Resolution 14549CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 14549
OPPOSING THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO ABOLISH
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS, the State of California faces serious financial realities and
tough decisions due to its massive budget deficit; and
WHEREAS, the City of Alameda stands by the State in finding
appropriate Tong -term solutions to the structural problems with the State's
budget and understands that hard choices will need to be made durin g these
difficult economic times; and
WHEREAS, investing in redevelopment helps accelerate economic
recovery, produces new jobs and addresses important environmental and
community issues; and
WHEREAS, as part of its 2011 -12 budget proposal, the Governor has
proposed permanently abolishing California's more than 400 local
redevelopment agencies; and
WHEREAS, this proposal represents misguided State budget proposals
to take local government funds that voters have repeatedl y sought to end, most
g
recently in November 2010 when an overwhelming 61% of voters elected to
stop State raids of local government funds, including redevelopment funds; and
WHEREAS, this proposal will bring little financial benefit to the State.
According to the State Controller's Office, redevelopment agencies have more
g
than $67 billion in bond and other contractual obligations that legally must be
g y
repaid before revenues are available to any other purpose. In fact, according to
the State Department of Finance's own budget documents, there will be zero
State savings in out years from shutting down redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, this proposal will severely limit local economic development
efforts, including hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in local
economic activity throughout California. Specifically, in the Cit y of Alameda
abolishing redevelopment will significantly impede efforts to redevelop the
northern waterfront and Alameda Point, and to provide affordable housin g for
the residents of Alameda; and
WHEREAS, throughout California, redevelopment activities support
304,000 jobs annually, including 170,600 construction jobs, contribute over $40
billion annually to California's economy in the generation of g oods and services,
and generate more than $2 billion in state and local taxes in a typical year; and
WHEREAS, eliminating redevelopment will take away one of the few
tools local governments have to comply with state requirements to plan for
more compact urban development supported by transit - oriented development,
housing, jobs and infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, eliminating redevelopment will have significant adverse
impacts on the development of affordable housing in California. Redevelopment
agencies are the second largest funder of affordable housing, behind only the
federal government, responsible for over 98,000 units of affordable housing
since 1993; and
WHEREAS, shutting down redevelopment agencies is a violation of
multiple State and Federal constitutional provisions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Alameda
formally opposes the Administration's proposal to abolish redevelopment in
California.
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Alameda
authorizes its City Council and City staff to communicate its opposition to this
proposal to the Governor, the Legislature, business groups, and citizens.
1, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly
and regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in a
regular meeting assembled on the 1 st day of February 2011, by the following
vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Banta, deHaan, Tam and Mayor
Gilmore -- 4.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Councilmember Johnson -
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, 1 have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
seal of said City this 2nd day of February, 2011.
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
City of Alameda