Redevelopment Bill for New Jail Clears Assembly

A bill that would allow San Diego officials to set up a unique redevelopment agency to finance a downtown jail and courts complex passed the Assembly, 75-0, and was sent to the state Senate on Thursday.

Under the bill by Assemblyman Larry Stirling (R-San Diego), city and county officials could set up a redevelopment agency that would bring together county supervisors, the City Council, the sheriff and the judiciary to plan for the badly needed facility.

Traditionally, redevelopment agencies are set up to spur the development of housing and to eliminate urban blight. But Stirling’s measure would allow it exclusively for the development of new public facilities.

The agency would have no taxing authority under Stirling’s bill, but it could receive and spend tax monies collected by other entities. It also would raise money from leasing excess office space in the facility, parking fees, special bail and fine surcharges collected by the courts, and from state and federal grants for jail construction.

Stirling, who introduced the bill in February, said there is no way to tell how much money the redevelopment arrangement could raise. But he said it is unlikely that it could generate all of the $495 million that county officials say they need for new jail and courts buildings. Although they have characterized the need for new criminal justice facilities as “a crisis,” county officials have so far taken no position on Stirling’s bill.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors will be asking voters in November to approve a half-cent-per-dollar sales tax increase to build new jails and courthouses. Although local officials generally want all the options they can get for financing the complex, some reportedly are concerned that Stirling’s bill might lead voters to the erroneous conclusion that the tax increase is not needed.

“If you don’t like my innovative idea, what’s yours?” Stirling asked local officials. “My view of government is that too often there are missed opportunities. . . . I’m just trying to provide some leadership.”

Stirling said bringing local officials and the judiciary together in the decision-making process is a major feature of the measure.

“Right now, you have this odd arrangement where everybody is concerned, but nobody is in charge,” he said.

The proposed redevelopment agency would be governed by a seven-member board composed of a City Council member, a county supervisor, the sheriff, the president of the County Bar, the district attorney and two members of the public.