MONTEREY PARK - 01-10-11 --Layoffs may be in the immediate future for employees of local cities and counties as a result of the dissolving of redevelopment agencies by the state legislature, news reports indicated today.

First to go will be employees who were specifically worked as part of the redevelopment agencies. Los Angeles County and City of Los Angeles have hundreds of employees who are at risk.

State Senators Ed Hernandez, and Alex Padilla are proposing a legislative bill to extend the deadline to eliminate the agencies to the middle of April.

At this time, cities are required to dissolve the redevelopment agencies by February 1.
In addition to direct employees of redevelopment departments, also facing cutbacks are other city employees who get part of their salary from the agencies. That's because they may providing services.

Many city managers also get part of their salaries from redevelopment funds because they serve as the agency directors.

Local City Councils are having special meetings to discuss how to handle the elimination of the agencies. Rosemead City Council will discuss the issue tonight at 6:30 p.m. Monterey Park will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the city's second floor confrence room. Council agendas indicate they will be addressing administrative issues with closing down the redevelopment agencies. Both meetings are public.

In some cities, city council members get paid for serving on the redevelopment agency board.
Despite opposition from local cities, state legislators eliminated redevelopment agencies to use the funds to fill gaps in the state budget.