Loading...
CDC - 02-26-08• Minutes of the Regular Meeting ROSEMEAD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION February 26, 2008 Chairman Tran called the regular meeting of the Rosemead Community Development Commission to order at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of City Hall, at 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. The pledge to the flag was led by Commissioner Taylor and Chairman Tran led the invocation. ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Present: Commissioners Clark, Low, Taylor Vice-Chairman Nunez, Chairman Tran Absent: None 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE - None 2. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Minutes February 12, 2008 - Regular Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2008 were deferred to the next Commission meeting for further discussion regarding a closed session item. Commissioner Taylor asked why staff stated "no reportable action" on the minutes when the Commission actually did vote to spend $20,000 on appraisals. Mr. Taylor felt the action taken should have been disclosed. Executive Director Chi expressed the conversation in question took place in closed session. Chairman Tran asked to have the minutes held until the next meeting so the attorney can be present for discussion. C. Project Area Merger On November 20, 2007, the Rosemead Community Development Commission (CDC) approved a professional services agreement with Urban Futures Incorporated commencing the merger Project Area Nos. 1 and 2. To move forward in that process, the CDC must adopt a resolution authorizing staff to initiate all aspects of the project area merger. Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2008-05 authorizing staff to initiate all aspects of the proposed Amendment to the Redevelopment Plans for the Rosemead Redevelopment Projects Nos. 1 and 2. Rosemead Community Commission Meeting Minutes of February 26, 2008 Page 1 of 4 o • Vice-Chairman Nunez made a motion, second by Commissioner Low to approve Consent item C. Vote resulted in: Yes: Clark, Low, Nunez, Taylor, Tran No: None Abstain: None Absent: None Juan Nunez, Rosemead resident, asked what the advantages were by merging because he felt it was not a good idea and money should be spend within that project. Executive Director Chi stated the advantage of merging the project areas is that the city would then be able to spend any tax increment dollars from one project area and the other. It also gives Community Development Commission and the City more flexibility in where those dollars are spent. Commissioner Clark commented on it is ironic because the project in the southern part of the city actually subsidizing the one in the north. B. Resolution No. 2008.04 Claims and Demands Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2008-04 for payment of Commission expenditures in the amount of $34,809.93 demands no. 8191 through 8194 and 9339 through 9343. Commissioner Clark inquired about payments made to Wallin and Kress and asked staff to check on how much the lawsuit of the Garvey School District has cost the City to date. Executive Director Chi responded there were a couple of items they were finishing up for the city, one of them related to the Wal-Mart and Garvey School District lawsuit. Mr. Chi explained the lawsuit had not yet settled and the general direction given was that the old city attorneys would finish the pending litigations of the City, which have recently been completed. Commissioner Taylor asked staff about the pro-bono work done by the attorneys; was it for the lawsuit with Wal-Mart or was it for the Garvey School District against the City. Chairman Tran stated the Garvey School District initiated the lawsuit and their attorney fees were pro bono through Cory Briggs. Commissioner Taylor reminded staff he had previously requested updates regarding the Wallin and Kress law firm. Executive Director Chi responded staff had not heard from Ms. Lisa Kranitz yet. Commissioner Clark asked staff why the retirement plans being paid through Community Development. Rosemead Community Commission Meeting Minutes of February 26, 2008 Page 2 of 4 • • Executive Director Chi explained to the Commission that part of the allocation for each employee working on Community Development Commission issues a portion of the cost is paid through the Community Development Commission account. Assistant Executive Director Hawkesworth indicated that in the past staff would determine a sum of money would be needed from CDC and pay that amount to the City, in which then, the City would pay CaIPERS. Rather than doing a transfer to the City and having the City pay all in one sum, staff began paying directly from CDC to CalPERS. Executive Director Chi clarified that under state law it is neither appropriate or legal for a redevelopment agency to transfer funds from an agency to the city without having a cost allocation study done of what the costs are paying for. A second issue was the Community Development Commission tax increment generation did not generate enough revenue to justify the transfers at one point. Commissioner Taylor asked staff for reports that can better explain the situation. Chairman Tran indicated staff had given a report to the Commission in the past regarding transferring funds from CDC to the City and vice versa that were paid through the general fund. Executive Director Chi explained in the past, transferred taxable bond proceeds were not an appropriate use of those funds, and to justify that situation staff begun charging employees who perform services for the redevelopment agency a percentage of their time spent on Community Development Commission related issues. Commissioner Taylor asked staff to give the Commission the memo where staff is referring to what Mr. Chi is talking about. Commissioner Tran reiterated from now on the Community Development Commission will be appropriately paying out of the correct account and showing individual cost instead of paying a lump sum to the City. Commissioner Low asked staff how long had the transfer of funds been in practice. Commissioner Taylor stated to go back and get the approvals of what the City Attorney did for that because there is a section number that allows the City to switch it over. Vice-Chairman Nunez stated staff should refer back to when the law was changed to better explain what they are doing. Vice- Chairman Nunez made a motion, second by Commissioner Low to approve consent item B. Vote resulted in: Yes: Clark, Low, Nunez, Taylor, Tran No: None Abstain: None Absent: None Rosemead Community Commission Meeting Minutes of February 26, 2008 Page 3 of 4 3. MATTERS FROM THE CHAIRMAN & COMMISSIONERS 4. MATTERS FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & STAFF Executive Director Chi introduced and welcomed the new Park and Recreation Director David Montgomery Scott, who came from the City of Norwalk. 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. The next regular Community Development Commission meeting is scheduled to take place in March 25, 2008 6:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted: c4C1 Gloria Molleda Commission Secretary Rosemead Community Commission Meeting Minutes of February 26, 2008 Page 4 of 4 Approved: i 0 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES SS. CITY OF ROSEMEAD ) 1, Gloria Molleda, Commission Secretary for the City of Rosemead, do hereby certify that the minutes from February 26, 2008, were duly and regularly approved and adopted by Rosemead Community Development Commission on the 25th of March, 2008, by the following vote to wit: Yes: Clark, Low, Nunez, Taylor, Tran No: None Abstain:None Absent:None Gloria Molleda Commission Secretary