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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/30/1997 Minutes - Redevelopment MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR AND DIAMOND BAR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY TOWN HALL MEETING SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Huff and RDA Chairman Werner called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. in the South Pointe Elementary School Multi -Purpose Room, 20671 Larkstone Dr., Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: AGENCY MEMBERS PRESENT: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Agency Member Ansari. Council Members Ansari, Harmony, Werner, and Mayor Pro Tem Herrera, Mayor Huff. Agency Members Ansari, Harmony, Herrera, Vice Chairman Huff and Chairman Werner. Also present were: Terrence L. Belanger, City Manager; James DeStefano, Deputy City Manager, Frank Usher, Deputy City Manager; and City Clerk Lynda Burgess. 2. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION: Mayor Huff and Chairman Werner welcomed attendees. 3. OVERVIEW OF REDEVELOPMENT: ED/Belanger stated this is the second in a series of five City Council Town Hall meetings on the subject of redevelopment. Tentative dates have been set for future meetings to be held on October 25, November 22, and December 20, 1997 at the following locations: Diamond Point Club House, Heritage Park Community Center and South Coast Air Quality Management District Auditorium. ED/Belanger explained that on July 15, 1997, Council adopted, by Ordinance No. 3(97), the Redevelopment Plan for the D.B. Revitalization Area and the Redevelopment Agency adopted R-97-15, a Resolution of the D.B. Redevelopment Agency declaring its policy to accomplish redevelopment without eminent domain. Copies of these documents are available to the public at City Hall and at Redevelopment Agency Town Hall Meetings. The Redevelopment Project Area is comprised of all of the commercial and industrial areas together with the major road thoroughfares which connect them within the City of D.B. 89% of the City's total property valuation lies outside of the Project Area. He defined redevelopment as a process that makes available financial resources to eliminate or alleviate economical and physical blight. These financial resources are derived by receiving a greater percentage of incremental increases in property taxes collected from property owners within a project area. He explained the process using graphs to show the current allocation of property tax monies. He further explained that these calculations do not affect the City's residential property which lie outside the Project Area. Martha Bruske stated that the process would be better explained if the speaker referred to business property tax and residential property tax. SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 PAGE 2 TOWN HALL MEETING ED/Belanger stated that any commercial or industrial zoned businesses lying within th project area are subject to the tax calculations. Residential businesses (hom occupations) are not within the project area and are not affected by the tax calculations. Residential property taxes that property owners currently pay will continue to be allocated on precisely the same basis they are calculated today. Regarding Assembly Bill (AB) 1290, he explained that the Redevelopment Project Area Plan may only incur debt within its first 25. The Plan allows a 30 -year period from its inception to set in motion the activities that are intended to meet the goals and objectives of the Plan. The Plan has 45 years to retire the debt incurred within the first 20 years of the Plan. In response to Chair/Werner, ED/Belanger explained that AB 1290 prohibits pirating of businesses from one community to another community. Two types of such businesses are auto dealerships malls and "big box" retail shopping malls. Jerry Hamilton asked if a property such as K -Mart could be redeveloped since it already exists. ED/Belanger responded that redevelopment funds can be used to redevelop existing properties. AM/Harmony asked if redevelopment funds could be used to rehab existing properties and create an auto mall. ED/Belanger responded that redevelopment funds can be used to rehab existing urba properties. However, AB 1290 clearly states that auto malls are not allowed under any circumstances. AM/Ansari asked what kinds of activities are allowed under housing set aside rules. ED/Belanger responded that a variety of activities fall under the umbrella of housing set aside rules: Housing assistance, rehabilitation loans for private property owners, etc and explained low- and moderate- income housing. In response to Jerry Hamilton, ED/Belanger explained that it is more likely that the type of low- and moderate- income housing in D.B. would be in the area of senior housing. In response to AM/Harmony, ED/Belanger stated that the Redevelopment Agency has not yet defined the Project Area allocation of resources. Generally speaking, the only cities that have separate Agency Member boards of directors are the larger California cities that have land use objectives. In response to Jerry Hamilton, ED/Belanger responded that redevelopment funds may be used for redevelopment of existing commercial and industrial properties. Redevelopment monies may not be used for construction on vacant land. Don Schad asked if D.B. voters should be able to determine who serves on the Agency Board. SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 PAGE 3 TOWN HALL MEETING ED/Belanger reiterated that the voters elect Council Members who in turn serve as Agency Board Members. In response to AM/Harmony and Jerry Hamilton, ED/Belanger explained that the golf course is not included in the Redevelopment Project Area. The City's General Plan designates the facility as "Golf Course" and riot as industrial or commercial use. Responding to AM/Harmony, ED/Belanger indicated that it would take approximately one year to amend the Redevelopment Project Area. M/Huff stated that the exclusion of the golf course property from the project area is a reflection of the community's desires. A Project Area Committee must be comprised of members of the community residing within the project area. AM/Harmony asked what kind of citizen involvement took place in the creation of the Redevelopment Project Area Plan. ED/Belanger explained that 15 to 20 public City Council and Planning Commission meetings were held to discuss redevelopment prior to. Council's Adoption of the Redevelopment Project Area. Martha Bruske asked Council candidates to explain how redevelopment benefits the citizens of D.B. ED/Belanger explained that all versions of the City's proposed General Plans contained redevelopment as an objective. The City could not engage in redevelopment unless it is a provision of the adopted General Plan. AM/Harmony asked if the General Plan that was adopted in 1995 was subjected to a public vote. Al Perez asked ED/Belanger to cite negative impacts of redevelopment ED/Belanger responded that the impacts of redevelopment depend upon decision makers such as city council members, consultants, and city staff. For all negative examples of poorly run redevelopment agencies, there are numerous examples of positive results of well run redevelopment agencies. ED/Belanger explained to AM/Harmony that two requests by property owners to have their properties removed from the Redevelopment Project Area were denied by Council due to their non -conforming uses. Martha Bruske again asked how redevelopment will benefit the residents and property owners of this community and how the city will prevent urbanization. ED/Belanger reiterated that no Redevelopment Project Area Plan is capable of being SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 PAGE 4 TOWN HALL MEETING approved unless it is consistent with and conforms to the City's General Pla Undeveloped areas are included within the Project Area Plan consistent with the City General Plan. Land uses are not determined by the Redevelopment Agency. Land uses for undeveloped properties are determined by the City Council. Don Schad asked why Sandstone Canyon is considered blighted and the SunCal property is not considered blighted. ED/Belanger stated that the consultant and attorney recommended that, based upon a proposed development project, Sandstone Canyon was determined to be blighted with respect to drainage problems. When L.A. County approved the development, they undersized the inlet. The new developer has had to correct the drainage structure. In order to provide protection, the area was included. Debby O'Connor asked if all redevelopment projects will be subject to the public hearing process. ED/Belanger indicated that rehabilitation projects for existing properties and redevelopment projects for new development to begin is a land use application and is subject to the requirements of the City's General Plan, Development Code and CEQA. Redevelopment does not supplant land use planning. Martha Bruske expressed concern about the political fight over redevelopment and felt tl- when we became a city, redevelopment was the plan to supplement the City's coffers wh the subventions ceased. She asked about the City's plan to buffer existing residential neighborhoods. She believed the City's businesses were allowed to deteriorate in order to justify redevelopment. She asked the City to find out how many home businesses exist in the City. Further, she expressed concern that the redevelopment issue is not being voted upon by the citizens and felt that citizens have a right to vote on what occurs in their city. Don Schad said he was astonished about the lack of participation at this meeting and suggested that the City provide notice of all public meetings to every citizen. He asked "how long is the moratorium?" Allen Wilson believed redevelopment will be a good step toward a long term solution to the city's economic considerations. Council is elected by the people and is responsible to the voters. If the citizens don't like Council's actions, Council Members can be voted out of office. He suggested the City move forward in a positive manner. Joe Ruzicka stated that if the citizens want more of their tax dollars utilized within the city, economic revitalization through redevelopment will provide the vehicle. Redevelopment law has been changed drastically by AB 1290 to insure protection for taxpayers. Redevelopment is a tool the City can utilize with confidence, determination a watchfulness, to help make the City financially stable. The City has to have the coura and foresight to proceed. SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 PAGE 5 TOWN HALL MEETING Clyde Hennessee believed that redevelopment is primarily for the benefit of the City's business community and that business owners have good intentions toward the City. He further believed that Redevelopment will benefit the community but he would like for it to be more difficult to change the rules. 4. WRAP UP AND NEXT MEETING PLAN: AM/Harmony said he heard that some merchants felt that redevelopment is causing their rents to be increased. He indicated that, as a result of redevelopment, developers could receive cheap money, fix up property and sell it at a huge profit to the detriment of merchants. He believed the city will see a lot of small businesses close. AM/Herrera said she has discussed redevelopment with numerous citizens who wish to leave redevelopment decisions to their elected officials. Most of the public is satisfied with Council's direction. Redevelopment will benefit citizens because it will bring in more sales tax revenue to support retail and City programs, etc. Redevelopment will replace possible residential property tax increases. AM/Ansari said she is concerned about the negativity being spread around the community. The City will lose almost $2 million in subventions which a cut in City expenses will not replace. Council is mandated by the General Plan and needs to be visionary and proactive and focus on business retention and enticing new businesses to relocate to the City. VC/Huff cited numerous methods for citizens to voice their opinions and be heard. He pointed out that only two D.B. residences are included within the Project Area due to their non -conforming status - they are included in commercially- or industrially- zoned properties. Residential properties will not be affected by changes in taxes. Redevelopment does not replace the City's General Plan - it supplements the General Plan and is good for D.B. It will support economic redevelopment without affecting the residential taxpayers. Chair/Werner again pointed out that redevelopment can be used to buffer neighborhoods by providing sound walls along freeways, mitigate traffic gridlock, create a central "downtown" type of area, etc. He reiterated his belief in redevelopment and its benefits to the City. Chair/Werner thanked the Town Hall Meeting participants. 5. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to conduct, Mayor Huff and Redevelopment Agency Chairman Werner adjourned the meeting at 9:28 p.m. SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 PAGE 6 TOWN HALL MEETING _ �._�.._... LY DA BURGESS,, 'qty Clerk ATTEST: IV yor Dia nd Ba Redevelopment Agency 'r an Gary Werner