Disputes between the mayor and city attorney could have the city waiting a little longer for needed infrastructure repairs.
Mayor Jerry Sanders’ proposed $108 million infrastructure plan, approved by City Council in late April, would get the city working on infrastructure repair the city needs.
But City Attorney Mike Aguirre wouldn’t sign off on the deal because he said he’s worried that the money won’t be “spent as advertised” and that a 12 percent interest rate after two years could put city assets in trouble.
Aguirre said his office is working to put a larger bond on the ballot in November that would do “eight times more than what they’re proposing to do.”
“The $100 million is to give the appearance that something is being done but not really do anything that’s substantive and substantial, and structure [financing] in a way so that it circumvents the public vote. The public has a right to participate in major financings,” Aguirre said.
Bill Harris, spokesman for the Mayor’s Office, said the city attorney’s refusal to sign the financing documents would delay projects the city needs.
“This is deferred maintenance “¦ this is really just making sure we can keep moving forward and keep fixing the things that previous administrations left unhandled,” Harris said.
The financing structure, Harris said, is temporary and meant to act as a stopgap measure for a short time, about two years, until the city can re-enter the public bond market and refinance. He added that every consulted municipal agency approved the deal.
The bond comes before the city council within a few weeks for a second hearing, though no date has been set, Harris said.
Although Sanders can shift funds within city accounts to pay for some projects slated this year, the bond goes nowhere until Aguirre signs it, Harris said.
“We don’t have $108 million lying around to shift into these projects. Getting these done is contingent on the financing the Mayor’s arranged,” Harris said.
The projects include more than 75 miles of street repairs throughout the city, some of them scheduled for this year, with the majority slated for fiscal year 2009.
The city plans to repair about 25 miles of roads in District 1.
As part of the proposal, the Western Division Police Station, 5215 Gaines St., should get a new parking lot and roof.
Storm drains at Torrey Pines Road and others in La Jolla are on the list of repairs slated for 2009, with about $3.8 million going to build a new lifeguard tower at La Jolla Shores, Harris said.
Point Loma would also see about $100,000 going toward the design of Fire Station 22. Other projects on the Peninsula include a new roof for the Ocean Beach Library, and a couple of storm drain repairs along with street repairs.
The Pacific Beach Library and other libraries around the city should see much-needed upgrades to the heating ventilation and air conditioning systems.
And about $1.4 million would fund improvements to the Mission Bay interceptor system, which sends storm water and drainage to the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment and disposal rather than directly into the bay.
Storm drain improvements are also scheduled for the 2500 block of Garnet Avenue, according to city documents.
But until Aguirre’s office and Sanders’ office agree on moving forward, some of the projects could be delayed into next year.
Aguirre said he wants to make sure the city follows the law.
“Our track record is that a lot of money has been raised that was promised to be spent on something and it wasn’t.” Aguirre said. “And I just don’t want to be an attorney for the city that goes along with another one of those deals.”