The membership composition of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Long Beach was changed by ordinance in 1999. At that time, the Agency Board was increased from five to seven city residents, appointed by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by the City Council. The ordinance also required that at least three members of the Board be from nominations by the Central, North and West Long Beach Industrial Project Area Committees.

It is critical that the Redevelopment Agency Board relates to the various residential, business and demographic stakeholders in our community. With almost one-half of the City in redevelopment project areas, it is imperative that the appointments made be representative of the communities served and reflect our cultural and ethnic diversity. Our existing structure has not led to the achievement of these goals. I would therefore propose the following amendments.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Request that the City Attorney prepare an amendment to the Long Beach Municipal Code, which amends the Municipal Code to require that each Redevelopment Project Area Committee nominate and present to the Mayor at least four (4) persons to fill vacancies on the Redevelopment Agency Board. This action would be retroactive to include any unfilled positions that currently exist.

Following from Ms. Linda Ivers

...I have copied the description and duties of the RDA Board from information posted on the City website at the following link: www.longbeach.gov/citygov/boards.htm

Redevelopment Agency Board

Members: 7
Term: 4 years; no term limits
Meetings: Second and Fourth Monday, 8:30 a.m.; City Council Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Blvd.
Function: Plans, develops, redesigns or reconstructs all or part of a designated redevelopment area to eliminate blight or that which poses a health problem for the community.

City Ordinance 2.66.020 only requires the 3 Project Area Committees (Central, North and Westside Industrial) to "promptly nominate at least two persons to fill each such vacany or vacancies."...

In the letter that NorthPAC received from the Mayor relative to RDA Board nominations, we were told that she intended to reappoint William Baker. She asked that if we did not concur to please nominate 3 people. NorthPAC advised the Mayor that we heartly concurred in her reappointment of Mr. Baker. The need for diversity was not mentioned in the Mayor's letter.

As Long Beach residents we volunteer our time working together to make a difference! We live diversity, we don't set artificial goals to attain it. We try to nominate people who have the desire, time, energy and knowledge to make good decisions for our City. We have a fairly small pool to pick from -- those who participate. The Mayor has a much larger pool to pick her nominees from, including those from the PACs. It is the Mayor, with the approval of the Council, who determines the final appointees. After all, the PACs do not nominate a majority of the RDA Board members, only 3 out of 7...

Following from Ms. Laurie Angel

[T]he timing of this matter relative to this particular board (RDA) calls into question the real motivation for this 11th hour change in the municipal code, in the name of diversity, yet not expressly stated in the proposed amendment. I'm not sure if the word diversity had been expressed to Central PAC in a request for additional nominees when the two nominees that were submitted received rejection letters. The impression the PACs are left with is that these former chairs of the PACs have the wrong politics to serve. The mayor had the opportunity to appoint 4 individuals to the RDA board this time out, but suddenly it becomes the responsibility of the PACs to provide the diversity? I find this to be a weak argument...

Following from Mr. Don Darnauer

So, in effect, "a best qualified...most experienced" selection process is being discarded for political expediency...

Current LB Municipal Code re RDA appointments

2.66.020 Members-Appointment.

The Redevelopment Agency shall be governed by a board consisting of seven City residents, which shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority of all of the members of the Council. Such boardmembers shall serve four-year terms.

A. In addition to the above-described requirements, at least two members of the Board shall be appointed in the manner described in Subsection 2.66.020.B below. Commencing upon June 1, 2003, at least three members of the board shall be appointed in the manner set forth in Subsection 2.66.020.B below.

B. Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the boardmember seats described in Subsection 2.66.020.A above, the Central Long Beach Redevelopment Project Area Committee, the North Long Beach Redevelopment Project Area Committee and the West Long Beach Industrial Redevelopment Project Area Committee shall promptly each nominate at least two persons to fill each such vacancy or vacancies. The Mayor shall appoint the boardmember or boardmembers from amongst such nominations, which appointment shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of all of the members of the Council.

C. In the event that any of the project area committees described in Subsection 2.66.020.B above discontinues operation or fails to make nominations in a timely manner, the Mayor shall appoint the boardmember or boardmembers from the nominations made by the remaining project area committees.