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May 15, 2008
That Settles It!
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| Image: Butte County Supervisor Jane Dolan
filed suit against the Chico RDA to stop a land purchase in Chapmantown
last year. Case number 141213 Dolan, Jane vs. Chico Redevelopment Agency filed in 10/4/2007 is being settled. Supervisor Dolan filed the lawsuit seeking to stop a land transaction between the RDA and private land owners. The suit alleged that the sale price was excessive ($450K for 1.3 acres). The plaintiff (Dolan) sought to have the land returned to the private owners and the money returned to the RDA. This land purchase was part of a planned low income housing project funded with RDA money. Tom Gasgoyne, of the Chico Beat, wrote a detailed story on the law suit and why Dolan says she filed it (10-2007, see story here). In short, she felt the process was secretive, failed to meet California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, and had an illegal map filed. In the Beat story Dolan is reported to have said... She said she filed the suit as individual and not a supervisor because she does not want county taxpayers footing the legal bill. The lawyer hired to file this CEQA based legal action also happens to be the lawyer the Friends of Bidwell Park hired in 2003 and 2007 to gum up the Bidwell Park Master Management Plan update (to stop disc golf). He was also used by a neighborhood group to obstruct the Enloe expansion. Did Dolan get what she wanted? Hardly. The Redevelopment Agency agreed to resubmit a map to ensure an easement was correctly described in the land purchase. It also agreed to pay for Dolan's legal fees up to the point of the settlement. This would be the majority of Dolan's legal costs, and totals $20,000. Since the RDA pays this money, you can assume it's coming from tax increment income. These funds are derived from property taxes of Butte County residents residing in Chico. Not only did Butte County residents foot Dolan's legal bill, but when interest has accrued and this money is paid back it will have cost us close to $40,000. Did the lawsuit have any additional impact? Maybe. One of Dolan's other objectives was to force the city to follow a more open process with RDA funded developments. A lack of neighbor input was cited in this case as one of her concerns. Judging from the Bidwell Park Apartments public noticing process it seems like she has a point. But her lawsuit didn't change the way the city does business... yet. On the other hand, the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) was expected to work on this project, and they may no longer be interested in taking part. So we own the land, but the project may be delayed, changed, or stopped. That was likely the real purpose of the lawsuit anyway. With the cost of the land purchase, staff hours, outside council for the city, and the settlement paying off Dolan's attorney this parade of gaffes will likely cost more than $600,000 of taxpayer money (before interest accrues). You can double that figure to get the real cost to pay off the RDA bond the money comes from. Now that's some good ole fashioned blight fixin'. I emailed Supervisor Dolan to get her perspective on the lawsuit, but received no response. City Attorney Lori Barker did respond and spoke to me about this case via telephone. |
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 CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Robp, loyalist or patriot, you be the judge. See comments below for the answer. |
Posted by Lon at May 15, 2008 05:00 AM
Comments
"So we own the land, but the project may be delayed, changed, or stopped. That was likely the real purpose of the lawsuit anyway."
Meadowfoam and Canyon View High School, same story. The whole issue was to use it as a delay. It worked.
Note that one of the prime meadowfoam parcels is now up for sale. This used to be a horse pasture. At the corner of Bruce and Humboldt/Stilson Canyon, that huge parcel is up for sale. And it contains one of the healthiest meadowfoam populations in Chico. If you don't believe me go look at the big for sale sign.
Where's BEC and the Josephines of the world protecting it now? Somebody cut a deal.
BEC = BS
Posted by: Anthony at May 15, 2008 07:41 AM
CIC: Is that Jamestown Fort?
Posted by: robp at May 15, 2008 07:54 AM
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/pics/jamestwn.jpg
Looks like Jamestown.
Posted by: Gregg at May 15, 2008 08:51 AM
Well, too bad Jane's backhanded trick didn't work. I sat in on those meetings, Larry Wahl and I both objected to the price of the land - ridiculous.
And wait until you are driving past walls of housing along 149 - Vlamis is right, and she's got a lot of guts. I know her well enough to know she is not sitting on some box making juvenile cracks about any of you.
Oh, crap, just got myself censored again!
Posted by: juanita at May 16, 2008 07:27 AM