Barstow Council deadlocks over eminent domain

BARSTOW • The Barstow City Council Monday failed to decide whether or not the Redevelopment Agency should keep its eminent domain powers for two areas under its jurisdiction.

On maintaining the RDA’s eminent domain powers for the area between Interstate 15 and Interstate 40 near the Marine Corps Logistics Base, the vote was split with Barstow Mayor Joe Gomez and Councilman Willie Hailey Sr. voting no. The vote split again on a motion made by Gomez to table the item indefinitely. Councilman Tim Silva and Mayor Pro Tem Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre dissented. The vote split a third time when Silva motioned to bring the item back for discussion at a future meeting. Hailey and Gomez dissented again. Councilman Tim Saenz was absent.

Regardless of the vote, City Attorney Yvette Abich Garcia said the only way to break the deadlock was for the Council to wait until Saenz returned. Gomez directed staff to hold a special meeting on the issue. A meeting hasn’t been scheduled at this point, however.

The Redevelopment Agency seeks to maintain its eminent domain powers for the area encompassing the outlet malls, the area south of Rimrock Road between Barstow Road and Montara Road and the area west of Avenue L on West Main Street. The agency also seeks to reinstate its eminent domain powers for the area between Interstates 15 and 40 adjacent to the Marine Corps Logistics Base at the eastern edge of town.

Because they received a letter in December, residents of the Riverside Drive area came before the Council when the issue was initially discussed because they were afraid the city meant to take their homes. The Council tabled a decision, instructing staff to better inform residents in the area on eminent domain. The city held a public meeting April 28 at Union Missionary Baptist Church in the Riverside Drive area.

According to Ron Rector, the city’s community and economic development director, most Riverside Drive area homes are outside of the project areas discussed by the Council and would not be affected by eminent domain. Two Riverside Drive homes, however, are included within the second area discussed.

Many residents who attended the public meeting also attended Monday’s City Council meeting, saying that city staff didn’t answer their questions.

After Monday’s meeting, Loretta Johnson, whose mother has lived on Riverside Drive for 52 years, said she and her siblings came away from both meetings disappointed. A majority of the people she saw at the City Council meeting Monday had attended Wednesday’s public meeting, but they still didn’t know what was going on, she said.

Johnson’s sister, Vivian Brooks, said she had asked staff Wednesday what methodology the city uses for deciding what constitutes “blight,” which is a factor in deciding when eminent domain can be used. She wanted to know what company the city uses and what happens to a resident whose home isn’t considered blight, but whose neighbors’ homes are considered blight.

“I did not get an answer Wednesday night and I did not get it tonight,” she said, adding that blight wasn’t addressed at Wednesday’s meeting.

Hailey, who attended the public meeting, said Riverside Drive residents have asked the city numerous times what its plan for Riverside Drive is. They have never received an answer. Hailey mentioned rumors that the city had thought about building Section 8 housing in the area, but didn’t tell the current residents.

“The city needs to be up front,” he said. “(Residents) are scared for a reason.”

According to City Manager Richard Rowe, however, the city isn’t planing a project for any specific area under the RDA’s jurisdiction, including Riverside Drive.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or jcejnar@desertdispatch.com