Council Tentatively Backs Police, Fire Bond Measure

Alarmed that some Los Angeles police officers and firefighters are working in cramped, decrepit stations, the City Council on Wednesday tentatively approved placing a bond measure of up to $750-million for new public safety buildings on the April 13 ballot.

The council also tentatively approved a separate, $35-million bond measure to build an Environmental Science Center in Exposition Park, but postponed action on a $200-million tax measure for sidewalk improvements.

Recognizing that it will be difficult to win approval of two-thirds of voters, council members said they will try to refine the bond proposal to reduce its cost before it comes up for a final council vote on Jan. 8.

In endorsing a police and fire bond measure, council members said they believe public safety is the top priority for Los Angeles residents.

“That safety is jeopardized . . . by the facilities in which our police officers and firefighters work every day,” said Councilman Mike Feuer. “Our police stations are bursting at the seams.”

The council adopted a report that proposes replacement of four police stations, including the West Valley Station, and construction of two additional police stations, including a sixth station in the San Fernando Valley. The police package also includes replacement of the LAPD’s downtown headquarters building, Parker Center.

Proposals for the Fire Department include the replacement of 17 fire stations, including old firehouses in Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Northridge, Sun Valley and Studio City.

The Fire Department package also would replace the air operations center at Van Nuys Airport.

A $750-million bond measure will add about $30 annually to the property tax bill of a home valued at $160,000, officials said.

Councilman Nate Holden cast the lone vote against the police and fire bond measure, saying it was being rushed onto the ballot. Holden said voters were just asked last month to approve more than $1 billion in special tax measures, and rejected most of the new taxes.

“The taxpayers are going to say, ‘We’ve had enough,’ ” Holden predicted, threatening to campaign against the measure.

Holden also reminded his colleagues that the new bond measure includes a sixth police station for the Valley and a new station in the Wilshire District, both of which were promised but not delivered in a 1989 bond measure approved by voters.

“That means voters will have voted twice for those stations,” Holden said. “They never got them.”

Last month, voters rejected a $46-million bond measure to improve Exposition Park. Councilwoman Laura Chick, who opposed the last Exposition Park bond measure, said the pared-down proposal is acceptable because it focuses on building a new science learning center that can be used by children throughout the city.