City Council approves placing public-safety bond on March ballot after adding oversight and funding amendments

The Los Angeles City Council voted on Nov. 13 to place a public-safety bond measure before voters in March, adopting several amendments that increase funding for police facilities and require expanded citizen representation on bond oversight panels.

Council members said the measure responds to facility shortfalls identified in department studies and accelerated public-safety needs since Sept. 11. The council discussed replacing four police stations, expanding bomb-squad capacity, rebuilding the city’s emergency operations/dispatch capabilities and a capital-improvements fund for ongoing station upgrades.

The proposal was presented to the council as a $525 million package. Councilmembers later approved an amendment (32b) to add $50 million for capital costs at existing police facilities and $25 million for ongoing capital improvements; that amendment was adopted by roll call. Supporters said the additions would allow the measure to address…