Here is what cities all over Calif are doing to earmark what ever funds they still have in their Redevelopment Agency funds before Brown snatches them back. Remember these funds are suppose to go to cure blight and improve low income housing throughout Calif. But look at where they're being used. These funds have been a slush fund and welfare for big developers for years. Now that the money is dried up in Calif, Brown wants to direct them to social programs and law enforcement which is needed due to more crime. Many of those same social programs are the ones that put us in this mess in the first place. Wow, are things becoming more transparent since the monies gone.
Perris rushes to assign redevelopment money
Making good on a vow to
spend as much redevelopment money locally as possible before June, the Perris City Council has committed more than $80 million to 16 projects.
They include building a new $3.5 million fire station, sprucing up an abandoned office building that's become a graffiti magnet and installing irrigation wells at several parks. The city also is granting money to seven businesses to renovate their storefronts. The recipients include restaurants, a tire shop and the Perris Market grocery store.
Last week, the council called a special meeting to earmark the funds, less than 24 hours after its regularly scheduled Tuesday meeting. The council was trying to beat Gov. Jerry Brown's self-imposed March 10 deadline to rally enough votes for his proposal. Brown later asked to push back the deadline.
Councilman Mark Yarbrough said time was of the essence because the state appears to be fast-tracking its proposal to eliminate local redevelopment agencies and use the $1.7 billion elsewhere. Brown's proposal would redirect redevelopment funding to other priorities,
such as law enforcement and schools, if passed by the state Legislature.
"Staff has put in some serious overtime to put forward as many projects as we can," Yarbrough said.
One Perris resident questioned why the council approved the large batch of projects during a special council meeting rather than at its regularly scheduled meeting the night before.
"I'm concerned about transparency again. A regular City Council meeting was held the day before," Jason Reed said. "You would think the council would have made their stand against the governor at a regular meeting where more people would have noticed."
Councilman Al Landers and Yarbrough said the special meeting was called later to give city administrators more time to draw up contracts for the array of projects. They added that public notice of the special meeting was posted 24 hours in advance, as required by law.
The city's engineering firm, Tri-Lake Consultants, received a $2.05 million contract to plan, design, bid out and manage the construction of 13 projects that altogether will cost approximately $77 million.
The projects:
Building drainage systems along the Ramona Expressway and around Harley Knox Boulevard to prepare for a road connecting Harley Knox and Indian Avenue
Repaving and upgrading to the City Hall parking lot
Building a new fire station at San Jacinto Avenue and F Street
Adding an irrigation well for Morgan Park
Completing the renovation of downtown D Street
Finishing upgrades to the freeway crossing of Interstate 215 and Fourth Street
Paving about 20 dirt alleyways
Upgrading Harley Knox Boulevard from Interstate 215 to Ramona Expressway
Revamping Case Road
Constructing a sewer system for the Enchanted Heights neighborhood
Repairing and replacing several sewer lines
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