San Diego City Council on Feb. 28 approved more than $213 million in spending committed to redevelopment projects through the first half of 2012, as the city continued the process of winding down its Redevelopment Agency following a state move to dissolve nearly 400 of them throughout California.
The spending plan, subject to approval by the state financing department, covers bond payments, financial assistance agreements and other contract obligations related to projects already completed or undertaken by the city. According to a city staff report, the projects are in communities including City Heights, North Park, Barrio Logan, San Ysidro and the downtown area.
City Council in coming weeks will consider the fate of other obligations coming due in the first half and beyond June. That includes payments on large past projects, such as the 2001 expansion of the San Diego Convention Center and the 2004 completion of Petco Park.
City Council is deemed the successor entity to the city’s Redevelopment Agency. Local governments statewide are in the process of disbanding the agencies under a state law that took effect Feb. 1.
— Lou Hirsh
