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9A REDEVELOPMENT from page 1....................................... page 7 The bills, however, go far beyond the issues (2) Eliminated the "dire inner-city slum" raised in the Kelo case, and if enacted. will signifi- language as a requirement for blight findings. cantly impair the abilty of redevelopment agencies However, the amendment left in the requirement to carry out their role of cleaning up blighted that conditions in the project area be worse than conditions and restoring economic activity in conditions in the community as a whole. (Note: California cities. We have previously pointed out that this disadvan- tages the communities that most need help and The following provides an update on the status will greatly increase the cost of plan adoptions for of these measures. all agencies by requiring a survey of conditions in the entire community [not just the project area] in S8 1206 (Kehoe) would revise definitions order to make a meaningful comparison.) relating to blighted areas and the conditions that apply to redevelopment plans. The League op- (3) Replaced "clear and convincing evidence" poses this measure because of the constraints it language as a requirement for blight findings with would put on the ability of redevelopment agencies "clearly articulated and documented evidence" to carry out their responsibilities. language. (Note: CRA supports this change, but thinks the language shOuld be ili the sectionaf S8 1206 (Kehoe) passed out of the Assembly current law that deals with the contents of the Housing & Community Development Committee agency's report to the governing body [Section during the last week of June, but the author was 33352] rather than the section describing the forced to take several amendments which remove contents of the ordinance approving the plan.) several provisions that were opposed by the California Redevelopment Association (CRA) and Although these are significant and necessary its members. The bill was also approved by the changes to the bill, the League and CRA maintain Assembly Judiciary Committee. It now goes to the oppose positions because of the particularly Assembly Appropriations Committee. problematic provision that each blight condition must be shown to be significantly worse within the If this bill is passed by that committee and then proposed project area than in the rest of the approved by the full Assembly, it will go to a con- community, a concept not now in the definition of ference committee between the two houses. We blight. can assume that the author will make every effort in the conference committee to restore those As stated above, this requirement will present provisions deleted from the bill last week. a hardship to those communities most in need of redevelopment and increase the expense to The following are the major amendments to taxpayers for conducting blight findings. In addi- the bill: tion, we oppose the extension of the Attorney General's authority to intervene in challenges to (1) Sections 2 and 4 ofthe bill were deleted. redevelopment agency actions. Section 2 contained objectionable changes to Health & Safety Code Section 33031 which de- AB 2922 (Jones). This bill would expand the fines "blight." Section 4 would have repealed the definition of those who can bring about enforce- provisions of S8 211 (Statutes of 2001) which ment of affordability covenants placed on projects allow agencies to eliminate time limits on estab- by redevelopment agencies to include "a person Iishing indebtedness for pre-1994 plans. (Note: or family of low or moderate income who is Section 4 of the bill was added on June 19 to eligible to reside in the property: The bill also replace another objectionable provision in the bill, includes a requirement for recording a notice of Section 16, which required agencies to make new re-sale or transfer on property encumbered by findings of blight in order to issue new Indebted- atfordabillty restrictions. ness.) Continued on Page 8 Visit the League's Official Website-www.caclties.org PRIORITY FOCUS. PAGE 7 July 7, 2006 . Issue #27 .-.----"