Cities have been left with more questions than answers after the abolishment of redevelopment, and to address the messy process created by AB 1x 26, the Department of Finance has now set up a web page on redevelopment. Reportedly the site was established late last week and it is intended to address questions on bond and dissolution issues. The site urges agencies and their successors to immediately begin work on Recognized Obligation Payment Schedules (ROPS)as well as organizing oversight boards.

I am a believer that out of the bad there always comes some good; we just need to seek it and find it. With that in mind, I am interested in your thoughts about our next steps in the redevelopment transition. I was asked that question by the press recently and my retort was that today many communities have, over the past 10 years, been developing and are in a much better position with their overall economic development programs. Every community needs to be more strategic.

Contact Legislators Today!  SB 659 is now in print, but there is a lot of work to be done to ensure it is passed in time to move the February 1 dissolution deadline.  Please contact your legislators today and urge them to support SB 659. 

Temporarily Postponing February 1 Deadline for Dissolution of Agencies Will Ensure the State and Education Receive the Funding Intended by the Legislature, and allow Time to Develop a New Job Creation and Neighborhood Renewal Program

The CA Supreme Court upheld AB 1X26 which dissolves redevelopment agencies. The court disagreed with the notion that redevelopment agencies have a protected right to exist in the face of statutory dissolution. In regard to AB 1X27, the court ruled that redevelopment agencies have a right to not make payments as a condition of continued operation, thus upholding Prop 22, which prevents the state from raiding local government funds. In review, the court upheld AB 1X26 and invalidated AB 1X27. 

Last week we informed you that the House had passed a large Federal spending bill that included funds to cover the fee shortfalls for both 504 and 7(a) for FY 2012. The Senate passed this same bill on Saturday and the President has signed the bill, which keeps the government funded for the rest of the fiscal year.

WASHINGTON -The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are evaluating the feasibility of developing renewable energy production on Superfund, brownfields, and former landfill or mining sites.