By Jim Tortolano/Garden Grove Journal
Tuesday was bargain night at the Stanton City Council meeting, as city leaders moved forward with two measures they regard as good deals.
On a 5-0 vote, the city council approved an ordinance which would create an option for the city to buy all properties owned by the redevelopment agency. The cost of the option? Just $10.
“This will protect the city’s assets in case the state decides to take from redevelopment agencies,” said Carol Jacobs, city manager. Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed – as a way of helping to balance the state’s budget – taking funds from such agencies, which many cities use to attract or build development.
Earlier, the council took measures to “lock up” redevelopment money.
Also Tuesday night, the council voted 4-1 to arrange for a swap of credits with the City of Villa Park that should net Stanton $20,000. Southern California Edison gives each city a certain sum of credits toward the undergrounding of utilities.
Stanton will get $20,000 in cash in exchange for assigning to Villa Park $50,000 worth of credits. According to Jacobs, Stanton has no undergrounding plans at present, and the deal will bring unanticipated cash to the city.
The lone dissenting vote came from Councilwoman Carol Warren, who said “I just can’t see giving away these funds at 40 cents on the dollar in times of uncertainty like this.”
Also on Tuesday night, the city council voted 5-0 to expand the planning commission from five to seven members.
“We have a large number of residents qualified to serve,” said Councilman David Shawver, “and this gives us the chance to use more of that brainpower.”
Tuesday’s vote was an introduction of the change; it is expected to be confirmed at the Feb. 22 meeting and will take effect in March.
