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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/23/1997 Minutes - Jt. Mtg. with Redevelopment AgencyCITY OF DIAMOND BAR AND DIAMOND BAR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JOINT TOWN HALL MEETING AUGUST 23,1997 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Pro Tem Herrera and Diamond Bar Redevelopment Agency Chairman Werner called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m, in the SCAQMD Auditorium, 21865 E. Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Herrera CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL: Council Members Ansari, Harmony, Werner, and Mayor Pro Tem Herrera. Mayor Huff was excused. REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ROLL CALL: Agency Members Ansari, Harmony, Herrera, and Chairman Werner. Vice Chairman Huff was excused. Also Present were: Terrence . Belanger, City Manager and Redevelopment Agency Executive Director and Lynda Burgess, City Clerk and Redevelopment Agency Secretary. CM/ED/Belanger stated that th Council Town Hall meetings on tI been set for future meetings to 22 and December 20, 1997, at th Heritage Park Community Cent then explained that redevelopr resources to eliminate or allevi resources are derived by rec( increases in property taxes coil Using handouts, charts and gra C/AM/Harmony asked if Council eminent domain out of the Red meeting would be the first in a series of 5 City e subject of redevelopment. Tentative dates have ie held on September 20, October 25, November following locations: Diamond Point Club House, r, South Point Middle School and SCAQMD. He ent is a process that makes available financial ite economic and physical blight. The financial iving a greater percentage of the incremental acted from property owners within a project area. ,hs, he explained the redevelopment process. I the Redevelopment Agency could have taken lopment Plan. CM/ED/Belanger indicated that three affirmative votes would be required to amend the Plan or to amend a Resolution. A Redevelopment Agency could commence without the provisions of eminent domain. The Plan could be amended by a 2/3 majority to add eminent domain back into the Plan. In response to C/AM/Ansari, CM/ED/Belanger explained that eminent domain is AUGUST 23, 1997 PAGE 2 TOWN HALL MTG, available only to a Redevelopment Agency within a Project Area for the first twelve years of the Plan. The current Plan may be amended to delete eminent domain. In response to C/AM/Harmony's queE center would alleviate blight, CM/ED/Bel if evidence is available to substantiate the finding.- project inding:project area does not necessarily have t and explained applicable redevelopme on regarding how building a community ,iger responded that findings can be found Every piece of property located within a have an aspect of "blight." He read from : law. In response to C/AM/Harmony's questio about whether cities could buy back their own bonds, CM/ED/Belanger responded that any city that buys its own bonds is assuming a risk just as any bond purchaser would assume risk. Over the life of the Project Area, the Agency's total ability o bond is limited to $60,000,000. Mrs. Grace MacBride, Willapa Ln., ask d where the Redevelopment Agency gets the money to pay back the bonds. CM/ED/Belanger stated that revenues to Redevelopment Agencies are generated from all of the properties within the project area which generate additional tax increment above the tax base for fiscal year 1996/1997 and subsequent years as a result of the statutory 2% multiplier, and through new development and modification to existing property, such as renovation or rehabilitation. Jerry Hamilton, 1429 Copper Mountain Dr., stated that he is a confused homeowner caught in the middle because there are special interest groups that want redevelopment and special interest groups that do not want redevelopment. He said he moved to D.B. because he wantad to live in a rural area. The City's traffic problems are out of sight, so he is happy with what is presently occurring. He does not see that redevelopment is beneficial to the residents. He asked what D.B. will get with a Redevelopment Agency and expressed concern that, as a result of redevelopment, D.B. will have a hospital, a community center and new shopping center which will clog the City's streets, He believed the Council and Redevelopment Agency will have a hard sell to the average homeowner -who need an explanation of what will happen. MPT/AM/Herrera responded to Mr. Hamil enough parcels of land available to build was more concerned with revitalizing the of her goals is to provide a Community C in doing anything that will increase traff traffic. ton that she did not believe D. B. has large shopping centers. She explained that she shopping centers that currently exist. One enter for D.B. and she was not interested c on City streets. Her goal is to eliminate C/AM/Ansari also explained to Mr. I Hamilton that she was interested in AUGUST 23, 1997 PAGE 3 TOWN HALL MTG. redevelopment as a revitalizatior spaces in the City. Some of tt Redevelopment is a tool that ca would otherwise be lost to D, B not looking to build new shoppi traffic flow at the existing cente tool and in attracting new business to the vacant businesses are decaying and difficult to reach. be used for these purposes with tax monies that and used in other areas of the State. The City is ig centers but to install signalization and improve C/AM/Harmony responded to MrI Hamilton that he believed residents get very little out of redevelopment because it will cut other governmental services such as fire protection that are critical to DJ3. C/Chair/Wemer responded to Mi major redevelopment effort is di that he would like the agency congestion in the City which he t redesigns. He further believec investor in a commercial develor Center traffic promotes major t indicated he would like to see a f generations to acquire property Hamilton that his major focus was to see that the ected toward public improvements. He indicated to resolve a major portion of the existing traffic Blieved can be accomplished through intersection that redevelopment can assist a developer or an vent. He pointed out that the Gateway Corporate affic congestion with its current occupancy. He -st time buyer assistance program to enable future in the City. CM/ED/Belanger responded to Mr. Hamilton that the Redevelopment Plan indicates that it is not a specific plan. The current plan is a document which sets forth the timeline for planning --a significant portion of which is dedicated to making specific plans for the activities that are permitted and anticipated within the Project Area Plan. With regard to what will occur and how it will benefit the homeowner and community, these matters are handled through planning that begins in the next phase of redevelopment. The lowest amount of increment will occur in the first several years of the project. Page C-9 of Section C of the Report to Council calls out a timeline. The next step n the process is to put together the specific pian which will include an analysis of how redevelopment benefits the project area and the goals that are set forth, as well as the benefits to the community. Wilbur Smith, 21630 Fairwind L Preliminary Report be placed in Section 7 which states the City ( bonds and, as a result, he is con bond. Further, he expressed coi not perform, it will still receive agencies will not be getting a should contain a statement t contributes to the improvement , suggested that the information available in the e current plan. He pointed out the disclaimer in )s not stand behind the Redevelopment Agency rned that the agency will not have a marketable ern that even if the Redevelopment Agency does < increment revenue and the other State taxing are of the increased revenue. He said the plan t says the Redevelopment Agency materially increase in the tax increment. C/AM/Harmony responded to Mr. Smith that if there is no debt, the County will not AUGUST 23, 1997 PAGE 4 TOWN HALL MTG. pay the tax increment to the Redevelopr through to the other agencies. He sa generate the type of increment that it c C/Chair/Werner agreed with Mr. S consideration to purchasing bonds. H( set the process in motion to proceed. C/AM/Ansari said that if the Redeve bonds will not be provided. Mike Goldenberg thanked ED/Belan presentation on the revitalization proc residents in the City can ask the citizens our economic community, place it on tl Redevelopment Plan is illegal. The c resources have to be spent on litigation i dollars be better spent by providing servi attorneys who do not reside in the City its parks and streets or develop a better I are citizens willing to let the County take the San Fernando Valley and why do v tax dollars be spent locally to provide si He said he wanted his property tax dol elected officials develop a plan and sp( C/AM/Harmony responded to Mr. Golder Assn. is not a party to the lawsuit actic passes illegal legislation and there is n and no further objection can be lode objections must be filed in court to mar C/Chair/Werner agreed with Mr. Goldei incorporation and felt that for similar rea locally, He noted that many of the attempting to hold up the redevel incorporation of the City. Bob Arceo, Senior Citizens Club, said would be built starting in July. Furth Citizens must go to City Hall for a copy o are disabled and cannot drive and they rr will be a watchdog committee to make ce asked what the agency will do regarding ent Agency. The increment will be passed J it is not clear to him that this agency will aims. that the agency should give careful c, the City has adopted a plan and has ment Agency appears to be a bad risk, )er for providing a clear and concise ram. He asked why a familiar group of o provide a plan that will help to revitalize e ballot and then sue the City stating the itizens pay the bill. The City's shrinking r ballot measures, or both. Would our tax :es to D.S., or should monies be spent on How will the City get funding to maintain brary and build a community center. Why our property tax dollars and send them to e hesitate in demanding that our property rvices that the citizens need desperately. ars spent locally and favored having local nding priorities for the City. erg that the D.B. Residents and Business . He indicated that traditionally, if a City objection within 90 days, it becomes law d. Relative to the current lawsuit, the the time. ?rg. He indicated that he supported City ns, he wanted the City's tax dollars spent 3me people that are suing the City or ment process were also opposed to that he was told a Senior Citizens Center er, he indicated he was told that Senior f the Redevelopment Plan. Many Seniors lust depend on the mail. He asked if there rtain how the agency funds are spent. He traffic congestion on Grand Ave. south of AUGUST 23, 1997 PAGE 5 TOWN HALL MTG. MPT/AM/Herrera responded to Mr. Arceo that many have expressed an interest in building a community center to benefit the residents. At this time, the City owns one public building—Heritage Park Community Center --which is primarily devoted to the Senior Citizens Group. The City pays for one liaison for the Senior's group. The Redevelopment Agency Board will monitor spending of the Redevelopment Agency funds which enjoys the same membership as Council. If the public does not like the direction of the members, they can be voted out of office. C/AM/Ansari stated that the s nior citizens groups are a priority for the current Council who realizes that a larger facility is needed. However, the seniors are the only group that enjoys its owr building. The City does not have a City Hall or Community Center. Grand Ave. presents an ongoing problem that the City is working to resolve. C/Chair/Werner understood M( Arceo's concerns and stated that there are many City groups that wish recogniti n and facilities. Council makes every effort to be fair and equitable across the b and with limited resources. Carolyn Elfelt, 21119 Silver CI ud Dr., asked if the City's school districts and fire districts will receive less monies because of redevelopment. She asked that an allocation chart be provided at the next Town Hall Meeting. CM/ED/Belanger responded to Mrs. Elfelt that, under State law, mechanisms exist that deal with school districts and fire districts, School financing has been predominately dictated by the State of California since 1974. The law will be provided at the next Town Hall Meeting. C/AM/Harmony responded to Mrs. Elfelt that the State, under law, supplants the same amount of increment tot e school districts. C/Chair/ Werner stated that if redevelopment had a significant impact on the City's school districts, he would expect that school district representatives would attend redevelopment agency public hearings and raise objections. Conversely, there may be common ground for the agency to assist the school districts in the event they are unable to perform on their own. Jack Gutowski said that he did ni He believed that citizens who development have a right to be c had become a political action co types of businesses the agencc City can guarantee businesses appreciate attacks on a certain group of citizens. re concerned about excessive shopping center icerned. He was insulted that D.B. High School mittee in this instance and wanted to know what intends to attract to the City. He asked how the ,ill remain in the community after receiving a gift AUGUST 23, 1997 PAGE 6 TOWN HALL MTG, of funds. Further, he stated that he MPT/AM/Herrera responded that no individuals circulating petitions who sl their pockets because of redevelopme years, was elected by the public, has these aspersions on her integrity. She not gifts. She believed every citizen n C/AM/Ansari explained that she did not k cities after granting redevelopment assi She said she had visited surround. redevelopment to revitalize downtown an concern to have a project area citizens C/AM/Harmony told Mr. Gutowski th the free enterprise system would not is no blight in D.B. D.B. to remain a bedroom community likes slurs against them and resented that Council is looking to put money in She has lived in the community for 31 /ed the public for 18 years and resents �d that low cost loans would be grants -- s to be involved in improving D.B. )w if the City will lose businesses to other ance. The City has to start somewhere. g cities that have successfully used other blighted areas. She reiterated her at, in his opinion, it had not been proven that correct any little problems that exist. There C/Chair[Werner reported that the plan is a plan to establish a process. Over Before any monies can be spent on it Clyde Hennessee said he would like Redevelopment Agency. He reiterated and he believed other citizens also wz about how the monies will be used. H Members and wants protection built int Dre the Agency, Council and community next few years, the plan will be defined. �vements, public hearings will be held. o see spending controls placed on the iat he wanted redevelopment for the City t redevelopment but they are concerned expressed concern about future Council the plan so that it cannot be changed. C/AM/Ansari agreed with Mr. Hennessoe that D.B. does not have a downtown. Redevelopment could assist with revitalization of certain areas of the City. MPT/AM/Herrera believed that the K -P point for redevelopment and she envi; trees and gazebos with an entertainmei socialize. She expressed sadness th before it is fully developed. in Shopping Center is a good beginning )ned outdoor eating establishments with area where citizens can congregate and people were attempting to kill the plan C/AM/Harmony stated that businesses a e filling up and the economic condition of the City is improving. The City's origi al statistics are off -target. There is no specific plan. CM/ED/Belanger explained to Mr. Henessee that the rules that govern the agency's accounting of resources are the same rules that govern municipalities and AUGUST 23, 1997 other public agencies within the S and most cities' redevelopment a In most cities, those two entities r similar fashion. Regarding u development of a commercial prol five acres or more of land not pr( prohibited from using redevelops Revitalization Area document doe rather, it indicates that D.B. canny look to itself as a "niche" ma marketplace. PAGE 7 TOWN HALL MTG. ate. A redevelopment agency is a public agency ency members happen to be Council members. eet at the same time and conduct meetings in a lization of redevelopment resources for the erty which will generate sales tax on a parcel of tiously developed for urban uses, the agency is ent funds for that purpose. The Environmental not suggest big box shopping centers for D.B.; t compete with such entities and should instead ;et and attempt to ascertain its niche in- the CIAM/Ansari asked that citizens who did not have an opportunity to speak during this Town Hall Meeting direct thelir questions to staff. C/Chair/Wermer thanked the Town Hall Meeting participants. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to conduct, Mayor Pro Tem Herrera and Redevelopment gency Chairman Werner adjourned the meeting at 12:00 noon. LY DA BURGESS, City Clerk and Redevelopment Agency Secs etarr, ATTEST: J, �, -k, X�, .!fin Mayor Pro em ATTEV Rede + loprnent Agency Chairman J