The Dissolution of Redevelopment: Where Have We Been? What Lies Ahead?*

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has an expanded role in the management of the transition of redevelopment. They have a responsibility to make appointments to all oversight boards in the County. Ultimately, in 2016, there will be a single oversight board over all successor agencies in the County. The Board is also responsible to approve and oversee the external audit contracts to be managed by the Auditor-Controller. Response: Agrees with finding. The Orange County Board of Supervisors has a significant role in the dissolution of Redevelopment. By law, the Board serves as the governing body of the Successor Agency to the former Orange County Development Agency. The Board also has authority to appoint specific members to the other 24 former Redevelopment agencies in Orange County, both as the County Board of Supervisors and the governing body of County-affiliated special districts. In 2016, the multiple oversight boards will be reconfigured into a single body, again with the Board of Supervisors having appointment authority for specific members. The Board of Supervisors also has responsibility for the Housing Successor Agency as the governing body of the Orange County Housing Authority. Finally, the Board of Supervisors has responsibility for approval of the respective external audit contracts managed by the Auditor-Controller as mandated in AB 1x26.

It is highly likely that new legislation will pass expanding the scope of the low to moderate income housing programs and ultimately a replacement program for redevelopment itself. Local governments should take a proactive approach in planning and shaping its return. Response: Disagrees partially with the finding. While there are at least four pieces of legislation related to Redevelopment that have been introduced in the Legislature since the Supreme Court decision on AB 1x26 in December (AB 1585, SB 986, SB 654, and AB 1484), there is no language proposing a replacement program for Redevelopment itself. It should be noted that all four pieces of legislation specifically address perceived necessary clean-up to AB 1x26 and Housing related issues. Of the four, only AB 1484 was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in to law. As has been the case to this point, there has been no known organized effort or willingness on the part of the Legislature or Governor to address the concept of a replacement program for Redevelopment. Consequently, any efforts by local government are not likely to be productive. Responses to Recommendation R.3 and R.5