For the first time since he took control of Le Parc homeowner dues and assessments, Jeffrey Becker has begun to pay for utilities in imminent danger of being shut off, according to attorneys and homeowners association officials

About 1,000 residents have for months feared losing their outdoor lights, water heaters, electric garage doors, natural gas and trash services because of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills. Many have contributed privately to put off the day service providers simply decide they've had enough.

"From my understanding, Becker will do everything he can to bring all these bills up to date by the first of the month," said Ferenc Gutai, president of the Le Parc Community Association, the current organization, on Thursday. "I think it's a positive sign, regardless of what happens with the entire judgment problem."

Becker was unavailable for comment Thursday.

The Becker Group of Ventura has collected money from Le Parc homeowners to pay down a $7 million judgment to ZMCorp. against their homeowners association for breach of contract and defamation resulting from earthquake repairs in 1994. After the judgment, the homeowners disbanded their association and formed another.

The contractor's attorney said they always intended to pay the bills.

"When we set up the receiver we set up a budget to pay the basic utilities and keep the place alive," said Glenn Campbell, who represents ZM Corp. in a case mired in numerous claims and appeals.

"Le Parc has been the one who shunned that -- this has been one large, self-inflicted wound because they didn't want to take responsibility for the judgment,"he said. "We're trying to keep the lights on."

Homeowners still owe $44,000 to the city for unpaid water bills. City officials say they are working to collect the money and won't turn the Le Parc spigot off anytime soon.

Formal mediation will continue next month to negotiate a settlement among ZM Corp., Le Parc homeowners associations, Farmers Insurance Group and California Casualty Insurance Co.

"The mediation has been ongoing but difficult," said Jim Lingl, an attorney for the Le Parc Homeowners Association, the name of the former group. This week, Lingl appealed a judge's ruling that Becker could collect the Le Parc judgment without maintaining the complex.