Pricey Park, Water Bonds Facing Scant Opposition

If California voters approve two massive environmental bond measures on the March 7 ballot, Orange County stands to get more than $360 million earmarked to improve local water quality and parklands.

Propositions 12 and 13 would provide about $4 billion for projects throughout the state--money environmentalists say is crucial to compensate for years of neglect.

“There has been an enormous infrastructure disinvestment in the last 15 years in California,” said David Beckman, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. “This is an opportunity to begin to level the balance sheet [and] fund desperately needed projects.”

Both propositions, which require simple majority approval, enjoy wide support from environmental groups, developers and others. Opponents include the state Libertarian Party.

A strong economy, scant formal opposition, growing awareness of the state’s environmental problems and an impending population boom all contribute to the propositions’ likelihood of success, said Mark Baldassare, a UC Irvine professor and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, a San Francisco-based nonpartisan research organization.

“There’s no question that a good economy helps people feel more comfortable about supporting bond measures at the state level,” he said. “Also, unlike local bonds . . . people don’t see a direct relationship between passing a statewide bond and increasing their taxes.”

Perhaps more important, surveys suggest voters are worried about the potential for a decline in the quality of life in California, Baldassare said. “The bonds for water and parks represent something concrete that people can do to help the state get ready for the future.”

Proposition 12, the largest park bonds issue in U.S. history, would provide $2.1 billion for the state parks system, urban parks, conservation, acquisition of wildlife habitat and open space, and protection of coastal areas, watersheds and wetlands.

Orange County beneficiaries, including the Discovery Science Center, the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and local governments, would share more than $48 million.

Proposition 13, the largest water bond in California history, is a $1.97-billion bond for water-quality improvements. Local projects include a Huntington Beach pollution study and flood control improvements.

Among the benefactors are agencies in the Santa Ana River watershed, which would receive $250 million for improvements, including a ground-water replenishment system. And local water quality would be improved by projects upstream in other counties.

Orange County also would be eligible for many competitive grants included in each proposition.

Supporters say the bonds are a relatively inexpensive way of financing projects that have long-term benefits.

“The millions of dollars that will come to Orange County are needed and can finally open up more parks here, including putting the finishing touches on the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park,” said Mary Fegraus, executive director of the Laguna Canyon Foundation.

The 5,215-acre wilderness park, with deep canyons of sycamores, oak groves, coastal sage scrub and natural grasses, would be able to add 170 acres if the park measure passes. Lack of county funding has kept visiting hours limited, and delayed construction of paved parking, restrooms and major trail improvements.

Local supporters of Proposition 12 say the money is crucial because park improvements and expansion projects were all but killed as budget cuts were imposed in the wake of the county’s 1994 bankruptcy. Despite outside donations from nonprofit groups, many critical projects have been on hold, such as installing sewer systems at Irvine and O’Neill regional parks, officials said.

Environmental bonds have a mixed history in California. Two park bonds failed in the last decade, but a 1996 water bond for $995 million won nearly two-thirds of the vote.

Baldassare said a state budget deficit in the early 1990s helped kill earlier bond measures. Currently, there is a $3-billion surplus in the state budget, a factor that will ease voter concern about repayment, he said.

Repaid over 25 years, Proposition 12 is expected to cost $3.6 billion and Proposition 13 is expected to cost $3.4 billion, according to the March ballot summary.

Libertarian Party state chairman Mark Hinkle said the group opposes the propositions on the basis of party philosophy and on purely economic concerns.

“We certainly don’t object to parks and things like that,” he said, “But when we have a large budget surplus, there’s no reason to go out and borrow funds that our grandkids basically will still be paying off.”

Supporters contend the measures make sense economically as well as environmentally.

“These are investments that really make sense,” said Beckman of the NRDC. “The fiscal consequences are all very manageable, especially in a booming economy.”

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PROP. 12--The Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Act

Prop. 12, the largest parks bond in American history, would provide $2.1 billion for the state parks system, urban parks, conservation, acquisition of wildlife habitat and open space, and protection of coastal areas, watersheds and wetlands.

Orange County and its cities stand to receive:

* $1.3 million for the Chino Hills Visitor Center (to be shared with Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties),

* $10 million for the Discovery Science Center, $12.5 million for the Laguna Coast,

* $13 million for the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and

* more than $48 million in per-capita allocations.

Competitive grants for playground equipment, archeological site protection, coastal trails and several other subjects are also available.

PROP. 13--The Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Act

Prop. 13, the largest water bond in California history, is a $1.97 billion bond.

Local projects include:

* $5 million for the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve,

* $4 million for a Huntington Beach pollution study,

* $22.5 million for flood control and

* $250 million for improvements to the Santa Ana River watershed, including a groundwater replenishment system. Though much of this money would be spent outside of Orange County, the river flows into the Pacific Ocean near Huntington State Beach, so upstream improvements will improve local water quality.

Orange County could also compete for Southern California funds earmarked for urban runoff, watershed protection, coastal pollution, water conservation and water recycling.