Pool plans among 6 in limbo

Construction of Costa Mesa High School’s new pool, which had been estimated to begin in 2009, has been delayed until possibly 2010, Newport-Mesa officials said.

The pool is one of 10 Newport-Mesa school district projects funded by Measure F, a $282 million bond measure to renovate district schools that voters approved in 2006.

The slumping housing market has slowed the district’s ability to sell the bonds, officials said.

When bonds are sold, Newport-Mesa taxpayers pay them off through taxes.

The bond mandates the bond’s tax cannot exceed a specific dollar amount per $100,000 of assessed property value, Deputy Supt. Paul Reed said.

If the district were to sell more bonds, taxes would rise above the cap. The district has no options until higher property values allow for more taxes to pay for more bonds, Reed said.

That explanation doesn’t suffice for Tom Marty, president of the Costa Mesa Aquatics Boosters.

“We’ve done our homework, and we understand financial issues and that the bonds got put off and the bonds got delayed because of economy issues,” Marty said. “It’s just, come on folks: Give us a timetable on what you’re going to do. It’s time to hold these people’s feet to the fire.”

The Costa Mesa pool is one of six district projects in construction limbo until more bonds are sold. The Costa Mesa High School Aquatics Center, performing arts building, the Costa Mesa Middle School enclave, Corona del Mar performing arts building, Corona del Mar Middle School enclave and all elementary school multipurpose rooms can complete planning and design only.

The first Measure F bonds sold completed projects at Newport Harbor and Estancia high schools, TeWinkle Middle School’s gym and the elementary school science rooms district-wide. Those projects were planned and designed earliest, officials said.

Many residents donated money to Costa Mesa United, a nonprofit established to fund projects at Costa Mesa and Estancia high schools. When Measure F passed, the organization’s mission changed, Costa Mesa United President Gordon Bowley said. The group has about $500,000, he said. Donations were no longer earmarked for the pools or stadium so donors had a choice, he said.

Donations could be diverted to the district or stay with Costa Mesa United, which promises to fund any extra “bells and whistles” for the Aquatics Center, Bowley said.

District officials said they have not received any money from Costa Mesa United.

“Nobody wanted their money diverted to the district. We weren’t really surprised by that. The district just passed a $282-million bond measure,” Bowley said. He said the group has spent little of the money so far, instead waiting to see what the new stadium and pool would need.

Marty said his family and likely many others were never contacted about where they’d want their money to go.

Bowley said people may have either thrown away the notices thinking it was a solicitation, or donated before 2001, when many donors’ contact information was lost.

Measure F’s approval also diverted a pledged $1 million from Costa Mesa to Costa Mesa United, City Manager Allan Roeder said. The full pledge is expected to be funded by next year’s budget, Roeder said. City officials have not determined what the money will be used for, he said.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.