HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05191992 - 1.63 . 61
TO: REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FROM: Phil Batchelor
Executive Director
DATE: May 19, 1992
SUBJECT: SB 1711 (Bergeson)
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
Adopt position opposing SB 1711 (Bergeson) and authorize the Chair to
execute. letters to the County's legislative delegation, to the Senate
Appropriations Committee and to the County Supervisor's Association
of California (CSAC) expressing said opposition.
FISCAL IMPACT
SB 1711 could be very damaging to the County Redevelopment Agency's
Tax Increment revenues. It could also be damaging to the Tax
Increment revenues of city redevelopment agencies. Therefore, the
County could be in a position of losing less revenue to city
redevelopment agencies.
BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
SB 1711 has two'- primary issues which significantly impact
redevelopment agencies. (1) SB. 1711 holds redevelopment agency funds
hostage if the community does not have a Housing Element in
substantial compliance with State Law; and (2) it continues to give
the Attorney General standing "for the purposes of challenging any
action taken by a redevelopment agency. "
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF .EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECOMMEND ON OF NCY COMMI EE
APPROVE OTHER
a
SIGNATURE(S) :
ACTION OF AGENCY ON May 19, 1992 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X
IT IS BY :THE' BOARD DETERMINED to maintain a neutral watch position with respect to
SB 1711 (Bergson) and to request that this matter be brought back to the Board after
the appropriate position for this County is determined.
VOTE OF COMMISSIONERS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ON THE DATE SHOWN.
cc: Community Development
SRA24/jb/sbl7ll.bos ATTESTED May 19, 1992
d. PHIL BATCHELOR,
A ENCY SECRETARY
0
a
BY , DEPUTY
i
The problems with the bill in its current form are serious for
redevelopment agencies, . including the County. Redevelopment Agency.
The Housing Element has been inserted as THE standard for judging
and potentially controlling local governments activities. As this
County has found, the Housing Element process is not necessarily an
objective process. SB 1711 as written, would require Housing
Elements to be in "substantial compliance" with the State Housing
Element Law which would include approval by State Housing and
Community Development, to be able to collect property tax revenues
except to the extent needed to pay bonded indebt-edness. This
County has among the more comprehensive set of housing programs and
implementation measures and has a policy document that staff views
as being very progressive and in compliance with State law.
Nonetheless, the State Department of Housing and Community
Development has yet to approve the Element as being "in substantial
compliance. " This reflects the lack of objectivity in that
process. At the present time, most of the revenues that the Agency
receives are not used to service bonded indebtedness.
The provision giving the Attorney General standing to challenge any
decision of a redevelopment agency is clearly an intent on the part
of the State to oversee local decisions of all kinds. The
California Redevelopment Association proposed alternative language
to limit the standing of the Attorney General to the plan adoption
process in matters where a State interest -is involved. That
language was rejected.
The County Supervisors Association of California (CSAC) has come
out in support of the bill. CSAC is working at cross purposes with
the redevelopment agencies. Given an ever increasing number of
counties, including Contra Costa County, are using the rede-
velopment 'process- to solve problems in blighted, unincorporated
areas, it is timely for CSAC to evaluate its own standing
opposition to redevelopment.