Redevelopment Board to Look at State Order on Disposition of Former Redevelopment Properties

The latest maneuver by state government in the saga of redevelopment has local cities trying to determine which way to pivot next. The state has instructed cities and counties that any properties transferred from former redevelopment agenices to cities are not valid unless they occurred prior to Jan. 1, 2011.

For Pinole, that would affect numerous such property transactions that happened after the state-imposed deadline. Two of the largest property exchanges in Pinole last year involved the Pinole Valley and Pinole Vista Crossing shopping centers. The city council agreed to sell its ownership share to The Kivelstadt Group, a developer that has a long relationship with Pinole, but not until after a separate June 28, 2011 deadline.

Pinole's overisght board on redevelopment will meet to discuss the issue at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 2131 Pear St. The board includes two Pinole City Council members and other local appointees, but is an independent entity not under city control. Financial assets of former redevelopment agency properties are to be managed by that board.

The Pinole oversight board members are:

• Pinole Mayor Pete Murray and former Pinole Economic Development Manager Mary Drazba (appointed by the Pinole City Council)
• Counnity College District Governing Board member John Marquez (appointed by the Contra Costa Community College District)
• Norma Martinez-Rubin (appointed by the Contra Costa Superintendent of Schools)
• East Bay Regional Parks District Board member Whitney Dotson (appointed by the East Bay Regional Parks District)
• Pinole Council member Debbie Long and Pinole Planning Commisisoner Maureen Toms (appointed by Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors).

An April 20 statement from state Controller John Chiang instructs cities and counties that for the parcels in question "your city, county, or agency hereby is ordered to immediately reverse the transfer and return the applicable assets to the successor agency of the relevant redevelopment agency."

If the state gets its way, a board of local and regional officials would determine the disposition of those properties.

What do you think about the state's action regarding former redevelopment properties?