Opinion No. (1999)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General CLAYTON P. ROCHE Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE JAMES K. HAHN, CITY PROSECUTOR, CITY OF LOS ANGELES, has requested an opinion on the following question: May a project area committee provide advice to a redevelopment agency if several committee members own property within the project area? CONCLUSION A project area committee may provide advice to a redevelopment agency even though several committee members own property within the project area. ANALYSIS In 1997, a city's community redevelopment agency amended its redevelopment plan for a part of the city. The agency is considering a proposal to develop a 42-acre site within the project area. A 25-member project area committee ("PAC") has been formed to provide advice on policy matters relating to the proposed development. The question presented for resolution is whether the PAC may give its advice to the agency if several of the PAC members own property within the project area. We conclude that the potential conflicts of interest do not preclude the PAC from advising the agency. The Legislature has adopted a comprehensive statutory scheme, the Community Redevelopment Law (Health Saf. Code,…