Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 08-018RESOLUTION NO. 08-18 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT AUTHORIZING PAYMENT BY THE PALM DESERT AGENCY FOR PART OF THE COST OF THE INSTALLATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC SAFETY ACADEMY TO BE OWNED BY THE DESERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT RECITALS: A. In order to effectuate the provisions of the Redevelopment Plan (the "Redevelopment Plan") for Project Area No. 1 (the "Project Area"), the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency (the "Agency") proposes to enter into that certain Funding Agreement (the "Funding Agreement") with the Desert Community College District (the "District") pursuant to which the Agency will fund up to $2,00,000 in construction costs of a new public safety academy (out of a total cost of approximately $29 million) to be owned by the District and to be built on land owned by the District in the northeast corner of the College of the Desert campus which is located on Monterey Avenue in the City of Palm Desert, California (the "City"). The public safety academy (the "academy") will include classrooms, indoor and outdoor physical training areas, and laboratories for police and fire training. The Funding Agreement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and available for public inspection. B. Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Sections 33445 and 33679, on March 27, 2008, the City Council (the "City Council") of the City and the Agency held a duly noticed joint public hearing on the approval of the Agency's proposed payment of up to $2,000,000 for the construction of the academy pursuant to the Funding Agreement, at which time all persons desiring to comment on, or ask questions concerning, the payment of such monies and the Funding Agreement were given the opportunity to do so. Prior to the public hearing, information concerning the Agency's proposed payment of monies and the Funding Agreement were available for public inspection in the office of the City Clerk in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 33679. On February 22, 2008, the District held a public hearing on the Agency's proposed payment of up to $2,000,000 for the construction of the academy under the Funding Agreement pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 33445 and 33679. C. The proposed academy is located in and will benefit the Project Area. The City Council has previously determined that the Project Area is an area in which the combination of conditions of blight are so prevalent and so substantial that there is a reduction of, or lack of, proper utilization of the area to such an extent that it constitutes a serious physical, social and economic burden on the community which cannot reasonably be expected to be reversed or alleviated by private enterprise or governmental action, or both, without redevelopment. Among other things, the Project Area contains vacant and underutilized properties, properties which suffer from depreciated or stagnant property values and impaired investments, and deteriorated, P6402\0001\Resolution W:\Agenda Items\2008-03-27\Reso Apvl Funding Agm COD Public Safety Academy\Resolution.doc RESOLUTION NO. 08-18 aged and obsolete buildings. Such conditions tend to further deterioration and disuse because of the lack of incentive to landowners and their inability to improve, modernize or rehabilitate their property while the condition of the neighboring property remains unchanged. In addition, the Project Area is characterized by the existence of inadequate public improvements and utilities, which cannot be remedied by private or governmental action without redevelopment. The development of the academy will provide needed educational facilities, assist in the revitalization of the Project Area, create employment opportunities for residents of the Project Area, and help remedy the lack of adequate public improvements serving the Project Area, thereby eliminating a factor which substantially hinders the economically viable use of property and buildings within the Project Area. The academy will train public safety personnel in administration of justice, fire fighting technology, and police officer standards. This will allow the District to help provide a better -educated workforce, which will benefit local businesses and help stimulate the economy. All of the foregoing will assist in encouraging private sector investment in the Project Area and will assist in eliminating blighting conditions in the Project Area. D. On February 22, 2008, the Board of Trustees of the District adopted Resolution No.159, finding that no other reasonable means of financing the total construction costs of the academy are available to the District. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT HEREBY FINDS, DETERMINES, RESOLVES AND ORDERS AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and a substantive part of this Resolution. Section 2. Based upon the foregoing and other information presented to the City Council, the City Council hereby finds and determines that: (i) the payment by the Agency of up to $2,000,000 to the District pursuant to the Funding Agreement for a portion of the cost of the construction of the academy is consistent with the Agency's implementation plan adopted pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 33490; (ii) no other reasonable means of financing the construction costs of the academy are available to the City; (iii) the District has found that no other reasonable means of financing the total construction costs of the academy are available to the District; (iv) the academy will be of benefit to the Project Area and the immediate neighborhood in which the academy is located; and (v) the payment by the Agency for a portion of the cost of the construction of the academy will assist in the elimination of one or more blighting conditions inside the Project Area. P6402\0001\Resolution 2 W:Wgenda Items\2008-03-27\Reso Apvl Funding Agm COD Public Safety Academy\Resolution.doc RESOLUTION NO. 08-18 Section 3. The City Council hereby approves the payment by the Agency of up to $2,000,000 to the District for the construction of the academy pursuant to the Funding Agreement from any funds of the Agency lawfully available therefor. PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 27th day of March, 2008. AYES: FERGUSON, FINERTY, KELLY, SPIEGEL, and BENSON NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ATTEST: s / CHELLE D. KLAS N, CIT1/4 Y CLE K CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA P6402\0001 \Resolution 3 W:Wgenda Items\2008-03-27\Reso Apvl Funding Agm COD Public Safety Academy\Resolution.doc