Delgadillo Asked to Review Police Bond

A San Fernando Valley business group asked city officials Tuesday to take another look at the legality of Proposition Q, the $600-million police bond issue that state officials have questioned.

The Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. supported the bond measure, which city officials said would provide critically needed improvements in fire and police services. Voters narrowly approved the measure earlier this month.

But VICA conditioned its support on a finding that the bond measure complied with state law requiring accountability, which state officials have concluded it does not.

In a March 8 opinion, the state legislative counsel said Proposition Q did not comply with the Truth in Bonding Act because it failed to limit the use of bond proceeds to the specific purposes of the measure, failed to establish a separate account where bond proceeds would be held and failed to require an annual report and audit.

VICA board members decided Tuesday to ask Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo to review the state opinion.

“Now that Prop. Q has passed, we would like police and fire stations to come on line as soon as possible, but we want to make sure the proposition complies with state law,” said Fred Gaines, chairman of the VICA board.

As of now, the city attorney’s office stands behind an earlier opinion upholding the bonds.

“We believe Prop. Q is in compliance of the Truth in Bonding Act,” said Mary McGuire, a spokeswoman for city attorney’s office.

“We have not received a copy of [the VICA request],” she said. “When we do, we’ll give it our full attention.”