfunded in the past.”

Wachs said recent deaths of firefighters on the job underscore the need to pay more attention to the department.

“The city’s not going to let the Fire Department down,” he said. “Their needs have been highlighted in a most dramatic way.”

While most of the funds would be at the mercy of negotiations with the council, some of the funding for libraries is contingent upon a bond issue.

For the second straight year, the budget calls for a bond measure to pay for new libraries and improvements.

The $150 million in bonds, which would have to be approved by a two-thirds majority, would pay to refurbish or build 32 libraries citywide, including 11 in the Valley.

Included in the list are new branches in Canoga Park and Chatsworth. The bonds also would pay for new buildings on existing sites in Encino/Tarzana, Northridge, Pacoima, Sun Valley, Sylmar and Woodland Hills. They also would be used to renovate libraries in North Hollywood, Pacoima and Sherman Oaks.