HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 004-11RESOLUTION NO. 004-13
RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA IN EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE CALIFORNIA
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES OR REDUCE REDEVELOPMENT FUNDING
WHICH WILL RESULT IN EXTREME NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS TO THE
BAKERSFIELD COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF THESE ACTIONS.
WHEREAS, redevelopment is directly responsible for eliminating blight and
attracting new private development. Redevelopment is an important revitalization
tool for our community providing much needed resources for development of parks,
infrastructure, community facilities, and affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, redevelopment under California Law requires agencies incur debt to
collect their annual tax increment allocations; and
WHEREAS, redevelopment agencies around the State of California have some
of their debt repayment due to the State of California including the Bakersfield
Redevelopment Agency with $17 million. With the proposal to eliminate
redevelopment programs, the State of California's financial problems would be
compounded.
WHEREAS, redevelopment builds better communities by investing local funds
which supports and creates jobs, eliminates blight and strengthens local economics
by building safe, healthy affordable, and sustainable communities throughout the
State of California; and
WHEREAS, redevelopment reenergizes blighted neighborhoods, jump starts the
renewal process, brings new life to neighborhoods, and much needed tax revenues
to local government through increased property values; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bakersfield has formed three Redevelopment Project
Areas; and
WHEREAS, these three redevelopment areas have furthered job creation, built
affordable housing, eliminated slum and blight, and spurred private investment within
the Bakersfield community; and
WHEREAS, redevelopment has significantly impacted the community by the
reinvestment of millions in tax increment dollars since the inception of the project
areas; and
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WHEREAS, since the formation of the Downtown, Old Town Kern-Pioneer and
Southeast Bakersfield Redevelopment Project Areas redevelopment has leveraged
millions in grant and loan funds which are currently at work within our community;
and
WHEREAS, the elimination of redevelopment in Bakersfield will have an adverse
effect by destroying the millions of dollars in local economic activity and the ability
to create additional job opportunities for the Bakersfield community; and
WHEREAS, without redevelopment projects and investments would be left
unfunded, many affordable housing projects will not be built, slum and blight would
escalate, and fewer jobs would be created; and
WHEREAS, in order to jumpstart badly needed revitalization programs and
projects in blight suffering areas of the City, Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency has
promised to repay bondholders and the State Infrastructure Bank and State Housing
Fund from local future property taxes; and
WHEREAS, voters recently approved Proposition 22 to bar the State of California
from raiding local funds similar to the scheme being proposed by the governor; and
WHEREAS, shutting down Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency will jeopardize
our contractual obligations and could easily destroy the credit rating of our
community; and
WHEREAS, significant blight still exists in our community and redevelopment is
needed to eliminate it,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
as follows:
RESOLVED FURTHER, Redevelopment is a critical component in the growth and
rebirth of the Bakersfield community and communities throughout the State of
California.
RESOLVED FURTHER, the City Council supports the continuation of the Bakersfield
Redevelopment Agency for the Bakersfield community and the growth of the State
of California.
RESOLVED FURTHER, the disbandment of redevelopment areas will cause a
severe fiscal hardship and cease current job creation, new affordable housing
opportunities, and the removal of slum and blight within the Bakersfield community.
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RESOLVED FURTHER, the City Council strongly and unconditionally opposes any
disbandment of redevelopment areas and urges the State of California seek other
means to balance its budget,
HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by
the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on
JAN 1 2 2011
by the following vote:
NOES:
ABSTAIN
ABSENT:
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CITY CLERK and Ex Offici lerk of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield
MAYOR of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED as to form:
VIRGINIA GENNARO
City Attorney
guOSH H. RUDNICK
City Attorney II
COUNCILMEMBER SALAS, BENHAM, WEIR, COUCH, HANSON, SULLIVAN,'SC~~Y~SUâ–º1
COUNCILMEMBER fLOM
COUNCILMEMBER /LuKz
COUNCILMEMBER
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APPROVED JAN 12 2011