Pacific Progressive

San Juan Capistrano Mission and Vision Workshop

The second part of the San Juan Capistrano Mission and Vision workshop will be held on Wednesday, August 5 starting at 3 PM in Council Chambers in City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano.  The first Mission and Vision workshop was held in June.

The City Council has put a priority on developing a long-term vision and strategic plan.  The long-term financial plans for the city will use these ideas to shape the financial goals of the city.  The plan is designed to enhance the overall quality of life for residents, visitors and businesses in San Juan Capistrano. 

City Council is leading the effort.  Council members will prioritize the strategic issues identified at the first workshop and give direction to city staff regarding revising the mission, values and vision statements.  A preliminary dialogue on how to strategize the issues will begin.

$3 Million Hit to La Habra from New State Budget

La Habra will have $3 million taken back by the California budget.  over $1 million will be taken from the Highway Use Tax Account. The La Habra Redevelopment Agency will lose $600,000.  $1.3 million in property tax revenue will be taken by the state.  $3 million is about 8% of La Habra's general fund.  

For FY 09-10, the budget for the Redevelopment Agency was $5.8 million. The $600,000 hit is over 10% of the agency's budget.  La Habra Redevelopment Agency owes the City over $8 million for a bond refinancing that the City undertook on behalf of the Redevelopment Agency (RDA).  In FY 08-09, the RDA paid the City $650,000 to continued repayment of the debt.  In FY 09-10, the repayment amount was cut to $200,000. The $600,000 forced budget reduction will hamper efforts of the RDA to finance new redevelopment projects in  La Habra.

Property tax revenues were projected to be flat in the adopted FY 09-10 budget. Giving $1.3 million in property tax money back to the state is about 10% of the approximately $13 million La Habra was expected to receive this year.

The League of California Cities and the California Redevelopment Association contend that state proposals are illegal under the California Constitution and existing State law. The groups are currently exploring options for having the proposed budget amended to remove the taking of money from cities.

Buena Park EZone Makeover

What other cities have done this trick before - Anaheim, Las Vegas, and Orlando are several.  The trick: creating dense, entertainment packed area which attracts tourists and locals alike and gets them to open their wallets to leave their money behind.

Buena Park is reviewing ideas for the EZone along Beach Blvd, from Knotts to Orangethorpe Ave just above the 91 Fwy.  Some businesses and hotels have been upgraded, but there isn't the critical mass needed to draw people in and keep them their.  

To build this critical mass, Buena Park understands that a multi-pronged approach is needed.    Hotels, destination restaurants and shopping need to be brought in.  A "destination restaurant"  is one where you specifically set out to go there and will hunt them down. For instance, theme restaurants are often "destination dining."  These venues command a premium, bring traffic to the area both from tourists and locals, and there aren't a lot of them, so you have to GO THERE to fill your craving.  Think Hard Rock Cafe in its prime.