City Officials Discuss Redevelopment Projects as Gov. Jerry Brown Considers Eliminating CRA Program

The City Council met Tuesday night and discussed potential community redevelopment projects. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has tax funds put aside for such projects, but after June 30 there is a chance these funds would be used in other capacities as part of Governor Jerry Brown’s plan to help reduce balance the state’s budget. In fact, Brown’s plan is to eliminate the more than 400 redevelopment agencies in California by June 30.

City Staff presented Council with 11 possibilities for use of CRA funds. With inadequate parking being a major issue in the city, the first two proposed projects focused on this problem.

The repaving and re-striping of area parking lots was first on the agenda, followed by a plan to conduct a study of the downtown parking area to help better plan future parking needs. The repaving project would include more signage and possibly more parking spots being made available. A motion was made to move forward with a designer for this project.

As for the study, Council Members were divided on the issue. “We have to figure out a way for new businesses coming to town to handle the parking,” Council Member Josh Moran said. “We have to have some numbers [from a study] to back up what we will do to mitigate the lack of parking in the downtown area,” he said.

Council Member MaryAnn MacGillivray opposed the idea of a study as there is no room for more parking. “We still have to have a place to put cars. There is no land to put parking unless you want to go up. I don’t see a benefit in a survey,” MacGillivray said.

Resident John Capoccia didn’t see a benefit either and wondered if tax money put into a conducted survey, would be replenished. “You are going to spend $50,000 [for a study]. How is that being recovered? What benefit are you getting from this?” Cappoccia asked.

Council as a whole moved to not use the funds for a survey because of the cost of the survey and use it toward another project.

One of the other major projects on the table for redevelopment is the 186 W. Highland property which has been a . The property, the site of the Old Church, is in discussions to be used for low- to moderate-income housing. Council Members MacGillivray and Moran met with residents in that area to discuss concerns.

Two major concerns were traffic and holding the property to only 3 units. Council agreed to allow negotiations to begin with Heritage Housing Partners and will further update residents on its progress. Several attendees voiced there disappointment for public comment on this item to be placed last in the agenda as some residents left due to the late hour.

Council Member Moran said it was not in any way put last to avoid public comment. Public comment was not open on this item until after 11 p.m.

Other redevelopment projects improved included the remodeling of the Hart Park House Senior Center, replacement or refurbishing of park bathrooms, replacement of pool of playground equipment and replacement of the Sierra Madre Boulevard Water main and relocation to Lima Street. A proposal to resurface East Montecito between North Baldwin and North Mountain Trail was taken off the table due to infrastructure concerns.