REORGANIZATION OF LANCASTER CRA SOUGHT : COUNCILMAN SEEKS TO REAPPOINT BOARD, RAISE AWARENESS OF OFFICE.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

Councilman Michael Singer has proposed drastically reshaping the city's redevelopment agency and its board, but Mayor Frank Roberts said the proposals are likely to be rejected.

Singer's changes call for the redevelopment agency board - now composed of the five City Council members - to be made up of the three council members with the most seniority, as well as the presidents of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and the Lancaster Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations.

As alternatives, the agency's board could be composed of the five council members and the chamber and LCNO presidents, or its members could be elected independent of the council.

In addition to reshaping the board, Singer is proposing to eliminate the role of agency executive director from the city manager's responsibilities; require a vote of citizens when the agency issues bonds; and make a distinction between redevelopment and economic development activities.

``It's a separation and a check and balance in powers,'' Singer said. ``I want people to understand (redevelopment), be comfortable with it, and be in control of it.''

Singer also is proposing to change the agency's meeting times and to televise agency meetings to increase public education and participation in redevelopment.

Singer called redevelopment agencies an ``end run'' around Proposition 13, a 1978 state law limiting increases in property tax.

While the redevelopment agency cannot raise property tax rates, it issues bonds that are paid off by the rise in tax revenues that come with new construction, inflation and changes in ownership. Those higher tax revenues otherwise would have gone to other government entities, such as the county or local water district.

``It leaves behind a vacuum that has to be filled with some other kind of tax,'' Singer said. ``This whole package is designed to give voters control in tax issues.''

Roberts said the time for considering such moves is after a major election in which voters have indicated they want change.

``I don't think we'll be making any changes at this time,'' Roberts said.

Proposals such as the ones presented by Singer would have handcuffed efforts such as the city's new baseball stadium and the 1992 agreement with Los Angeles County that paved the way for the new sheriff's station, library and four fire stations, Roberts said.

``I'm quite well-satisfied with the progress we've made. If we had a different structure we wouldn't have the municipal stadium and the team we have now,'' Roberts said. ``If his ideas were fostered and promoted we wouldn't have the fire stations that we have now.''

Singer says the assertion that the proposals would end the redevelopment agency's ability to accomplish projects is ``hogwash.''

``That is a misstatement of fact,'' Singer said. ``All we have to do is go to the voters and say we're going to bond for $10 million for a stadium.''

A staff report addressing Singer's proposals will be considered at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 44933 Fern Ave.

The report, prepared by agency director Stafford Parker, states of the almost 390 redevelopment agency boards in California only 16 have separate boards. Accountability to the electorate is the primary reason cited for not having a separate board, the report said.

The report said there is no provision in redevelopment agency law authorizing the City Council to seek voter approval for redevelopment bonds. Holding special elections for each bond issue would also be prohibitively expensive, the report said.

On the proposal of removing the redevelopment agency function from the city manager's role, the report said most California Cities with redevelopment agencies also select the city manager as the agency executive director.

``The agency is the most significant tool in the manager's arsenal to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the community while protecting and safeguarding the general fund,'' the report said. ``Notwithstanding presumed good communication, if the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, results are diminished, confusion reigns and accountability is diffused.''

Singer also proposed making a distinctive split between ``redevelopment'' and ``economic development.''

``This is a primary cause for confusion in the public's mind,'' Singer wrote in a memorandum outlining the proposals. ``A well thought out architecture will eliminate that confusion and clarify our actions.''