BREA : City OKs Funds for Possible Relocations

With a stroke of the pen Wednesday, the City Council found a way to deal with continued opposition to its ambitious redevelopment plans for the downtown area.

Under a settlement agreement, the city will reimburse each business and property owner in the proposed redevelopment zone up to $6,500 to cover whatever costs those affected might incur during negotiations or litigation over the fate of the affected property.

In addition, those who are within the 50-acre project area being developed by the Watt Co. may choose to remain in the area, while those wishing to relocate will be given financial assistance.

With at least 20 businesses and property owners involved, the settlement could cost the city more than $120,000. This amount does not include relocation assistance.

However, the agreement must still be ratified by the Brea Small Business Coalition by Tuesday.

In approving the settlement, officials said they hoped to finally resolve disputes and claims, set criteria for more property acquisitions and finally resolve relocation issues.

Resident Mike Leifer, who called the council action a “step in the right direction,” said the coalition will meet Monday. He would not speculate on whether the businesses would approve the agreement.

The settlement involves 20 remaining businesses in the downtown project area and surrounding property owners. Property owners within the project area are Seaton and Laurette Greaves, Daniel Cesario, Jim Cook, Michael A. Kunec and Ron Westerdoll.

Other property owners are Frank and Colleen Cotta, Dennis Dean, Drew Imler, Gary and Sarah MacDonald, Rick Mortimer, and R. W. Mortimer & Associates Insurance Agents and Brokers Inc. Also, Phil Sheriff, Tecla Miceli, Marina Vega, Joseph and Maria Veltri, Bill Young, James Cossac, Robert Salas and Robert Salas Jr., Gil Lerma, Horace Vega and Solomon Alvarado.

Councilman Burnie Dunlap, who approved the settlement, together with Councilmen Glenn G. Parker and Wayne D. Wedin, said council approval of a relocation plan Tuesday night paved the way for the settlement.

“An element of the settlement was the approval of the relocation plan by the agency,” Dunlap said. He said the settlement was financially prudent and will benefit the city in the long run.

Superior Court Judge Robert C. Todd ordered the relocation plan after a lawsuit by local businesses which charged that the city had violated state laws by providing for people who would be displaced by the project.

The relocation plan approved Tuesday provides for financial and technical assistance, including $5,200 for residents forced to move out of the project site.

Businesses are entitled to as much as $10,000 for rental costs if they choose to rent replacement property as a result of being displaced. The relocation assistance is in addition to $6,500 that the city has allocated for the negotiation process, according to Leifer.

Assistant City Manager Tim O’Donnell said the settlement has addressed concerns raised in the lawsuit. However, he declined to go into the details of the agreement, saying that it would be “inappropriate to elaborate prior to the other parties getting a chance to meet.”

“We don’t want to endanger our relationship with them,” he said.