764,536 / 76.30% Yes votes ...... 237,505 / 23.70% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Bond Proposition O. Clean Water, Ocean, River, Beach, Bay Storm Water Cleanup Measure General Obligation Bonds.

THE ISSUE:

Should the City issue $500 million in bonds for projects that clean up polluted storm water, and bacteria in the City's rivers, lakes, beaches and ocean?

THE SITUATION:

The Environmental Protection Agency, in enforcing the Federal Clean Water Act, requires the City to clean up pollution in its rivers, lakes, beaches and ocean to provide for cleaner and safer water. Currently, the City does not have the money to pay for these required cleanups. Approval of these bonds will provide funds for projects to remove trash, bacteria and storm-water pollution from the City's rivers, lakes, beaches and ocean; and reduce flooding and increase water conservation. Construction of these projects will improve the health and welfare of the public and environment.

THE PROPOSAL:

This measure will authorize $500 million in bonds for the purchase and/or improvement of property for projects that:

• Protect rivers, lakes, beaches and the ocean;

• Conserve and protect drinking water and other water sources;

• Reduce flooding and use neighborhood parks to decrease polluted runoff;

• Capture, clean up and reuse storm water.

The bonds will be paid for by property taxes. The average estimated tax increase on a $350,000 home will be $35.00 per year for 24 years.

The measure will be adopted if 2/3 of the voters approve it.

A YES VOTE MEANS:

You want the City to issue $500 million in bonds for projects that clean up polluted storm water, and bacteria in the City's rivers, lakes, beaches and ocean.

A NO VOTE MEANS:

You do not want the City to issue $500 million in bonds for projects that clean up polluted storm water, and bacteria in the City's rivers, lakes, beaches and ocean.

Federal mandates initiated in 1999 established that over 60 water quality regulations would be adopted over the subsequent 13 years. The regulations adopted require the City to implement a water quality work plan to:

• Remove Trash from the Los Angeles River and Ballona Creek. This will be done by using bond funds to pay for construction and installation of catch basin inserts/screens to capture and prevent trash from entering the Los Angeles River and Ballona Creek. Removal of trash from these waterways prevents trash from reaching urban lakes, beaches, bay and ultimately, the ocean.

• Reduce Bacteria and Water Toxics in Santa Monica Bay, Marina Del Rey, Harbor and Cabri//o Beach. Pending regulations will also require the City to reduce bacteria and water toxics from the Los Angeles River, Ballona Creek and urban lakes. One way the City will meet these regulations is by using bond funds to install storm water/runoff diversion structures that redirect flows from the streets to the sewer system for cleansing and treatment based on available sewer capacity.

• Construction of, and purchase of land for, basins and structures throughout the City to capture, retain and treat polluted storm water and to beneficially re-use the water for irrigation at open space and parks.

• Development of greenbelt areas to help treat and conserve storm water which, along with filtering elements, will reduce water toxics that enter the groundwater, Los Angeles River, Ballona Creek and ocean.

• Development, and purchase, of land to create water-cleansing landscapes and parkways along and surrounding the Los Angeles River and Ballona Creek to reduce storm water pollution and bacteria that wash into these waterways, through natural filtration and treatment. These parkways provide multiple benefits such as controlling storm water runoff and flooding through increasing percolation areas and by creating open space for habitat preservation and recreation.

Costs for this program were compiled by the City's Bureau of Sanitation based on studies, estimates and recently completed City and regional construction projects, and comparable projects in other jurisdictions.

The City will by ordinance institute a comprehensive set of controls and a strong management structure, including an Administrative Oversight Committee and a Citizens Oversight Advisory Committee, to ensure that all projects are delivered on time, and on budget.

Failure to approve this measure will postpone the City's ability to comply with Federal and State water quality regulations, exposing the City and taxpayers to potential fines and litigation, particularly from the Federal and State governments, and continuing the dangers of pollution and loss of valuable water.

The measure will become effective only if 2/3 of the voters approve it.

Contact FOR Measure O:

YES on Proposition O

City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program

Daily Breeze

• Voters will decide on cleaning up L.A.'s urban waterways (10/28/04)

• Will Measure O remake Los Angeles? Only if voters know it exists (10/22-28/04)

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We Can't Walt

In Los Angeles, storm water runoff carries tons of trash and dangerous bacteria through our neighborhoods into our rivers, lakes, bay and ocean. This runoff contaminates everything downstream, threatening public health, contaminating fish and harming wildlife. In fact, more than 10,000 tons of trash-from cigarette butts to syringes-washes up on beaches each year, resulting in beach closures to protect public health.

YES on 0 Protects Public Health

Unless we pass Prop 0, dangerous pollutants and bacteria will continue flowing into our rivers and onto our beaches. That places us at risk for infectious and serious diseases.

YES on 0 Protects Clean Drinking Water

Prop 0 protects sources of drinking water from contamination by protecting groundwater quality I and increases water conservation.

YES on 0 Keeps Pollution out of the Ocean and off our Beaches Prop 0 will keep bacteria, toxic chemicals, and pollution out of the ocean and off LA beaches, reducing beach closures and protecting swimmers.

YES on 0 Benefits Everyone

This measure will benefit every neighborhood in Los Angeles by upgrading storm drain systems, eliminating flooding at key intersections, creating new community parks, and improving water quality.

Proposition 0 Has Strict Accountability, Financial Audits and Citizen's Oversight

All spending will be subject to independent financial audits, LA Controller's audit and reviewed by a Citizen's Oversight Committee.

Vote Yes on Proposition 0

Please join Mayor James Hahn. the entire City Council and a diverse coalition of business. conservation and public health organizations in supporting Proposition 0: the best way to ensure clean water for Los Angeles.

JAN PERRY
Chair, Environmental Quality and Waste Management Committee

GEORGE KIEFFER
Chairman, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

NOREEN McClendon
Executive Director for Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles

ED REYES
Chair, Los Angeles River Committee

JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU
President, Ocean Futures Society

STEVE POWELL
Lifeguard Paramedic, Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association

DOROTHY GREEN
Founding President, Heal the Bay

MARC J. laRIVIERE, M.D.
Infectious Diseases Specialist

RICHARD KATZ
Member, State Water Resources Control Board

ERIC GARCETTI
Councilmember, Budget and Finance Committee

(No arguments against Measure O were submitted)

River, Lakes, Beaches, Bays and Ocean Water Quality Protection Projects	$250,000,000
Water Conservation, Drinking Water and Source Protection Projects	$ 75,000,000
Flood Water Reduction, River and Neighborhood Parks That Prevent Polluted Runoff and Improve Water Quality Projects	$100,000,000
Storm Water Capture, Clean-Up and Re-Use Projects	$ 75,000,000
TOTAL	$500,000,000

Additional Provisions:

(1) A Citizens Oversight Advisory Committee with four (4) members appointed by the Mayor and five (5) by the President of the City Council will be established to monitor the Program, the projects, budgets and schedules and at least semi-annually to advise and report to the Mayor and City Council on the status of the Program, projects, budgets and schedules. At least two (2) appointments by the Mayor and three (3) by the President of the City Council shall be based upon the appointee's expertise and experience in clean water issues and one of the President's expert appointees shall be recommended by the Regional Water Quality Board. The other four (4) members shall be knowledgeable community representatives. An Administrative Oversight Committee, including a representative to be designated by the Board of Public Works, will be established by the City Council to oversee and direct the Program and the projects in order to comply with approved schedules and budgets.

(2) The City Council shall adopt criteria for the selection of individual projects for the above categories within 180 days of passage of the bond measure. The development and review of these criteria will be done in consultation with the Citizens Oversight Advisory Committee by the Administrative Oversight Committee. The City Council shall use the Integrated Resources Plan, the Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan and the Watershed/Water Management Plan as guidelines, to the extent possible, for the selection of projects. Both Committees will review project proposals to determine if they meet the adopted criteria and recommend to the City Council projects that meet the criteria by a time specified by City Council.

(3) Salaries for administrators not directly involved in the Program shall be ineligible.

(4) All bond funds shall be deposited into a special fund and can only be used for the purposes of the Program.

(5) The City Administrative Officer shall file an annual report with the City Council no later than January 1, 2005, and at least once a year thereafter that reports on the amount of funds collected and expended and on the status of the Projects. Projects will be audited periodically by the City Controller.