$500-Million Water Bond Joins Ballot

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to put a $500-million water bond on the Nov. 2 ballot to clean up municipal rivers and lakes and keep pollution from flowing into the ocean.

City Council members said the bond is needed to meet federal Clean Water Act requirements, which include more than 60 mandates to reduce pollutants in the waterways that flow through the city and out to sea.

“Unfortunately, everything in our city is an impaired body of water,” said Councilman Eric Garcetti, who pushed the bond proposal.

The bond will appear on the same ballot as a proposed half-cent increase in the county sales tax, which the Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to put before county voters.

If approved by two-thirds of city voters, the bond would raise $250 million to clean rivers, lakes, beaches, bays and the ocean; $100 million to improve water quality and stop polluted runoff; $75 million for water conservation projects; and $75 million to clean and reuse storm water.

The bond would cost an owner of a $350,000 home about $56 a year for 20 years.

For years, the city fought the federal clean water mandates, often losing in court. Now officials are determined to comply with the act; but even if voters approve the $500-million bond, more money will be needed.

Reducing bacteria levels in Santa Monica Bay over the next 18 years, for example, is estimated to cost about $750 million.

Environmentalists hailed the vote.

“This means not only cleaner water,” said Tree People president Andy Lipkis, “but ... we hope green and healthy neighborhoods.”

But some urged city officials to make sure bond money would be spent only on cleaning up water, not on pet projects.

To ensure accountability, the measure would create a citizens oversight committee made up of water quality experts and local activists, and would require regular audits by the city controller’s office.