City to control redevelopment land, explore wind power

This list is a summary of decisions made by the Scotts Valley City Council at its March 16 meeting. For more information: www.scottsvalley.org.
City to take over Redevelopment Agency lands
Facing the possibility of state absorption of the redevelopment agencies in cities throughout California, the Scotts Valley City Council — acting as the Redevelopment Agency — voted unanimously to turn over six plots of land owned by the RDA to city control.
The move, said City Manager Steve Ando, is intended to prevent the properties — most of which are earmarked for the Town Center project — from falling under state control should Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal be approved.
“The state is making us jump through all these hoops,” Ando said.
Aside from parcels earmarked for the Town Center, the properties in question include the land occupied by Skypark and the city’s recreation division, as well as a 33,147-square-foot parcel zoned for high-density housing on Erba Lane, which was approved to be sold to the RDA from the city for $725,000 at the council’s Feb. 16 meeting.
Ando stressed that the city would maintain the RDA’s original plans for the land, conforming with the town’s redevelopment plan.
City manager authorized to explore wind power
The Scotts Valley City Council also authorized Ando to move forward with an application to Solar Point Resources to use grant money to acquire six 6-foot wind turbines to help generate electricity for the city’s wastewater plant.
Though Solar Point Resources has a freeze on new applications for turbines, Ando is authorized to submit the city’s application and to approve a deal to purchase the turbines, should an offer be made that doesn’t cost the city any funds above and beyond what the grant covers.
Mayor Dene Bustichi said that the plan would be to have the paperwork ready to go should Solar Point begin accepting new applications.
“It allows us to have a placeholder in place if we decide (to move forward),” Bustichi said.