Key Measures on Local Cities’ Ballots

Voters in several Los Angeles County cities will cast ballots Tuesday on a number of measures, covering such topics as term limits, development and new taxes:

Redondo Beach

The giant smokestacks that dominate the South Bay city’s skyline are again at the center of a debate over development of the waterfront.

Backers of a proposed residential and commercial complex argue that the project could provide the owners of the aging power plant, which sits at the water’s edge, the financial incentive to vacate the site.

But opponents prefer that the land be used for a park.

Voters will be asked to weigh in next week on what to do with a prime 76-acre tract -- of which 51 acres are occupied by the power plant -- next to the city’s marina.

The tract is bounded by Herondo Street, Catalina Avenue, Harbor Drive and Beryl Street.

An advisory measure, Proposition J, asks voters to choose between two proposals. The first would transform the land into Heart Park, which would include wetlands, walking trails, athletic fields and an amphitheater.

The second calls for development of Village Park, a mixed-use project with 350 homes, a 400-room hotel, 100,000 square feet of commercial space, a 16-acre park, a lake and canals.

Concerns over traffic, density, overall costs and the benefits of each proposal have fueled debate among voters and City Council candidates.

Heart Park’s cost is estimated at more than $345 million, which doesn’t include operating expenses, according to a city-commissioned analysis by a Newport Beach consultant.

But supporters believe the project is more likely to cost $35 million to $200 million, with most of the money coming from federal, state and private sources, said Bill Brand, a council candidate who is spearheading the preservation effort.

Brand said the idea was to return the land to its natural state and open up more parkland. “This would help serve an entire community,” he said.

Proponents of the $50-million Village Park project say their proposal is a more profitable alternative that would generate an estimated $774,000 a year in additional tax revenue for the city. They also dismiss claims that the project would increase traffic in the area by 11,500 daily car trips.

“Parks don’t generate revenue,” said Councilman Chris Cagle, who is seeking reelection. The Village Park concept, “using the market as the engine behind it, is the way to go.”

Moreover, Village Park supporters said the project could persuade the owner of the AES power plant to sell the property or possibly partner with the developer. The plant has a contract with Williams Co., a fuel supplier, that runs through 2013.

Also on the ballot is Measure G, which asks voters to approve an increase in the local hotel tax from 10% to 12%. The money would help fund public safety, parks and street maintenance.

La Verne

Voters will be asked to approve an increase in a utility tax to help plug a $1.6-million budget shortfall.

Measure S calls for boosting a surcharge on phone, electricity and natural gas usage for most households from 4% to 6%.

The surcharge for senior housing and mobile-home units would increase from 2% to 3%. Low-income residents would continue to be exempted.

The increase would cost the average household an additional $6 to $7 a month and generate an estimated $900,000 in annual revenue. The utility tax helps pay for park and street maintenance and police and fire services.

“We’re not asking for any growth -- just to maintain what we have,” said Mayor Jon Blickenstaff.

But opponents say the proposed tax increase would be unfair because it would single out certain residents for special consideration.

“We have plenty of people that are barely getting by and live in a house or an apartment,” Mayor Pro Tem Steven Johnson said. “To create this separate group because you live in a mobile home or senior center is unfair.”

Manhattan Beach

Measure A would repeal a 1996 law that limits a City Council member to two consecutive terms. The law requires that an official be out of office two years before running again.

“It has never made sense to me,” said Mayor Linda Wilson. “Nobody wants you to have experience when you get in office, then when you get [experience], they want you out.”

Councilman Steve Napolitano said that he initially supported the term-limit initiative but that it didn’t live up to its promise. He said the law did not cure “bad politics.”

“The reality is that it takes away the choice of the people,” Napolitano said. “It needlessly gets rid of the good as well as the bad.”

Don McPherson, a resident who is spearheading the campaign against Measure A, said city officials were pushing the ballot item.

“I want the voters of the city to send a message to the City Council,” he said. “If they are going to do something like this, they must have a very good reason.”

South Gate

City officials have placed a utility tax measure on the ballot in hopes that it would help reduce a $6-million deficit.

If approved by a majority of voters, Measure S would levy a 5% tax on the total amount each household and business paid for electricity, natural gas and telephone service. A surcharge on water bills would be based on usage.

Officials said the proposed levy was necessary to help the city return to financial stability.

The tax, which would expire in 2010, would generate about $2.6 million a year in additional revenue.

“We are on the verge of bankruptcy,” said Mayor Henry Gonzalez, adding that if the measure did not pass, the city might have to cut services such as tree trimming and pot-hole filling.

Money from the tax could be used to fund police services, public works projects, library services and parks and recreation programs, officials said.

Opponents argue that residents of the working-class community cannot afford a utility tax.

They said the city needed to do more to reduce spending.

South Pasadena

Measure L would extend a parcel tax until 2011 to finance operations of the city’s library.

Property owners currently pay $24 to $36 a year, depending on the size of their lot. The amount of the tax, originally approved by voters in 1994, would remain the same.

City librarian Stephanie Beverage said the levy was expected to generate about $225,000 this year. The library’s annual budget is $1.3 million.

Measure L requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

If it fails, Beverage said, the library -- now open seven days a week -- could be forced to cut hours and services.

A group of volunteers is spearheading a direct-mail campaign to promote Measure L, and Beverage said she was “cautiously optimistic” about its passage.

“The climate in California when it comes to raising taxes right now isn’t very good,” she said.

Times staff writers Susana Enriquez, Nicholas Shields and Claudia Zequeira contributed to this report.