Redevelopment, Redistricting Top County Agenda

Alameda County's Board of Supervisors will take on two contentious and politically charged issues Tuesday: redevelopment and redistricting.

The board meets at 9:30 a.m. in its fifth floor chambers at the county administration building, 1221 Oak St., Oakland.

First up, a likely vote to take part in the state's Alternative Voluntary Redevelopment Program.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill June 29 that suspends all new redevelopment activities and incurrence of indebtedness, and dissolves Redevelopment Agencies (RDAs) statewide effective Oct. 1.

But there's an out — a second bill, signed the same day, allows redevelopment agencies to avoid dissolution by opting into the alternative program and making substantial yearly payments to local schools and special districts. 

That would let the county continue, and add to, community projects and low to moderate-income housing programs in San Lorenzo, Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland and other unincorporated areas.

County staff members estimate the cost of contributions to various districts at $10.2 million for fiscal year 2011-2012 and $2.4 million in future years. The county's Redevelopment Working Group has recommended joining the alternative program.

A second reading of the proposed ordinance at a future meeting would be needed to finalize the board's action.

You can read more about local redevelopment .

Redistricting

Every 10 years, following the release of new U.S. Census figures, political maps are redrawn to reflect changes in population. Locally, one of those maps is for the boundaries of Alameda County supervisorial districts.

Changes are designed to ensure that the population of each district is roughly the same, while keeping cities and communities intact within a single district — when possible.

The supervisors OK'd a redistricting map last month. But a review by county staff revealed the chosen map split Pleasanton between districts, so the board is revisiting the issue. The adopted map and two alternatives are on the table.

All three versions put San Lorenzo, San Leandro and part of Ashland in District 3, with Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview and the remaining portion of Ashland in District 4. If the board opts for one of the alternatives, dubbed Map E1 and Map E2, a public hearing will immediately follow the vote.

Read more about supervisorial redistricting .

More on the Agenda

Other items on Tuesday's lengthy agenda include:

• Adding two seats to the Castro Valley Redevelopment Citizens Advisory Committee; one seat will be designated for the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce and the other an at-large representative.
• Continue the emergency action required at a landslide location along San Lorenzo Creek, 200 feet upstream of Second Street in Hayward.
• Proclaiming August 2011 as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

You can see the full agenda and related reports here (in pdf version).