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Recommendation to receive and file the report discussing the implementation of the Independent Study recommendations and consider additional suggestions from the City Manager concerning redevelopment in Long Beach. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Both the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency have asked staff to prepare a
report on the implementation of the Independent Study recommendations. On August
8, 2005, staff presented the Implementation Plan to the Redevelopment Agency Board
(Exhibit A). The Implementation Plan presented by staff recommends actions to
address the Category I items outlined in the Action Plan provided by the
ClarionNVaronzoflConsensus team. The Implementation Plan was received and filed by
the Agency Board with direction to staff to begin immediate implementation of the
proposed recommendations.
In addition to the Independent Study recommendations contained in Exhibit A, I
respectfully request your consideration of the following suggestions concerning
redevelopment in Long Beach. These suggestions are made in the spirit of cooperation
and collaboration and are intended to support the goal of increasing public awareness
of, and participation in, the redevelopment process. I believe these suggestions are
responsive to the City Council's interest in building upon the positive framework that the
Independent Study has provided.
Additional Suggestions
0 In the conduct of redevelopment business, much greater attention should be
given to reaching out to the residents who live within or are most directly affected
by existing redevelopment project areas. As many residents may not avail
themselves of the opportunity to attend Project Area Committee (PAC) meetings,
additional formalized community outreach should be undertaken. Greater use of
multilingual materials should be implemented, as should non-traditional means of
community outreach.
0 To ensure greater communtty participation in the process of redevelopment,
selection of new Redevelopment Agency Boardmembers should be better
aligned with those Council Districts that have the highest proportion of defined
redevelopment project areas. This approach would help to achieve greater
sensitivity concerning those most pressing redevelopment-related issues and
challenges that exist in each of the Council Districts.
0 In order to achieve greater transparency in those matters under consideration by
the Redevelopment Agency Board, City Council concurrence should be
requested on Agency expenditures of $1 million or more. The Los Angeles City
Council forged a closer working relationship with its Redevelopment Agency by
adopting an ordinance that specifies which Agency actions should also be
discussed and approved by the City Council. The Long Beach City Council
added a similar but more limited requirement to their approval of the 2005
Agency bonds by asking the Redevelopment Agency to seek Council approval
for all expenditures of the 2005 bond proceeds.
0 The Port of Long Beach-derived tax increment, which currently supports the
North Long Beach Redevelopment Project Area, should be redirected in such a
way as to create greater benefit for the community at large. Although this is an
item which is called out in the attached report, it is important that the process of
implementing this recommendation be put into motion in a timely manner.
In summary, I believe the aforementioned suggestions merit your consideration. Clearly
redevelopment is an important economic development tool that has in the past
achieved, and will continue in the future to achieve, many lasting and important
community improvements. Moreover, the leadership and dedication the
Redevelopment Agency Board provides is invaluable and very much appreciated.
The recommendations of the Independent Study represent an important opportunity to
make the redevelopment process in Long Beach even more successful than it has
already proven to be. Management looks forward to working with the Mayor and City
Council, and with the Redevelopment Agency Board, in every way possible to achieve
this goal.
This letter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Heather Mahood on August 11,
2005.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
[Fiscal Impact]
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
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Respectfully Submitted,
[Respectfully Submitted,]