The California Research Bureau (CRB) has suggested increasing public oversight of redevelopment activities by broadening the use, membership and roles of project area committees.
Currently, the law requires a project area committee (PAC) only for a redevelopment project that could displace a significant number of low- or moderate-income households. Homeowners, tenants and business owners elect committee members, and the PAC serves as an advisory body to the redevelopment agency. Although some PACs are tremendously influential, many redevelopment agencies either do not have a PAC or have an inactive committee.
The CRB's report is sketchy, but the bureau suggests restructuring the committees to give them more influence and oversight.
The CRB report also examines the possibility of using arbitration as a means of public input in redevelopment plans, and to settle disputes over the legal validity of plans. The use of arbitration is an idea backed by Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine).
The CRB also suggests giving county local agency formation commissions oversight of redevelopment activities, but the report makes clear that legislative staff members thoroughly rejected this concept.
The report, "Rethinking Redevelopment Oversight: Exploring Possibilities for Increasing Local Input," and numerous other Research Bureau reports are available at http://www.library.ca.gov/html/statseg2a.cfm.
- Paul Shigley
