Powegians to See 'Dramatic' Changes With Elimination of Redevelopment Agency

Powegians will see "dramatic" changes in the city with the permanent elimination of redevelopment agencies in California, leaders said at a brief Tuesday evening City Council meeting.

In the first council meeting of the year, city staff told council members that a "functional plan" on how to deal with the elimination of redevelopment agenies would be brought forth at the Jan. 17 council meeting.

Though city staff are still digesting the changes and evaluating how Poway will go forward after the that upheld a California law eliminating redevelopment agencies, City Manager Penny Riley said the "landscape has changed as we know it."

Deputy Mayor Jim Cunningham agreed, and encouraged residents to reach out to state lawmakers. 

"This is the most dramatic impact Poway will see," he said. "We have to make sure our voices are heard in Sacramento."

Riley said the , which was formed in March and holds assets that were transferred from the redevelopment agency, will "continue to act" with the "successor entity," though staff is still working on a full plan.

The high court's ruling comes after months of who rallied against Assembly Bills 1X-26 and 1X-27, including Councilwoman Merrilee Boyack who further slammed the state at Tuesday's meeting. The ruling allows the state to sieze about $1.7 billion from about 400 redevelopment agencies statewide to help cure its own budget woes.

"This is absolute highway robbery," she said. "The state once again is stealing us all blind."

In other council business, the City Council approved the consent calendar. They  will meet again on Jan. 17.