City responds to (Mendocino County) grand jury report on redevelopment agency agencies

Ukiah Daily Journal Staff
Updated: 09/07/2011 12:00:03 AM PDT

City manager prepared to defend every person's salary'

The Daily Journal

The City of Ukiah prepared a response to a Mendocino County Grand Jury's report on local redevelopment agencies and will present it during the Ukiah City Council meeting tonight.

The cities of Ukiah, Willits and Fort Bragg and the county have redevelopment agencies, and in a finding not identified as specific to the Ukiah Redevelopment Agency, the grand jury notes that "employee salaries are paid with redevelopment agency funds disproportionate to the time spent on redevelopment agency business. More than one redevelopment agency employees' salary and benefits are paid 100 percent with redevelopment agency funds, even though they do not perform 100 percent redevelopment agency business."

The Ukiah Redevelopment Agency pays 100 percent of the salary of the city's project and grant administrator, Guy Mills, as well as 50 percent of City Manager Jane Chambers' and 80 percent of Assistant City Manager Sage Sangiacomo's.

"We are prepared to defend every person's salary," said Chambers when asked about the report, explaining that Mills' work on the Ukiah Skate Park and Anton Stadium renovation (neither project uses redevelopment funding) applies as redevelopment-related because "I consider those developments for the community."

In its official response, the city notes that it has "implemented a project/program code system that is utilized to track staff hours on redevelopment activities."

The grand jury also recommended that the Ukiah Redevelopment Agency and other local agencies "establish citizen advisory committees to allow for greater public input and oversight."

The grand jury describes those committees as groups that: collaborate "with the agencies throughout every step of the redevelopment process, from identifying a project area to construction and project completion," and "ensure that projects reflect community needs and priorities, and keep other community members informed about the progress of the project."

In its response, the city states that the Ukiah Redevelopment Agency "has and will continue to utilize both formally appointed committees and other groups of community members for public input, and in some cases oversight, to ensure that the projects/programs of the agency reflect the community needs and priorities."

The grand jury also recommended that the redevelopment agencies "partner with their local Code Enforcement Agency to compel owners of blighted properties to comply with Health and Safety Codes," and that "cities and counties develop alternative revenue streams to replace anticipated redevelopment agency revenue losses."

The city responds that the Ukiah Redevelopment Agency "has and will continue to work closely with code enforcement staff in the (city's) Planning and Community Development Department, Fire Department and Police Department," and that it will "continue to evaluate expenditure reduction measures and alternate revenue streams."

The grand jury reported that this year, the Ukiah Redevelopment Agency will pay the state $2.1 million of tax increment. The agency's anticipated revenue for 2010/11 was $808,288, with $640,401 for salaries and $66,247 for operations and maintenance.

Some past and present Ukiah Redevelopment Agency projects include: the Alex Rorabaugh Gymnasium and Activity Center; Redwood Business Park infrastructure; Orchard Avenue Bridge; 322 units of affordable housing (between 1990 and 2007) and the Downtown Beautification Project.

The city will present the report during tonight's Ukiah Redevelopment Agency meeting, which will follow the City Council meeting beginning at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at 300 Seminary Avenue.


http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_18841048