Several agenda items will be presented at the June 26 Santa Clarita City Council meeting.

Buried amongst the legal-speak of the agenda next Santa Clarita City Council meeting are several issues that affect redevelopment.

Here they are in order of presentation on the Council’s agenda:

• Contract for Condemnation Process Coordination (Eminent Domain) and Real Estate and Financial Consulting Services

  • $125,000 contract awarded to Rosenow Spevacek Group (RSG), in addition to the $49,900 already paid to them, for "essential real estate and financial services to help realize developer driven and Agency identified catalytic projects within the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan."
  • According to the RSG website, they specialize in Condemnation Process Coordination where
    "RSG’s thorough understanding of State Acquisition Guidelines ensures that our clients meet the required acquisition procedures-no questions asked."
  • In plain-speak, they make sure that the people kicked out via the eminent domain process can’t come back and sue the City.

• Five Year Implementation Plan for the Newhall Redevelopment Area

  • This is the plan proposed by RSG for Newhall Redevelopment. Read the entire document here. Note that although the plan touts the addition of "affordable housing", it’s only there because of State law requirements, not because the City is playing nice.
  • Per the report: "This section of the Implementation Plan addresses specific requirements in State law with respect to prior affordable housing activities and the anticipated housing program in the future."
  • Note that the City covered the legal requirements for public notice by publishing a legal blurb in The Signal. Per the City’s agenda: "By Law, notice of this public hearing was published in The Signal for three successive weeks. The draft Five-Year Implementation Plan was available in the City Clerk’s office for 31 days for the public to review and provide comments. To date, no written comments on the draft implementation plan have been submitted." Not that anyone would have likely read this type of fine-print in The Signal, but apparently the legal requirement was fulfilled.

• Appointment of Newhall Redevelopment Committee Members

  • Eight new members are to be appointed, as well as retaining three existing members. Two alternates will also be selected. Click here for a list of all of the original candidates with short bios.
  • Committee members are to be the following:

  • 1. Victor Feany

    2. Duane Harte*

    3. Kevin Korenthal

    4. Carol Rock*

    5. Robert Spierer*

    6. Dennis Verner

    7. Randal Winter*

    8. Leon Worden*

    *Previous NRC Member

• Adoption of Eminent Domain Ordinance for Old Town Newhall per SB 53 Requirements

  • Technically this is the second reading of this ordinance, although if you blinked at the last City Council meeting you likely missed the first reading amongst all the shouting and accusations regarding the Henry Mayo Hospital Expansion ruckus. Read more on the last City Council meeting and this proposed ordinance here.

  • In a nutshell, this new ordinance closely parallels current State law (which many are making efforts to amend), which basically grants government entities blanket authority to take private property from one owner and hand it to another private property owner (developer) for any reason whatsoever.

  • In addition, this ordinance grants the City the authority to EVICT the current property owner BEFORE the financial negotiations are complete for the purchase of their property.

  • The Daily News had a recent article quoting the letters that the first phase of property owners to be evicted received. Property owners are well aware that the "appraisers" sent by the City are well-known for submitting low-ball offers for properties in redevelopment areas.

  • This ordinance is NOT friendly to the current property owners in the area.

If you own property within the Old Town Newhall Revitalization (Redevelopment) Zone, make plans to attend this meeting!

Not sure if you’re in the "zone"? Click here and scroll to Page 13 for a map of the area. If you own property (or lease space) within those dotted lines, then the City will be knocking on your door at sometime in the near future. TAKE ACTION NOW to make sure that you will have an opportunity to voice your concerns on this project by attending the June 26 City Council Meeting!

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