Rebuilding Plan OKd in Raucous Session

San Bernardino County supervisors approved a plan Tuesday to help rebuild a fire-ravaged mountain community, but only after the chairman abstained from voting in the face of conflict-of-interest allegations and two opponents were arrested for disrupting the meeting.

The plan to create an 837-acre redevelopment area in the Cedar Glen community was promoted by county officials as a way to generate $40 million to widen winding roads, upgrade an overburdened water system and fund loans and grants to rebuild destroyed homes. The board approved the plan 4 to 0.

But the proposal was largely rejected by mountain residents, many of whom were leery about the authority that redevelopment law bestows on the county to condemn private property to make way for such improvements.

Last year’s fall fires destroyed about 350 homes in Cedar Glen. After the flames were extinguished, firefighters complained that some roads in the community were too narrow to allow even one fire engine to pass. Other roads were not served by fire hydrants, further hampering firefighters.

Supervisor Dennis Hansberger, who represents the area, started the meeting by denying allegations in a newspaper article that state conflict-of-interest laws prevent him from voting for the plan because his father owns property near Cedar Glen. Hansberger has championed the redevelopment plan since March.

He called the allegations “misleading and irresponsible” but said he would abstain from the vote to remove any appearance of wrongdoing.

“I have no conflict,” Hansberger said before leaving.

County lawyers agreed with Hansberger, saying the state’s conflict-of-interest laws apply only to public officials and their spouses. The law does not apply to the real estate holdings or financial interests of the parents of public officials.

Before the supervisor left, however, he clashed with longtime gadfly Grace Lester of Yucaipa, who testified that the project would only profit government leaders such as Hansberger. When Hansberger interrupted Lester, she snapped back, “Shut up!” Clearly angered, Hansberger asked a sheriff’s deputy to remove her from the chambers. Lester shouted “No! No!” as a second deputy arrived to handcuff and escort her out of the room.

Later in the meeting, Marjorie Mikels, an Upland attorney, was arrested and removed from the chambers by two deputies at the behest of Supervisor Bill Postmus. Mikels had objected loudly to the limits Postmus had imposed on another speaker.

“I will sue you!” Mikels shouted as the two deputies began lifting her from her seat.

Both Mikels and Lester were cited on misdemeanor charges of disturbing a public meeting and released. Neither was allowed to reenter the meeting.

Once the meeting resumed, opponents complained that the county’s plan was too vague.

Hugh Campbell, a Cedar Glen resident whose home was spared in last October’s fires, demanded to know which roads would be widened, which properties would be condemned and where county officials planned to build the low-income housing required for the area under redevelopment law.

John Nowak, director of the county’s redevelopment agency, said the supervisors would hold public hearings when specific improvement projects were drafted. He said Tuesday’s meeting was held to take public comment and get county approval to begin setting aside property taxes to pay for the improvements.

Under state law, 20% of the tax funds raised in the redevelopment area must be spent on low- and moderate-income housing. Nowak said some of the funding could be used to provide loans and grants to the owners of homes destroyed in the fire.

He said money from the project could also be used to upgrade the local water system. Much of Cedar Glen is served by Arrowhead Manor Water Co., a private firm placed in receivership last year after the death of its owner, Lance Johnson.

Johnson’s widow, Kathleen, asked the board Tuesday to provide more details on how the redevelopment money would be used to improve the water system so she could proceed with finding a new buyer for the water company. “It’s crucial to anything else happening,” she said.

Richard Pretzinger, a retired developer who headed a citizens group to study the redevelopment plan, told the board that he supported the idea even though county officials had yet to draft specific improvement projects.

“I’m in favor,” said Pretzinger, whose 3,400-square-foot home in Cedar Glen was consumed in last year’s fire. “Let’s get on with it.”