Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB 986 - Disposition of Bond Proceeds from Former Redevelopment AgencyCITY OF PALM DESERT OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORT REQUEST: APPROVE THE PALM DESERT LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO PROVIDE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR SB 986 (DUTTON). SUBMITTED BY: Stephen Y. Aryan, Risk Manager DATE: March 22, 2012 CONTENTS: Recommended Letter of Support SB 986 Bill Text Recommendation By Minute Motion, approve the recommended letter of support for SB 986 (Dutton). Committee Recommendation On March 8, 2012, the Palm Desert Legislative Review Committee recommended that the City Council approve a letter of support for SB 986 (Dutton). Background Existing law dissolved redevelopment agencies, as of February 1, 2012, and designated successor agencies. Successor entities perform certain duties, including, among others, remitting unencumbered funds of that agency to the county auditor -controller, and overseeing the use of bond proceeds. Existing law requires each successor agency to have an oversight board that is composed of seven members. This proposed legislation provides that all bond proceeds that were generated by the former redevelopment agency shall be deemed to be encumbered and would prohibit a successor agency from remitting these proceeds to the county auditor -controller. This bill also specifies that bond proceeds for Low and Moderate Income Housing Funds shall be deemed encumbered. This bill requires that the proceeds of bonds issued by a former redevelopment agency must be used by the successor agency for the purposes for which the bonds were sold pursuant to an enforceable obligation, as defined, that was entered into either by the former redevelopment agency prior to its dissolution, or is entered into by the successor agency by December 14, 2014. Staff is recommending that this deadline be increased by approximately two years. Staff Report: SB 986 (Dutton) March 22, 2012 Page 2 of 2 Fiscal Analysis Existing law (as enacted under ABX1 26) called for the dissolution of all redevelopment agencies and is unclear as to what should be done with bond proceeds. This bill clarifies the inconsistencies in ABX1 26 (2011) to allow bond proceeds generated by the former Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency to be spent on the projects for which they were sold. Submitted By: Stephen Y. Ar*an, Risk Approval: KI Jo . Wohlmuth, Citger y cffy'COUNCILACTION APPROVED DENTED RECEIVED OTHER MEETING DA - - `) C, / `� AYES: NOES:�� — Ai3SENT: 10 ABSTAIN: L OU- VERIFIED BY: Original on File with Citt i:'s March 23, 2012 The Honorable Bob Dutton California State Senate State Capitol, Room 5097 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Senator Dutton: On behalf of the City of Palm Desert, I am pleased to support SB 986 (Dutton), which clarifies the inconsistencies in ABx1 26 (2011) to allow bond proceeds generated by former redevelopment agencies to be spent on the projects for which they were sold. With the dissolution of redevelopment agencies under ABx1 26 it is ambiguous as to what should be done with bond proceeds. There are numerous shovel -ready projects in the State of California that are stranded waiting for clarification on the ambiguities of ABx1 26. By clarifying that bonds can be used for their intended purposes, jobs will be created, infrastructure improved, and the economy stimulated. This bill requires that the proceeds of bonds issued by a former redevelopment agency must be used by the successor agency for the purposes for which the bonds were sold pursuant to an enforceable obligation, as defined, that was entered into either by the former redevelopment agency prior to its dissolution, or is entered into by the successor agency by December 14, 2014. The City of Palm Desert respectfully requests that this deadline be increased by approximately two years. Thank you in advance for your support of SB 986. Sincerely, Robert A. Spiegel Mayor cc: City Council The Honorable Bill Emmerson, California State Senate The Honorable Brian Nestande, California State Assembly Anthony D. Gonsalves, Joe A. Gonsalves & Sons John M. Wohlmuth, City Manager Paul S. Gibson, Director of Finance Stephen Y. Aryan, Risk Manager Bill Text - SB-986 Redevelopment: bond proceeds. http://Ieginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/bilINavClient.xhtml?bill id=2... SENATE BILL SB-986 Redevelopment: bond proceeds. (2011-2012) CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2011-2012 REGULAR SESSION Introduced by Senator Dutton January 31, 2012 No. 986 An act to amend Sections 34177 and 34180 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to redevelopment, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 986, as introduced, Dutton. Redevelopment: bond proceeds. Existing law dissolves redevelopment agencies and community development agencies, as of February 1, 2012, and designates successor agencies, as defined. Existing law requires that successor entities perform certain duties, including, among others, remitting unencumbered funds of that agency to the county auditor -controller, and overseeing the use of bond proceeds. Existing law requires each successor agency to have an oversight board that is composed of 7 members who meet certain qualifications. Existing law requires the oversight board to approve certain actions of the successor agency. This bill would provide that all bond proceeds that were generated by the former redevelopment agency shall be deemed to be encumbered and would prohibit a successor agency from remitting these proceeds to the county auditor -controller. This bill would also require that the proceeds of bonds issued by a former redevelopment agency must be used by the successor agency for the purposes for which the bonds were sold pursuant to an enforceable obligation, as defined, that was entered into either by the former redevelopment agency prior to its dissolution, or is entered into by the successor agency by December 14, 2014. This bill would also provide that if an enforceable obligation is not entered into by that time, or if the purpose for which the bonds were sold can no longer be achieved, then the bond proceeds shall be used to defease the bonds or to purchase outstanding bonds on the open market for cancellation. This bill would also require the oversight board to approve of the establishment of an enforceable obligation with respect to bond proceeds. This bill would prohibit the oversight board from disapproving the establishment of an enforceable obligation with respect to bond proceeds if that obligation is reasonably in furtherance of the purposes for which the bonds were sold. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: no Fiscal Committee: yes Local Program: no THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: I of 3/14/2012 5:39 PM Bill Text - SB-986 Redevelopment: bond proceeds. http://Ieginfo.legislattre.ca.gov/faces/bilINavClient.xhtml?bill_id=2... SECTION 1. Section 34177 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 34177. Successor agencies are required to do all of the following: (a) Continue to make payments due for enforceable obligations. (1) On and after October 1, 2011, and until a Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule becomes operative, only payments required pursuant to an enforceable obligations payment schedule shall be made. The initial enforceable obligation payment schedule shall be the last schedule adopted by the redevelopment agency under Section 34169. However, payments associated with obligations excluded from the definition of enforceable obligations by paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 34171 shall be excluded from the enforceable obligations payment schedule and be removed from the last schedule adopted by the redevelopment agency under Section 34169 prior to the successor agency adopting it as its enforceable obligations payment schedule pursuant to this subdivision. The enforceable obligation payment schedule may be amended by the successor agency at any public meeting and shall be subject to the approval of the oversight board as soon as the board has sufficient members to form a quorum. (2) The Department of Finance and the Controller shall each have the authority to require any documents associated with the enforceable obligations to be provided to them in a manner of their choosing. Any taxing entity, the department, and the Controller shall each have standing to file a judicial action to prevent a violation under this part and to obtain injunctive or other appropriate relief. (3) Commencing on January 1, 2012, only those payments listed in the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule may be made by the successor agency from the funds specified in the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule. In addition, commencing January 1, 2012, the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule shall supersede the Statement of Indebtedness, which shall no longer be prepared nor have any effect under the Community Redevelopment Law. (4) Nothing in the act adding this part is to be construed as preventing a successor agency, with the prior approval of the oversight board, as described in Section 34179, from making payments for enforceable obligations from sources other than those listed in the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule. (5) From October 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012, a successor agency shall have no authority and is hereby prohibited from accelerating payment or making any lump -sum payments that are intended to prepay loans unless such accelerated repayments were required prior to the effective date of this part. (b) Maintain reserves in the amount required by indentures, trust indentures, or similar documents governing the issuance of outstanding redevelopment agency bonds. (c) Perform obligations required pursuant to any enforceable obligation. (d) Remit unencumbered balances of redevelopment agency funds to the county auditor -controller for distribution to the taxing entities, including, but not limited to, the unencumbered balance of the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund of a former redevelopment agency. In making the distribution, the county auditor -controller shall utilize the same methodology for allocation and distribution of property tax revenues provided in Section 34188. For purposes of this subdivision, bond proceeds of the redevelopment agency shall be deemed to be encumbered, and therefore the successor agency shall not remit those funds to the county auditor -controller. (e) Dispose of assets and properties of the former redevelopment agency as directed by the oversight board; provided, however, that the oversight board may instead direct the successor agency to transfer ownership of certain assets pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 34181. The disposal is to be done expeditiously and in a manner aimed at maximizing value. Proceeds from asset sales and related funds that are no longer needed for approved development projects or to otherwise wind down the affairs of the agency, each as determined by the oversight board, shall be transferred to the county auditor -controller for distribution as property tax proceeds under Section 34188. (f) Enforce all former redevelopment agency rights for the benefit of the taxing entities, including, but not limited to, continuing to collect loans, rents, and other revenues that were due to the redevelopment agency. (g) Effectuate transfer of housing functions and assets to the appropriate entity designated pursuant to Section 34176. (h) Expeditiously wind down the affairs of the redevelopment agency pursuant to the provisions of this part and in accordance with the direction of the oversight board. 2 of 3/14/2012 5:39 PM Bill Text - SB-986 Redevelopment: bond proceeds. http://Ieginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/bilINavClient.xhtml?bill_id=2... (i) Continue to oversee development of properties until the contracted work has been completed or the contractual obligations of the former redevelopment agency can be transferred to other parties. Bond proceeds shall be used for the purposes for which the bonds were sold unless purposes can no longer be achieves#, to wive~ case, the proceeds Fn be used `e defease the bends if and to the extent that the successor agency is either performing an obligation required pursuant to any enforceable obligation entered into by the former redevelopment agency, or is performing an enforceable obligation entered into by the successor agency on or before December 31, 2014, to fulfill the purposes for which the bonds were sold by the dissolved redevelopment agency. Any amount of bond proceeds not subject to an enforceable obligation as of January 1, 2015, shall be used to defease the bonds or to purchase outstanding bonds on the open market for cancellation. If the purposes for which the bonds were sold by the dissolved redevelopment agency can no longer be achieved, then the proceeds shall be used to defease the bonds or to purchase outstanding bonds on the open market for cancellation. (j) Prepare a proposed administrative budget and submit it to the oversight board for its approval. The proposed administrative budget shall include all of the following: (1) Estimated amounts for successor agency administrative costs for the upcoming six-month fiscal period. (2) Proposed sources of payment for the costs identified in paragraph (1). (3) Proposals for arrangements for administrative and operations services provided by a city, county, city and county, or other entity. (k) Provide administrative cost estimates, from its approved administrative budget that are to be paid from property tax revenues deposited in the Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund, to the county auditor -controller for each six-month fiscal period. (1) (1) Before each six-month fiscal period, prepare a Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph. For each recognized obligation, the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule shall identify one or more of the following sources of payment: (A) Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund. (S) Bond proceeds. (C) Reserve balances. (D) Administrative cost allowance. (E) The Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund, but only to the extent no other funding source is available or when payment from property tax revenues is required by an enforceable obligation or by the provisions of this part. (F) Other revenue sources, including rents, concessions, asset sale proceeds, interest earnings, and any other revenues derived from the former redevelopment agency, as approved by the oversight board in accordance with this part. (2) A Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule shall not be deemed valid unless all of the following conditions have been met: (A) A draft Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule is prepared by the successor agency for the enforceable obligations of the former redevelopment agency by November 1, 2011. From October 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012, the initial draft of that schedule shall project the dates and amounts of scheduled payments for each enforceable obligation for the remainder of the time period during which the redevelopment agency would have been authorized to obligate property tax increment had such a that redevelopment agency not been dissolved, and shall be reviewed and certified, as to its accuracy, by an external auditor designated pursuant to Section 34182. (B) The certified Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule is submitted to and duly approved by the oversight board. (C) A copy of the approved Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule is submitted to the county auditor - controller and both the Controller's office and the Department of Finance and be posted on the successor agency's Internet Web site. (3) The Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule shall be forward looking to the next six months. The first Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule shall be submitted to the Controller's office and the Department of 3 of4 3/14/2012 5:39 PM Bill Text- SB-986 Redevelopment: bond proceeds. http://Ieginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/bilINavClient.xhtml?bill_id=2... Finance by December 15, 2011, for the period of January 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012, inclusive. Former redevelopment agency enforceable obligation payments due, and reasonable or necessary administrative costs due or incurred, prior to January 1, 2012, shall be made from property tax revenues received in the spring of 2011 property tax distribution, and from other revenues and balances transferred to the successor agency. SEC. 2. Section 34180 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 34180. All of the following successor agency actions shall first be approved by the oversight board: (a) The establishment of new repayment terms for outstanding loans where the terms have not been specified prior to the date of this part. (b) Refunding of outstanding bonds or other debt of the former redevelopment agency by successor agencies in order to provide for savings or to finance debt service spikes; provided, however, that no additional debt is created and debt service is not accelerated. (c) Setting aside of amounts in reserves as required by indentures, trust indentures, or similar documents governing the issuance of outstanding redevelopment agency bonds. (d) Merging of project areas. (e) Continuing the acceptance of federal or state grants, or other forms of financial assistance from either public or private sources, where assistance is conditioned upon the provision of matching funds, by the successor entity as successor to the former redevelopment agency, in an amount greater than 5 percent. (f) (1) If a city, county, or city and county wishes to retain any properties or other assets for future redevelopment activities, funded from its own funds and under its own auspices, it must reach a compensation agreement with the other taxing entities to provide payments to them in proportion to their shares of the base property tax, as determined pursuant to Section 34188, for the value of the property retained. (2) If no other agreement is reached on valuation of the retained assets, the value will be the fair market value as of the 2011 property tax lien date as determined by the county assessor. (g) Establishment of the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule. (h) A request by the successor agency to enter into an agreement with the city, county, or city and county that formed the redevelopment agency that it is succeeding. (i) A request by a successor agency or taxing entity to pledge, or to enter into an agreement for the pledge of, property tax revenues pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 34178. (j) The establishment of an enforceable obligation with respect to bond proceeds pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 34177. However, the oversight board shall not disapprove the establishment of an enforceable obligation with respect to bond proceeds if that obligation is reasonably in furtherance of the purposes for which the bonds were sold. SEC. 3. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order to provide guidance to the successor agencies on the use of bond proceeds, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately. 4 of 3/14/2012 5:39 PM