Mark R. Madler
A public hearing will be set for mid-October to take comments on the
city's proposal to merge its three redevelopment districts into one
large project to make better use of financial resources.
The council was scheduled to vote on releasing a draft preliminary
report on the merger and setting a hearing date of Oct. 19 at its
Tuesday meeting.
Ruth Davidson-Guerra, assistant community development director for
housing and redevelopment, said the hearing gives the public the
opportunity to voice their opinion on the merger.
"They can also call the redevelopment agency office with any
questions as well," Davidson-Guerra said.
Written comments sent to the city clerk's office will be accepted
as well, she added.
Councilman Todd Campbell said he encourages residents to be active
in issues that affect the city.
"I like to have an open process," Campbell said. "If someone has
pros or cons on anything we do, they can at least understand why we
did it."
In February the council and Redevelopment Agency approved
preliminary plans for a proposed merger of the Golden State, City
Centre and South San Fernando redevelopment project areas.
The merger will combine the three areas into one project totaling
about 1,700 acres, which runs along San Fernando Boulevard from Allen
Avenue to the Bob Hope Airport.
The main benefit of the merger is to allow a flexibility of funds
generated by an increase in property taxes in the redevelopment area.
The agency's use of eminent domain in two of the districts or the
time period redevelopment is to take place will not change because of
the merger. Eminent domain gives governments the power to acquire
land at a fair market value if it's deemed in the public's best
interest.
The merger allows the funds to be allocated where they are most
needed, Davidson-Guerra said.
"Absent that ability we would do without [a project] or look to
the city's general fund, which has its own challenges,"
Davidson-Guerra said.
The merger would help the South San Fernando district because
having been created in 1997 it does not yet have the financial
wherewithal to do needed projects, she added.
