REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA

Council Chamber, City Hall

100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California

February 28, 2011

 Immediately following the 1:30 Housing Authority meeting

 AGENDA

1.                  CALL TO ORDER  

2.         ROLL CALL           

3.         PUBLIC APPEARANCES / PUBLIC COMMENTS:  Except for public hearing agenda items, the public may comment on all other agenda items and on items not on the agenda within the jurisdiction of the Redevelopment Agency during this period.  The public may comment on public hearing agenda items when the hearing is opened.  Each speaker is allowed three minutes. 

4.         ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 

5.        STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION 

6.       APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR MEETINGS HELD JANUARY 24, 2011 AND FEBRUARY 7, 2011 

7.         CHAIRMAN / COMMISSIONER REPORTS 

8.         COMMITTEE REPORTS 

9.         CONSENT ITEMS: 

9.1     CODDINGTOWN OWNER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BENEFIT FINDINGS FOR UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE  

BACKGROUND:  Pursuant to §33445 of the California Health and Safety Code, the Agency must make benefit findings for the upgrading of public infrastructure on the north side of Coddingtown Mall, an activity to be assisted with an Agency loan to Simon/Coddingtown LLC under a recently approved Owner Participation Agreement. 

RECOMMENDATION:  The Department of Economic Development and Housing commends that the Agency, by resolution, adopt findings that the public improvements to be reconstructed under the Owner Participation Agreement with Simon/Coddingtown LLC are of benefit to the Gateways Redevelopment Project area. 

10.       SCHEDULED ITEMS:

10.1    FUNDING AGREEMENT, BENEFIT FINDINGS AND BUDGET REVISIONS FOR THE BURBANK AVENUE PATHWAY 

         BACKGROUND:  The proposed segment of the Burbank Avenue Pathway between Hearn Avenue and the Roseland Creek Elementary School is located in the Southwest Redevelopment Project Area (Project Area).  The Five-Year Implementation Plan for the Project Area for 2010-2015 contemplates the Burbank Avenue Pathway as one of the redevelopment activities to be undertaken by the Agency.  The Funding Agreement sets out the terms and conditions for payment by the Agency to the County to pay a portion of the costs for the Burbank Avenue Pathway to benefit the Project Area. 

RECOMMENDATION:  The Department of Economic Development and Housing recommends that the Redevelopment Agency, by resolution, approve a Funding Agreement in the amount of $417,541, make certain benefit findings and approve budget revisions to the FY 2010/11 budget for the Burbank Avenue Pathway from Hearn Avenue to Roseland Creek Elementary School, subject to Council approval. 

10.2    SANTA ROSA CENTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDMENT FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS 

BACKGROUND:  The purposes of a redevelopment plan amendment would be to (1) extend by 10 years the effectiveness of the redevelopment plan, which gives the Agency more time to conduct projects and programs; (2) extend the time limit to collect tax increment to repay debt and to provide affordable housing; (3) repeal the time limit to incur debt, which has already been reached; and (4) make land use provisions under the redevelopment plan track the City’s General Plan, as it may be changed from time to time.

Significant blight appears to remain, based upon the preliminary assessment, to make the required finding under Community Redevelopment Law.  A time extension amendment would result in increased revenues for the Agency’s affordable housing program and decreased revenues for redevelopment projects and programs. 

RECOMMENDATION:  The Department of Economic Development and Housing Department recommends that the Agency, by motion, determine that it is financially infeasible at this time to further pursue an amendment to the Santa Rosa Center Redevelopment Plan to extend project area time limits. 

      10.3       OBLIGATION OF REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS 

BACKGROUND:  Governor Brown’s Budget Summary, released Monday, January 10, includes a proposal to eliminate all local redevelopment agencies and dismantle tax increment financing as part of an effort to close the State’s $25 Billion budget deficit.  Urgency legislation may be introduced shortly that may immediately prohibit redevelopment agencies from incurring any further debt or contractual obligations. 

On February 7, 2011, the City Council and Redevelopment Agency held a joint meeting to approve eleven (11) funding agreements to obligate and preserve funds for specific projects benefitting the local community.  The Council and Agency received information regarding available appropriations and reserves for each redevelopment project area and provided direction to staff to prepare funding agreements for the B Street Trunk Sewer Line and the New Railroad Square Project, including assistance with affordable housing and on-site infrastructure improvements.  In addition, direction was given to appropriate available reserves in the Southwest Project Area to offset shortfalls in the 20% housing set-aside revenue pledged to pay debt service. 

A total of three (3) funding agreements, obligating a total of $6,901,920 for projects benefitting redevelopment project areas, including Santa Rosa Center/Grace Brothers (SRC/GB), Gateways (GW), and Transit-Oriented Redevelopment Project Area (TORPA), have been prepared for Agency consideration and action.  Budget adjustments are required to appropriate reserves and transfer available appropriations between projects consistent with the funding commitments recommended for Agency approval for the Santa Rosa Center/Grace Brothers, Gateways, and TORPA redevelopment project areas. 

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended by the Department of Economic Development and Housing that the Redevelopment Agency (1) approve three (3) funding agreements, in the total amount of $6,901,920, and make benefit findings, and (2) approve a resolution authorizing the appropriation and transfer of reserves, in the amount of $263,215, from the Southwest Project Area to pay debt service. 

11.       COMMUNICATION ITEMS: 

         11.1          Monthly Activities Report 

         11.2     Draft Legislation Eliminating Redevelopment Agencies 

12.              ADJOURNMENT

 

The City of Santa Rosa does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions or access to, or treatment of or employment in, its programs or activities.  Disability-related aids or services, including printed information in alternate formats, to enable persons with disabilities to participate in public meetings and programs are available by contacting the Economic Development and Housing Administrative Secretary at (707) 543-3300 one week prior to the meeting/program.

This information can also be accessed via the internet at: http://www.srcity.org