HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC_2012-01-19_AgendaPacketCITY OF A TASCADERO
PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSION
AGENDA
Thursday, January 19, 2012
7:00 P.M.
Regular Meeting
Atascadero City Hall Council Chambers
6907 EI Camino Real
Atascadero, California
REGULAR SESSION: 7:00 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
ROLL CALL:
Chairperson:
Vice -Chairperson
Commissioner:
Commissioner:
Commissioner:
Commissioner:
Commissioner:
Student Representative
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: NONE
Tom Zi rk
Bill Wachtel
Barbie Butz
Susan DeCarli
Susan Greenaway
David May
Jerel Seay
Luke Thek
COMMUNITY FORUM: (This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wanting to
address the Commission on any matter not on this agenda and over which the
Commission has jurisdiction. Speakers are limited to three minutes. Please state your
name for the record before making your presentation. Comments made during
Community Forum will not be a subject of discussion. A maximum of 30 minutes will be
allowed for Community Forum, unless changed by the Commission. Any members of
the public who have questions or need information, may contact the Board Secretary
Kris Roudebush who is available during normal business hours at 470-3478, or
kroudebush(a-),atascader.org )
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Roll Call
COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS: (On their own initiative,
Commission Members may make a brief announcement or a brief report on their own
activities. Commission Members may ask a question for clarification, make a referral to
staff or take action to have staff place a matter of business on a future agenda. The
Commission may take action on items listed on the Agenda.)
A. CONSENT CALENDAR: (All items on the consent calendar are considered to
be routine and non -controversial by City staff and will be approved by one motion
if no member of the Commission or public wishes to comment or ask questions.
If comment or discussion is desired by anyone, the item will be removed from the
consent calendar and will be considered in the listed sequence with an
opportunity for any member of the public to address the Commission concerning
the item before action is taken.)
1. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes — December 15, 2011
■ Recommendation: Commission approves the Parks and Recreation
Commission Meeting minutes of the December 15, 2011 meeting.
[Community Services]
2. Memorial Obiect Placement Reauest - Tree Dedication at Atascadero
Lake Park Memorial Grove
■ Fiscal Impact: None.
■ Recommendation: Commission approves Michael Hawkins to dedicate
a memorial tree to be planted at Atascadero Lake Park Memorial
Grove site #6 in memory of Corey Michael Hawkins, son. [Community
Services]
3. Memorial Obiect Placement Reauest - Tree Dedication at Atascadero
Lake Park
■ Fiscal Impact: None.
■ Recommendation: Commission approves James Patterson to dedicate
a replacement memorial tree to be planted at Atascadero Lake Park in
memory of James Wentzel. [Community Services]
B. PRESENTATION:
1. Redevelopment Agency Oral Report — Special Report on the status of the
Redevelopment Agency [Community Services]
C. STAFF COMMENTS/ ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Mark Your Calendar:
■ Friday, January 20th: Zumbathon at the Colony Park Community
Center from 6-8pm.
■ Saturday, February 4th: Run to Open the Doors- 5K Fun Run
special event at the Atascadero Lake Park
■ Saturday, February 11th: Comedy Night at the Pavilion
■ Saturday, February 18th: BMX Competition at the A -Town Skate
Park.
2. Parks Update — Geoff English
3. Atascadero Fun Club Update- Jennifer Fanning
D. ADJOURNMENT:
THE NEXT REGULAR PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING IS
TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR February 16th, 2012, AT 7:00 P.M.
I, Kris Roudebush, Clerical Assistant 3 of the City of Atascadero, declare under the penalty of perjury
that the foregoing agenda for the January 19th, 2012 Regular Session of the Atascadero Parks and
Recreation Commission was posted on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at Atascadero City Hall, 6907
EI Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422 and was available for public review in the Customer Service
Center at that location.
Signed this 12th day of January, 2012 at Atascadero, California.
Kris Roudebush, Clerical Assistant 3
City of Atascadero
City of Atascadero
WELCOME TO THE ATASCADERO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
The Parks and Recreation Commission meet in regular session on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m., in the
Atascadero City Hall, located at 6907 El Camino Real, Atascadero. The Parks and Recreation Commission consider
matters in the order of the printed Agenda.
Copies of the staff reports or other documentation relating to each item of business referred to on the Agenda are on
file in the Community Services Department and are available for public inspection during City Hall Annex, 6907 El
Camino Real, during business hours at the Central Receptionist counter and on our website; www.atascadero.or . An
agenda packet is also available for public review at the Atascadero Library, 6850 Morro Road. All documents
submitted by the public during Parks and Recreation Commission meetings that are either read into the record or
referred to in their statement will be noted in the minutes and available for review in the Community Services
Department.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in a City
meeting or other services offered by this City, please contact the Community Services Department at (805) 461-
5000. Notification of at least 48 hours prior to the meeting or time when services are needed, will assist the City staff
in assuring that reasonable arrangements can be made to provide accessibility to the meeting or service.
TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
Members of the audience may speak on any item on the agenda. The Parks and Recreation Chairperson will identify
the subject, staff will give their report, and the Commission will ask questions of staff. The Chairperson will announce
when the public comment period is open and will request anyone interested to address the Commission regarding the
matter being considered to step up to the lectern. If you wish to speak for, against or comment in any way:
• You must approach the lectern and be recognized by the Chairperson
• Give your name and address (not required)
• Make your statement
• All comments should be made to the Chairperson and Commission
• All comments limited to 3 minutes (unless changed by the Commission)
• No one may speak for a second time until everyone wishing to speak has had an opportunity to do so, and
no one may speak more than twice on any item.
The Chairperson will announce when the public comment period is closed, and thereafter, no further public comments
will be heard by the Commission.
TO SPEAK ON SUBJECTS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA
Under Agenda item, "COMMUNITY FORUM", the Chairperson will call for anyone from the audience having
business with the Parks and Recreation Commission to:
• Please approach the lectern and be recognized
• Give your name and address (not required)
• State the nature of your business
This is the time items not on the Agenda may be brought to the Commission's attention. A maximum of 30 minutes
will be allowed for Community Forum (unless changed by the Commission).
TO HAVE ITEMS PLACED ON AGENDA
All business matters to appear on the Agenda must be in the Office of the Community Services Department
14 days preceding the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Should you have a matter you wish to
bring before the Commission, please mail or bring a written communication to the Community Services
Department at City Hall prior to the deadline.
ITEM NUMBER: A - 1
DATE: 1/19/2012
CITY OF A TA SCA DERO
PA RKS AND RECREA TION
COMMISSION
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
(Commission Holiday Potluck)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
SPECIAL SESSION: 6:00 PM
Chairperson Zirk called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m. and Recording Secretary, Kris
Roudebush, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Commissioners Butz, DeCarli, Greenaway (arrived at 6:25pm), Seay,
and May, Vice Chairperson Wachtel, and Chairperson Zirk.
Absent: Student Representative Luke Thek
Others Present: Recording Secretary Kris Roudebush.
Staff Present: Recreation Supervisor Paula Anton, Recreation Coordinator Audrey
Banks, Zoo Director Alan Baker, Maintenance Lead Worker Tom
Jamason, and Community Services Director Brady Cherry
COMMUNITY FORUM- None.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: By Commissioner DeCarli and seconded by Commissioner Seay to
approve the Agenda.
Motion passed 6:0 by a roll -call vote.
COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS- None.
A. CONSENT CALENDAR:
1. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes — November 17, 2011
■ Staff Recommendation: Commission approve the Parks and Recreation
Commission Meeting minutes of the November 17, 2011 meeting. [Community
Services]
PUBLIC COMMENT — None
MOTION: By Commissioner DeCarli and seconded by Commissioner May to
approve Consent Item
Motion passed 6:0 by a roll -call vote.
B. PRESENTATION:
1. Special Presentation by the Community Services Department —
Year in Review [Community Services]
Community Services Director Brady Cherry showed a power point presentation to the Commission
regarding the Department's 2011 achievements, events, programs and accomplishments. He, with
the help of Tom Jamason, answered questions of the Commission.
No Action Was Taken.
F. ADJOURNMENT:
Chairperson Zirk adjourned the meeting at 8:14 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the
Parks and Recreation Commission on January 19, 2012.
MINUTES PREPARED BY:
Kris Roudebush, Clerical Assistant 3
City of Atascadero
ITEM NUMBER: A-2
DATE: 01/19/2012
Atascadero Parks and Recreation Commission
Staff Report — Community Services Department
Memorial Object Placement Request
Tree Dedication at Atascadero Lake Park Memorial Grove
RECOMMENDATION:
Commission recommends approval to the City Council of a request by Michael Hawkins
to dedicate a memorial tree to be planted at Atascadero Lake Park Memorial Grove site
#6 in memory of Corey Michael Hawkins, son.
DISCUSSION:
Background: Michael Hawkins submitted a request to plant a memorial tree in memory
of Corey Michael Hawkins in the Atascadero Lake Memorial Grove site #6.
Analysis: The Policy on the Naming of Public Buildings, Parks and Other Public
Facilities includes a provision to be followed by staff for the recognition of individuals.
SECTION II, E.
"In addition to the naming of public facilities by using the criteria established
above, the City can provide for the recognition of individuals, either deceased or
living, by the placement of memorial objects (symbols); such as living trees,
public benches, rocks, memorial flagpoles, sculptures, etc., in public facilities.
The placement and identification of these recognition symbols will be at the
discretion of the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council on a
case-by-case basis.
The attached request complies with previously established policies for the recognition of
individuals at City park facilities and is consistent with the established plans for
Atascadero Lake Park.
Conclusion: Staff recommends approval to the City Council of a request by Michael
Hawkins to dedicate a memorial tree at Atascadero Lake Park Memorial Grove site #6
in memory of Corey Michael Hawkins.
ATTACHMENT:
Letter of Request
From: 8054617612 Page: 1/1 Date: 12/20/2011 12:11:37 PM
Michael Hawkins
5205 Carrizo .Road
A, tascadero, CA 93422
(805) 440-2500
December 20, 2011
City of Atascadero Parks and Recreation Commission
6907 FI Camino Real
Atascadero, CA. 93422
To nom it May Concern at the City ofAtascadero:
I am requesting lot 46 in the Atascadero Lake Park Memorial Free Program to be
dedicated to Corey Michael Hawkins, o, f Atascadero, who was killed by electrocution at
the age of 18 in 2006. Corey was an absolute joy to be around, a beautifid person both
inside and out, Over 1,200 people attended his funeral. Corey was a friend to everyone,
and is greatly missed by marry_ Enclosed is a $400 check, for the cost of the tree
installation and plaque.
Thank your,
Michael Hawkins
This fax was received by GFI FAXmaker fax server. For more information, visit: http://www.gfi.com
ITEM NUMBER: A - 3
DATE: 01/19/2012
Atascadero Parks and Recreation Commission
Staff Report — Community Services Department
Memorial Object Placement Request
Tree Dedication at Atascadero Lake Park
RECOMMENDATION:
Commission recommends approval to the City Council of a request by James Patterson
to dedicate a replacement memorial tree to be planted at Atascadero Lake Park in
memory of James Wentzel.
DISCUSSION:
Background: James Patterson submitted a request to plant a replacement memorial
tree in memory of James Wentzel in the Atascadero Lake Park. There is currently a
space in the Lake Park, due to the need for a replacement tree there.
Analysis: The Policy on the Naming of Public Buildings, Parks and Other Public
Facilities includes a provision to be followed by staff for the recognition of individuals.
SECTION II, E.
"In addition to the naming of public facilities by using the criteria established
above, the City can provide for the recognition of individuals, either deceased or
living, by the placement of memorial objects (symbols); such as living trees,
public benches, rocks, memorial flagpoles, sculptures, etc., in public facilities.
The placement and identification of these recognition symbols will be at the
discretion of the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council on a
case-by-case basis.
The attached request complies with previously established policies for the recognition of
individuals at City park facilities and is consistent with the established plans for
Atascadero Lake Park. There will be no plaque for the tree in this case.
Conclusion: Staff recommends approval to the City Council of a request by James
Patterson to dedicate a replacement memorial tree at Atascadero Lake Park in memory
of James Wentzel.
ATTACHMENT:
Letter of Reauest
Oa terson
9312 N. Santa. Margarita Rd. • Atascadero, CA 93422-6307 m 805-466-2645
City. of Atascadero
Parks and Recreation Commission
Mr. Tom Zirk, Chairman
6907 El Camino Real
Atascadero, CA 93422
January 7, 2012
Dear Chairman Zirk and Commissioners,
I am writing to request the Commission's approval to plant a Valley Oak' (Quercus'
lobata) as a memorialtree in Atascadero Lake Park. The tree is a.memorial for the late
James Wentzel, a former Atascadero Planning Commissioner and founder/owner of
Wentzel Garden Center (now Bay Laurel Garden Center). Mr. Wentzel graduated from
Cal Poly with a Bachelor *of, Science degree in City and Regional PIanning; After
Atascadero's incorporation in 1979, Jim was appointed to the :City's first Planning
Commnission and helped craft the City's first. General Plan.
I have consulted with Mr. Cory: Meyer of the Park's staff about selecting a planting site..
I was hopeful that the tree could. be planted near another memorial tree planted in
memory of Randy' Rossi. Mr. Rossi, also a graduate of Cal Poly's City and Regional
Planning program was Jim Wentzel's best.friend. After graduating from Cal Poly, Mr.
Rossi went on to receive his doctorate from the University.ofCalifomik Berekely. He
went to work as a planner for the City of Sati Luis Obispo and was instrumental. in
drafting Atascadero's Native Tree Protection Ordinance.
The Rossi Memorial Tree is planted in the turf area north of the Lake Pavilion. Mr.,
Meyer thought that planting a Valley Oak in the area would be quite appropriate as 'a
California Buckeye (Aesculus califomnica) had recently suffered storm damage and was
removed. He stated that there is ample room for a replacement tree in the area.
There. are a number. of Mr. Wentzel'. s family and friends living: in the area. If approved, I
would .like to hold .a memorial tree planting on February 29P, Jim Wentzel's birthday.
I very much appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this request. Should you have
any questions or need additional. information, please do*, ot hesitate to contact me.
ere regards,
James Patterson
Cc: Brady Cherry
Cory Meyer.
ITEM NUMBER: B - 1
DATE: 01/19/2012
Atascadero Parks and Recreation Commission
Staff Report — Community Services Department
Redevelopment Agency Oral Report: Information Only
City of Atascadero
Office of the City Manager
TO: City Employees
FROM: Wade G. McKinney, City Manager
DATE: January 6, 2012
SUBJECT: Redevelopment Agency Abolishment — Next Steps
The main topic of discussion at my Roundtables this week has been the California
Supreme Court's decision on December 29th to uphold the State's desire to abolish
redevelopment agencies. The elimination of our Redevelopment Agency will have
major impacts on our General Fund and our operations, as the decisions are made
whether to eliminate Redevelopment projects or fund them from the City's General
Fund. As a result, we will all need to operate using extra precautions.
In light of this current challenge facing the City, we are continuing to look for savings in
all areas of the organization. Please think before spending; we need to tighten our belts
even more than we already have done. The Management Team is always interested in
any ideas of cost saving measures throughout the organization. If you have any new
ideas, please let one of us know and we will add your suggestions to our discussions as
we work towards a solution to this latest setback.
For example, I will be asking the STARS representatives from each department to work
at recycling our office supplies. The City Hall departments will go through their office
supplies and move all items that their department does not need to the "Community
Office Supply Cabinet" located in the exit hallway behind the Council Chambers' video
screen. All City Hall departments may then "shop" in the Community Cabinet before
ordering new supplies. Fire and Police will do something similar within their own
departments. Every little bit helps.
All employee positions are now frozen. Currently, there are a few recruitments in
progress. These positions will not be filled until I and the Management Team consider
all of our options for survival during this difficult time.
Travel
Please take extra care when selecting and approving training and travel. The City
Purchasing Policy governs our travel related expenses. I am asking every department
to be even more vigilant to keeping expenses down and to insure that travel -related
expenses are truly necessary and directly related to our operations, enhancing our fiscal
condition or improving our competitive advantage.
We want to make sure that our organization is well trained and equipped for the work
we do and the future opportunities and challenges we face. I firmly believe that it is
imperative that we stay atop of the latest advances and technologies in our fields and
that we take the time necessary to strategize our future and plan for potential
opportunities.
ask you to be cautious that travel is truly necessary before it is authorized. I believe, to
be necessary, travel should either:
• be a requirement for the position or
• be essential to providing defined service levels or
• have the potential to produce revenue or
• save the City money or
• improve our competitive advantage.
Travel not meeting one or more of the above criteria should be postponed until the City
is in a better financial condition. As always, the City Manager approves requests for all
travel outside San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
We can be very creative in getting great training and keeping costs down. From my
perspective, the most important training program I participate in each year is the
department head strategic planning workshop. We have kept the workshop at an older
retreat center to keep facility costs down, we share some rooms, car pool to the meeting
and prepare some of our own meals. There are many examples around our own
organization of cost effective training. There is no substitute for having a well-trained
organization, especially during the economically challenging times that we are in.
can't promise this will be easy; but we will get through this, and if we all work together
we will be stronger for it!
ITEM NUMBER: B - 1
DATE: 01/19/2012
Atascadero Parks and Recreation Commission
Staff Report — Community Services Department
Redevelopment Agency Oral Report:
SB 659 Coalition Letter (Information Only)
January XX, 2012
Governor Jerry Brown
Members of the State Senate
Members of the State Assembly
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: SUPPORT SB 659 (Padilla) — temporarily postpone dissolution of
redevelopment agencies
Dear Governor Brown and Members of the State Legislature:
Our coalition of labor, business, local government, public safety, and affordable housing
advocates urges you to quickly pass and sign SB 659 (Padilla), a bill that would
temporarily postpone the scheduled February 1, 2012 date to dissolve California's 425
redevelopment agencies.
Temporarily postponing this February deadline will allow time for the Legislature and
Governor to develop a new job creation and neighborhood renewal program, and to
develop a solution that ensures that schools and the State budget receive the funding
intended by the Legislature when they passed the redevelopment budget legislation last
year.
Without the extension, successor agencies are responsible for winding down all assets,
properties, contracts, leases, records, buildings, and equipment of the former
redevelopment agencies, and laying off workers - actions that are incredibly difficult to
undo.
Once the dissolution process starts, it will lead to lawsuits, endless delays, and ongoing
conflict, making it more difficult to develop a new job creation and community
revitalization program in California, Additionally, the dissolution process could take
years. Thousands of jobs and vital economic development and affordable housing
projects will be lost in the meantime.
Ultimately, we are committed to working with lawmakers to create a new program that
is appropriately focused on job -creation, environmentally sustainable growth, affordable
housing, and the elimination of true blight and economic disparity. Any solution would
also have to provide the State and local entities with additional budgetary relief that is
now put in question because of the California Supreme Court ruling.
In the meantime, we ask for your support for SB 659 to temporarily postpone the
dissolution of redevelopment agencies as we work toward a new job creation and
neighborhood renewal program.
Sincerely,
ATTACHMENT:
Memo to Citv Officials Jan 5. 2012
T �j (� T T 1400 K Street, Suite 400 • Sacramento, California 95814
L A lJ Phone: 916.658.8200 Fax: 916.658.8240
OF CrrALLI FORN ICA www.cacities.org
CIT 1 � J
TO: CALIFORNIA CITY OFFICIALS
FROM: Chris McKenzie, Executive Director
DATE: January 5, 2012
RE: Background on CRA et al v. Matosantos
The League and the California Redevelopment Association (CRA) are working actively with some deeply
committed legislators and other partners on a legislative program to create jobs, build infrastructure and
affordable housing, reclaim brownfields, reuse military bases, build infill projects and achieve other
shared state -local goals in the wake of the recent California Supreme Court Decision. It will take a few
weeks to develop the detailed proposal, and I explain at the end of this memo how you can help
immediately. In the meantime, questions have understandably arisen over the decision last year to file the
lawsuit that this memo answers. Proposition 22 was actually drafted initially to put an end to the
threatened legislative raids of transportation (HUTA and Prop. 42 sales tax) and transit funding, but it also
protects locally levied taxes, eliminates the borrowing of property taxes, and prevents the diversion of
RDA funds. It should be noted that Prop. 22 actually prevented the loss of transportation funds in 2011.
The Supreme Court's Decision
In short, the Court's majority agreed that Prop. 22 prohibited the enactment of AB lx 27, the so-called
RDA "ransom" bill, just as Prop. 22 was specifically designed to do. In contrast, however, the Court also
concluded that Prop. 22 did not curtail the Legislature's discretionary power to establish or eliminate
redevelopment agencies'. The practical effect of the Court's decision was to reduce the financial benefit
from the redevelopment legislation from $1.7 billion to about $1 billion, ironically about the same amount
the CRA and League proposed last session that agencies provide on a voluntary basis. Moreover, the
funds remaining after RDA successor agencies' enforceable obligations are paid will now flow through
the regular property tax distribution process (including to cities) rather than through the special allocation
mechanism in ABIx 27 to schools, transit agencies and fire districts only. The state general fund will
receive an offsetting benefit from the amount of increased property taxes going to schools.
The Calculus Underlying the Decision to File the Lawsuit
A variety of factors went into the unanimous decisions by the CRA and League boards to file the lawsuit
last July after the last-minute enactment of the two -bill legislative package that many legislators were told
would not lead to the end of redevelopment agencies. They were:
' In drafting the redevelopment provisions of Prop. 22 CRA and the campaign team believed that for practical, legal
and strategic reasons the legislature should retain its traditional authority over redevelopment agencies under Art.
16, Sec. 16 of the constitution and state statutes. On a practical basis, there would continue to be need for legislative
oversight and reforms of redevelopment to address developing needs and criticisms. On a legal basis, proposing to
lock redevelopment agencies permanently into the constitution could potentially be viewed later by the Court as an
invalid "revision" of the constitution and outside the initiative power of the people. Finally, there was a practical
concern that such a restriction on the legislature's power over RDAs would attract substantial and fatal opposition to
the whole measure from the opponents of redevelopment.
Future of Many Agencies at Risk. Shortly after the bills were passed in late June, the CRA asked its
members about their practical impact on agencies. The CRA described the bills' impact in the July 18
news release that announced the filing of the lawsuit: `Many redevelopment agencies have notified us
that they cannot afford the ransom payment and they will cease to exist. And those agencies that are
planning on making the payment tell us that these payments will greatly diminish their ability to pursue
vital local projects. " Based on member feedback, the CRA believed as many as one-third (and possibly
more) of the redevelopment agencies in the state could be forced out of existence by the legislation.
Risk of Increased Future Liability and Lost Litigation Opportunity. Moreover, since the legislation
contained an ongoing required payment of $400 million each year without any end, a failure to challenge
the legislation at this time would have clearly opened the door in future years to increases in that amount.
Moreover, agencies ran the clear risk of losing the future opportunity to challenge the legislation by
failing to assert the claims when they first arose.
The Legal Assessment. There also was a careful legal assessment made of our chances of prevailing. Our
legal counsel consulted extensively with a variety of redevelopment counsel. While there was an
awareness of some risk of a split decision, our counsel strongly believed that the risk was minimal in
light of the clear purpose of the people in recently enacting Prop. 22, the extensive evidence of clear
violations of Prop. 22 in the legislation, other strong constitutional flaws of AB lx 26, clear evidence the
Legislature did not intend to eliminate agencies, and the Court's traditional deference to initiatives.
Defending Proposition 22. Prop. 22 passed with 61% of the popular vote. With this history and strong
member support, the boards of both organizations believed the League and CRA had a duty to defend
Prop. 22. As mentioned earlier, the Court actually concluded the legislature could not divert RDA funds
because it would violate Prop. 22. While Prop. 22 was not drafted to guarantee the perpetual existence of
RDAs, the two bills were so interconnected that it was anticipated that ABIx26 would be declared invalid
under Prop. 22 as well.
Two -Part Legislative Strategy in the Works
The CRA and the League are working with key legislators and other groups to advance a two-part
legislative strategy: (1) immediate passage of legislation to delay the effective date of the elimination of
agencies on February 1 in order to provide time for a careful legislative debate about the second part of
the strategy; and (2) comprehensive legislation that will help move the state and local governments
forward together in creating jobs, building infrastructure and affordable housing, reclaiming brownfields,
revitalizing truly blighted neighborhoods, reusing former military installations, etc.—the things that
redevelopment has been used for so effectively. It is clear that doing so will require a united membership,
strategic vision, willingness to compromise, and strong partnerships. The first priority is the extension.
We have accomplished a lot together in recent years to further local control and protect local revenue. We
know this is a difficult time, but by working together we can achieve these goals. We will be calling on
you to assist in the vital task of restructuring the next generation of redevelopment. We promise to keep
you informed. Thank you for your continued leadership and support.
2