Politics & Government

Officials to Talk Redevelopment Tonight

The Lake Forest Redevelopment Agency, made up of the members of the City Council, meets tonight.

In the wake of a court order effectively abolishing local redevelopment agencies, the Lake Forest Redevelopment Agency convenes tonight to discuss its future.

A lawsuit filed by the California Redevelopment Association opposing the state's plans to shutter the agencies backfired last week when the state's Supreme Court said that the state Legislature has the right to dissolve them.

Since , Lake Forest's legal counsel and other city staffers have been analyzing the opinion.

Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When the state Legislature in July first dissolved all of California's redevelopment agencies, it passed a companion law allowing the agencies to continue if they paid up a portion of their tax revenue to the state.

In August, Lake Forest officials  to keep their redevelopment agency open.

Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Last week, the state Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional for the state to shake down redevelopment agencies for tax revenue. However, it also decided the Legislature was well within its rights to dissolve the agencies.

"The effect of the ruling is that redevelopment agencies throughout the State will be abolished and will not be able to continue operations under the provisions of [the companion bill that required cities to pay to keep their agencies open]," Lake Forest city staffers wrote in a report.

City officials that comprise the Redevelopment Agency also make up the City Council. Both meetings will take place tonight at , beginning at 7 p.m.

In Lake Forest, redevelopment funding helped pay for the 2006 development of the Arbor On El Toro, the commercial district that includes the Orchard and Home Depot shopping center.

Redevelopment agencies are funded by increased tax revenues generated by projects in their areas. The agencies use the revenue to invest in additional projects in areas deemed "blighted."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here