SANTA PAULA : Refurbishment Plan Decision Postponed

The Santa Paula City Council postponed action Monday night on a plan to rejuvenate a major portion of the city after several Ventura County officials criticized the plan for not properly exploring its impact on the environment.

Bruce Smith, a county planner, told the council that the environmental study of its proposed redevelopment project failed to adequately detail the plan’s effects on traffic, noise, water conservation and housing. “The general plan is inadequate, and it does not comply with government codes,” Smith said.

Without comment, the council postponed any decision on the issue until its next meeting July 9.

If the redevelopment plan is approved, the city would replace an archaic sewer system and make other improvements to a 1,100-acre area that stretches across the city from east to west. It would also refurbish many of the area’s sidewalks, streets and traffic signals.

The proposed redevelopment area, mostly industrial and commercial, includes the Santa Paula Airport. It also includes some neighborhoods with older homes but excludes several islands of newer residential areas.

By creating a redevelopment agency last year, the city has frozen property tax revenues for agencies like county government and school districts. These agencies no longer automatically benefit from any increases in property taxes above a 2% yearly increase guaranteed by Proposition 13.

Instead, most of the increased tax revenue will go to the redevelopment agency, bringing in much of the $250 million the city needs to make the improvements. These tax increases come from new commercial and residential buildings, or from houses that are remodeled or sold--thus increasing their assessed value.

The council came to an agreement Monday with several competing agencies for expected increases in property taxes, including the Santa Paula Elementary School District, the Santa Paula Union High School District and the Briggs Elementary School District. Under the agreement, these school districts will receive a 17.5% share of any increase in taxes. The Santa Paula High School Library District, because it is financially strapped, will get its full share of new tax money, as if the redevelopment agency were never formed.

In addition, the city agreed to forward 1% of any surplus tax revenue to the United Water Conservation District. The city has yet to work out an agreement with the county and the community college district on how much these two government entities should get.