City Council notes

City weighs legal options to oppose district lines
The Scotts Valley City Council met behind closed doors Sept. 21 to consider how it might challenge new county supervisory district boundaries that split Scotts Valley between two districts.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the redrawn boundaries Sept. 20 after Scotts Valley city leaders submitted two alternate redistricting proposals that were ultimately not used, leaving many upset.
“I feel like none of (Scotts Valley residents’ protests) were even acknowledged,” said Sharolynn Ullestad, the executive director of the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce.
“(The supervisors offered) the lamest of excuses,” City Councilman Randy Johnson said at the meeting. “It’s one thing to say that you’re listening — you saw the antithesis of listening.”
City Attorney Kirsten Powell presented two options to the council :
n A referendum would require an estimated 8,000 valid signatures from county voters who participated in the most recent gubernatorial election and would force the board to suspend the redistricting ordinance to revisit the issue. If the board did not repeal the ordinance, the issue would be decided by voters within 88 days.
n A writ of mandate, a legal challenge to a decision made by a government agency, would call on the courts to review the decision and determine if the board abused its discretion to redraw the boundary lines. A writ of mandate must be made within 90 days of the disputed decision.
City votes to pay ‘extortion’ to keep redevelopment agency afloat
Faced with a state-mandated shutdown of the Scotts Valley Redevelopment Agency on Oct. 1, the City Council voted to make annual paymen ts to the state to keep operating the agency going forward.
“The fear is that if we don’t opt in, it might be too late,” said City Manager Steve Ando, who called the state’s plan “extortion.”
Johnson said the hope is to keep the redevelopment agency alive by paying off the state until a court intervenes on behalf of California cities.
“We have to keep our interests intact,” Johnson said.
For the 2012-13 fiscal year, the city’s estimated payment will be in the neighborhood of $354,000.
“If you’ve got a gun to your head and they want your wallet, you give it to them,” Councilman Jim Reed said.