Former Glendale officials to oversee redevelopment transition

The board that will oversee the unwinding of Glendale’s decades-old Redevelopment Agency has some new members who are well known in the community.

The Oversight Board will include former Mayor Carl Raggio, former Civil Service Commissioner Albert Abkarian and Glendale Unified School District Supt. Dick Sheehan, according to a city report.

Glendale Community College President/Supt. Dawn Lindsay was set to take a seat on the board, but since she is leaving for a job out of state, she may be replaced by the college’s executive vice president, Ron Nakasone. One more member must still be appointed.

On Feb. 1, a state mandate axed nearly 400 redevelopment agencies throughout the state in a move that transfers incrementally higher property taxes that once went to business and affordable housing development to fill a state budget shortfall.

City Manager Scott Ochoa and Chief Assistant Director of Community Development Philip Lanzafame were appointed to the board in February.

The board is scheduled to hold its first meeting in May, but Ochoa noted that he wasn’t too happy about the arrangement.

“It is frustrating beyond all recognition,” he said, adding that the city is expending staff time on redevelopment’s end when they are flooded with budget work.

Oversight Board decisions must also be approved by the state Department of Finance.

-- Brittany Levine, Times Community News

Twitter: @brittanylevine