RDA MINS 19970107 MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
JANUARY 7, 1997
The meeting was called to Order at 9:09 P.M. by Chairman McTaggart, the City Council
meeting having been recessed for the purpose of conducting the business of the
Redevelopment Agency.
PRESENT: Lyon, Byrd, Hollingsworth, Ferraro, and Chair McTaggart
ABSENT: None
Also present were Executive Director Paul Bussey, Assistant Executive Director Brent
Mattingly, Planning, Building & Safety, and Code Enforcement Director Carolynn Petru,
Finance Director Dennis McLean, Public Works Director Les Evans, Agency Attorney
Carol Lynch, Principal Planner Joel Rojas, Senior Engineer Dean Allison, Senior
Engineer Richard Schlesinger, Agency Secretary Jo Purcell, and Recording Secretary
Jennifer Baum.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Member Ferraro moved, seconded by Member Hollingsworth to approve the Agenda as
presented. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR:
Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, spoke to several items on the Consent Calendar:
the minutes of November 25, 1996; the RDA financial report; the Register of Demands;
and, the use of the Horan funds.
Minutes (301 x 1900)
Approved the Minutes of November 25 and December 3, 1996.
Register of Demands -Adopt Resol, No. RDA-97-01 (602 x 1900)
ADOPTED RESOL. NO. RDA 97-01, A RESOLUTION OF THE RANCHO PALOS
VERDES REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND
DEMANDS AND SPECIFYING FUNDS FROM WHICH THE SAME ARE TO BE PAID.
1995-96 Financial Report of the Redevelopment Agency (602 x 1900)
Received and ordered filed the 1995-96 Financial Report of the Rancho Palos Verdes
Redevelopment Agency.
The Motion to approve the Consent Calendar carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Lyon, Ferraro, Byrd, Chair McTaggart, and Hollingsworth,
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Hollingsworth on the minutes of the November 25, 1996 meeting.
Subcommittee (McTaggart/Hollingsworth) Status report -
Negotiations with L. A. County re Horan Funds
Chairman McTaggart reported that the City is currently in negotiations with Los Angeles
County to revise the terms of the Abalone Cove Landslide Abatement Bonds. In fact,
he said, two separate meetings were held on December. Contrary to what opeople may
have heard, the City has every reason to believe that these negotiations will continue to
be productive. County staff has already indicated that they are prepared to recommend
certain revisions be made to the bonds, including a reduction of the interest rate and a
more favorable method of calculating interest. These changes are in response to
certain requests made by City Staff in previous discussions with the County. Although
helpful, these revisions do not completely eliminate the projected need for property
assessments. As such, the City has made additional suggestions to the County as to
how the assessments could be eliminated. County staff is reviewing these
suggestions.
Continuing, he said that the City Council does not intend to put this item on the agenda
until the negotiations are concluded. At that time the Council will review the proposal
and discuss the issues in a public forum.
It should be made clear, he said, that the Council is not "rushing" the sewer system as
has been suggested. In fact, several months ago the Council decided to-postpone any
decision to proceed with the sewers, pending negotiations with the County. The City
has pursued-the easements simply so that if a decision to proceed with the sewers is
reached, there will not be a lengthy delay for the easement process. However, due to
the apparent perception that the sewers are being "rushed", the Council is willing to out
any further easement acquisition on hold until the negotiations with the County are
concluded. Everyone involved, both the City and the residents, should be willing to
wait during this brief period of time.
Redevelopment Agency Minutes
January 7, 1997
Page 2
He said that on occasion it has been suggested that the bond proceeds under the
Settlement Agreement be returned to the County. There are a number of very
significant legal issues involved in any repayment to the County, let alone a full refund
of all monies paid out under the Settlement Agreement. In fact, the County has
indicated that they may not be willing to accept a refund of the bond proceeds due to
the possibility that it might increase their potential liability. Their liability was finalized
under the Settlement Agreement and they are not anxious to reopen it. A discussion of
this issue is premature at this time.
Concluding his remarks, Chairman McTaggart suggested that the residents in the area
simply wait a brief period of time for the negotiations with the County to be completed.
At that time, the issue will be openly discussed in a public forum.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS:
Lois Larue spoke about the City's efforts to obtain easements for the sewers in the
Portuguese-Bend area.
Robert Halderman, 88 Narcissa Drive, representing the newly formed taxpayer
committee called "STFB" (Stop the Financial Blight) presented a written statement
containing that organization's concern about potential liens and the return of the Horan
bond money to the County of Los Angeles. (Mr. Halderman's statement is on file with
the Agency Secretary's Office.
In response to a comment from Mayor McTaggart, Jack Downhill, 20 Vanderlip Drive,
stated that he has not misrepresented the status of the negotiations between the City
and the County relative to the return of the bond funds and applauded what had been
achieved so far.
Board discussion focused on the fact that there were legal problems in returning the
money to the County and that the negotiations were now at a sensitive stage.
Adjournment: At 9:35 P.M. Member Ferraro moved to adjourn th eeting.
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Redevelopment Agency Minutes
January 7, 1997
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