Oliver v. City of Indio First Amended Consent Decree Fairness Hearing
Public Court Documents
May 24, 1993
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Brief Collection, LDF Court Filings. Oliver v. City of Indio First Amended Consent Decree Fairness Hearing, 1993. 707ef457-c09a-ee11-be36-6045bdeb8873. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/7b53e091-339d-4d78-b127-3f6bad8eb88a/oliver-v-city-of-indio-first-amended-consent-decree-fairness-hearing. Accessed December 30, 2025.
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Bill Lann Lee
Constance L. Rice Kevin S. Reed
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND
EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC.
315 West Ninth St., Ste. Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 624-2405
208
Kevin H.
Gregory LBrogan ERTo-,~ „ \ S r / ^
'• Evans ' . ' 1 r -Kendall H.MacVeyHILL, FARRER & BURRILLr^JI P~ P . H. W . F . Pearcj445 South Figueroa Strfeeti I_I I J BEST n5Ti
Los Angeles, CA 9 0071 ri-6-6-6-------- . 3 75rdYlJmItfi¥SB(213) 620-0460
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Ste. 400
CLERK,CENTH/8L U S. DISTRICT COURT
JISTRICT OF CA! IFOR.. 'S> MA AiMa CrFiuc f j
— -i4 .....yk'
EARLINE OLIVER, et al.15
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CLtHN, U S. DISTRICT CO'uWCEN)RAU>«STRiCTOFCAjjFD̂ tttorneys for Defendants ^A^AANAOmOE
UTED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Plaintiffs,
vs.
CITY OF INDIO, et al. ,
Defendants,
PASEO GROUP,
Intervenor-Defendant.
No. SA CV 90-0097 AHS (RWRx)
FIRST AMENDED CONSENT
DECREE IN SETTLEMENT OF
CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
Fairness Hearing;
Date: May 24, 1993
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Place: Courtroom of the
Honorable Alicemarie H. Stotler
* • \ /«* ORIGINAL
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page(
I. INTRODUCTION ......................
II. DEFINITIONS ..........................
HI. SCOPE AND EFFECT OF THE DECREE ..................
IV. RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE AGENCY FOR FUTURE REDEVELOPMENT
V . HOMEOWNERS ..............................
VI. ISSUES AFFECTING NOBLE'S RANCH RESIDENTS RENTING ORLEASING LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING ..............
VII. ISSUES AFFECTING INTERVENOR CHURCHES ..................
VIII. ARBITRATION ..............................
IX. COMMUNITY RECOGNITION ....................
X. OTHER RELIEF ............................
XI. IMPLEMENTATION OF DECREE ......................
XII. COSTS AND FEES ..........
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Plaintiffs Earline Oliver, Elvella Davis, Quillar K.
Hampton, the estate of Linard McGaha, the estate of Cora L.
McGaha, Reverend Lester Riles, Genevieve Riles, Freddie Mitchell,
Bobby Cotton, Fay Cotton, and Minnie Polk (collectively
"plaintiffs"), are residents of an area located in the City of
Indio known as Noble's Ranch. On February 14, 1990, plaintiffs
filed this action on behalf of themselves and a proposed class of
Noble's Ranch residents and landowners.
By this action, plaintiffs allege that acquisition and
demolition activities in Noble's Ranch for the purpose of
expanding the Indio Fashion Mall and undertaken by the City of
Indio ("City"), the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Indio
("Agency"), Indio City Council, and council members Darwin
Oakley, Jeff Holt, James Fitzhenry, Thomas Hunt and Marcos Lopez
(collectively "defendants") violate Title VIII of the Fair
Housing Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. § 3604; the Civil Rights Act of
1866, 42 U.S.C. § 1982; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
42 U.S.C. § 2000(d); the equal protection and due process clauses
of the 14th Amendment to United States Constitution and
Article I, § 7 of the California Constitution; the Civil Rights
Act of 1871, 42 U.S.C. § 1983; and California Government Code
§ 65008. Defendants' answer and amended answer denied each and
every one of plaintiffs' allegations.
I . INTRODUCTION
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The Court permitted the Paseo Group, ("defendant-
intervenor") owner or affiliate of the owner of the Indio Fashion
Mall, to intervene as a defendant on May 1, 1990. The defendant-
intervenor is not a participating party in this Consent Decree
("Decree"). The defendant -intervenor has been given the
opportunity to participate in this settlement and to comment.
On July 20, 1990, the Court issued an order certifying this
action as a class action under Rule 23(a) and (b)(2) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Court defined the class as
"[a]11 present residents of Noble's Ranch who will suffer immi
nent displacement as a result of the pending condemnation
activity." Residents of the Magnolia Court Housing Project shall
be considered members of this class for purposes of this Decree.
Two churches also located in Noble's Ranch - First African
Methodist Episcopal Church of Indio ("First AME") and Lily of the
Valley Christ Sanctified Church ("Christ Sanctified Church")
(collectively, "intervenor churches") - have stated their desire
to intervene because this Decree may substantially affect their
respective interests.
Council members Darwin Oakley, Jeff Holt, James Fitzhenry,
Thomas Hunt and Marcos Lopez shall not be subject to any
individual or personal liability under this Decree. They have
been named solely in their official capacity as council members
and shall, within ten (10) days of Court approval of‘this Decree,
be dismissed from this lawsuit with prejudice.
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The Court has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject
matter of this action and shall retain jurisdiction over its
enforcement.
Defendants contend that they are and have been in full
compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws and
constitutional provisions. By entering this Decree, defendants
do not admit that defendants are, or ever have been, in violation
of any law or constitutional provision. Although the parties
enter this Decree, the Court has not made any determination that
the defendants committed any violation of law or of any provision
of either the Constitution of the State of California or the
Constitution of the United States of America. All parties to
this Decree enter into it in the spirit of compromise and to
avoid the further delay, expense, inconvenience and the
distraction of further litigation.
The Agency has pending in state court eminent domain
proceedings in which plaintiffs or various members of the class
are parties. At the inception of negotiations, it was agreed by
counsel for the parties (including defendant -intervenor) that
those eminent domain proceedings, including enforcement of orders
of possession affecting any named plaintiff, members of the
class, or intervening churches, would be stayed pending
negotiation and approval of this Decree.
This Decree shall not constitute a waiver or relief of any
claims or rights that the plaintiffs or defendants may have
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against defendant -intervenor or any of its principals,
representatives, successors, or assigns. To the contrary, both
plaintiffs and defendants expressly reserve the right to assert
any and all legally cognizable claims against the defendant -
intervenor and its principals, representatives, successors, or
assigns.
Consistent with the foregoing and pursuant to the agreement
of the parties, and the Court having been fully apprised:
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED AS
FOLLOWS:
II. DEFINITIONS
This Decree is to be read and interpreted using the follow
ing specific word and phrase definitions:
• "Project" means the Indio Fashion Mall Expan
sion Project.
• "City" means the City of Indio and, insofar
as the term is used in any discharge and
release provision of this Decree,
specifically includes each and every past and
present City Council member, and the City's
past and present staff, agents, employees and
attorneys.
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"Agency" means the Redevelopment Agency of
the City of Indio and, insofar as the term is
used in any discharge and release provision
of this Decree, specifically includes each
and every past or present member of the
Agency board, and the Agency's past and
present staff, agents, employees and
attorneys.
"Plaintiffs" means each and every named
"Plaintiff" in this action and each and every
individual or entity determined by the Court
in its July 20, 1990 class certification
order to be a member of the plaintiff class,
expressly excluding: (a) any individual or
entity that has entered into a separate
settlement with the City or Agency prior to
Court approval of this Decree; and (b) any
individual or entity not fitting within the
class as defined by the Court in its class
certification order of July 20, 1990.
"McGaha Estate" refers to the combined
estates of (1) plaintiff Linard McGaha,
deceased; and (2) plaintiff Cora McGaha,
deceased.
"Blazer" means Blazer Enterprises, Inc.
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"El Cid I" means the first completed phase of
the El Cid subdivision located in Indio,
California, and constructed by Blazer.
"Earline Oliver" means plaintiff Earline
Oliver solely in her capacity as the legal
representative of the Estate of James J.
White (a former resident of the City of
Indio), except that to the extent that
"Earline Oliver" is referred to as releasing
certain claims herein, "Earline Oliver" shall
include plaintiff Earline Oliver in her
individual capacity and as the representative
of the Estate of James J. White.
"Housing Authority" means the Housing
Authority of the County of Riverside.
"Noble's Ranch" means that 25.4 acre geographical
area of the City of Indio bounded on the North by
the southerly most boundary of the Indio Fashion
Mall, the South by Date Avenue, and by Marigold
Street and Monroe Street on the East and West,
respectively.
"Homeowners" refers to the following
individuals only: Charles Makes, Quillar ~
Hampton, Earline Oliver, Josephine Williams,
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Lester and Genevieve Riles, Liza B. McCoy and
the McGaha Estate.
• "Renters" means each and every plaintiff who
rented a home in Noble's Ranch.
• "Relocated Renters" means each and every
individual who rented a home in Noble's Ranch
and subsequently entered into a comprehensive
settlement with the Agency prior to Court
approval of this Decree.
• "Magnolia Court Housing Project" refers to
the 20-unit public housing project located at
Magnolia Court in Noble's Ranch owned by the
Housing Authority of the County of Riverside.
H I - SCOPE AND EFFECT OF THE DECREE
The Court finds the class of persons to be covered by this
Decree and on whose behalf this action is certified under Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure 23(a) and (b)(2) to be as follows:
"All present residents of Noble's Ranch who
will suffer imminent displacement as a result
of the pending condemnation activity."
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The Court dismisses the claims of those named plaintiffs who
do not fall within the definition of the class set forth in the
Court's July 20, 1990 class certification order, including those
of Spencer Hinchen, R. Gene Wilson, J. M. Dickey, Monte Fay
Dickey, Curtis Gantt, and Ruby Lee Gantt.
By this Decree, the parties stipulate and the Court finds,
that the First AME Church and the Christ Sanctified Church shall
be permitted to intervene as interested third parties for
purposes of settlement only and that the Decree shall govern all
issues concerning the intervenor churches' relocation and related
compensation. This shall not constitute an acknowledgment by
defendants that the intervenor churches are members of the class,
have any legally cognizable grievances or are entitled to any
relief under the claims set forth in the complaint.
The parties have engaged in extensive discovery and settle
ment negotiations. They have now resolved in this Decree, all
issues among the plaintiffs, intervenor churches and the defen
dants (except those matters specified herein), relating to the
alleged acts, practices and omissions of defendants, including
any future effects of such alleged acts, practices and omissions,
which were or could have been raised in the Complaint. This
Decree bars any claims and future claims, in law or in equity, or
administrative, statutory and/or constitutional claims, by any of
plaintiffs, or intervenor churches, including claims that any of
them may have, may have had, or in the future may have, against
defendants, their affiliates, agents, heirs, successors, assigns,
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or transferees arising prior to the final approval and entry of
this Decree regarding alleged discrimination or other alleged
unlawful conduct directly or indirectly relating to all aspects
of the Project, including all eminent domain or other public pro
ceedings, whether pre-construction or otherwise.
The parties acknowledge and agree that had they not settled
this action pursuant to this Decree, and had the City and Agency
simply abandoned the Project in an attempt to mitigate its
damages or exposure to the plaintiffs, plaintiffs would have
amended their complaint in this action to include, in addition to
injunctive relief, one or more claims for compensatory and
punitive damages resulting from the acquisition and demolition
activities conducted by the City, the Agency and defendant-
intervenor prior to such abandonment.
This Decree is final and binding among the signatories,
their heirs, assigns and successors - in-interest and is final and
binding on all persons to whom the Court determines this Decree
is applicable, including the class of plaintiffs. Intervenor
Churches, and each and every Homeowner, including the authorized
agent, representative, executor or executrix of the McGaha
Estate, shall be required, within the thirty (30) days of court
approval of this Decree, to execute individual releases in the
form attached as Exhibit "A." The defendants obligations to any
one plaintiff or intervenor under this Decree are expressly
conditioned upon the execution of these releases by that
plaintiff or intervenor.
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The parties intend and agree that this Decree will act to
forever bar all those bound by it from challenging any aspect of
the Project now or, to the extent that the Agency or City are
required to implement this Decree, in the future.
This Decree shall not apply to any person who has entered
into an agreement with an intent fully to settle that person's
claim with either the City or the Agency concerning any property
or cental unit in Noble's Ranch as of the date of the signing of
the submission of the Decree by the parties, except as specified
herein.
By entering into this Decree and by signing the individual
plaintiffs and intervenors do not waive their rights to
claim any ownership interest they may have in two water wells in
Noble's Ranch. Similarly, by entering into this Decree the
defendants do not concede that plaintiffs or any of them, have
any ownership interests or rights in the two water wells in
Noble's Ranch.
The parties intend and agree that this Decree shall not
define, create or otherwise obligate either the City or the
Agency to proceed with any aspect of the Project. The parties
acknowledge and agree that this Decree shall not be interpreted
to require the City or the Agency to continue with any currently
pending eminent domain proceedings, or to file or otherwise
commence eminent domain proceedings with respect to any parcel of
property in Noble's Ranch.
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The preceding paragraph notwithstanding, the parties
acknowledge and agree that, unless specified herein, this Decree
is intended to bar any past, present or future challenges under
any basis by plaintiffs, intervenor churches and their respective
agents, employees, principals, heirs and assigns to eminent
domain proceedings currently pending or which may be filed in the
future in the State of California relating to the Project.
IV- RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE AGENCY FOR FUTURE REDEVELOPMENT
By virtue of this Decree, the City and/or Agency reserves
the right, upon terms and conditions specified herein, to acquire
sufficient land in Noble's Ranch to proceed with general
redevelopment. The City's and/or Agency's rights reserved to
acquire the Transfer Properties (as defined below) hereunder
shall persist for a period of five (5) years from the date of
Court approval of this Decree. The specific rights reserved by
the City and/or Agency and the correlative duties and obligations
of the City and/or Agency are set forth below:
• "Replacement Obligation"
A. The "Replacement Obligation" refers to the right and
option of the City and/or Agency to acquire the property of the
intervenor churches and/or the Magnolia Court Housing Project
(hereinafter sometimes referred to collectively as the "Transfer
Properties") without challenge or objection by plainbiff and
intervenor churches as hereinafter described. For a period of
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five years following the Court's approval of this Decree, the
City and/or Agency shall, at their election, be entitled to the
transfer of unencumbered fee title to the intervenor churches
and/or the Magnolia Court Housing Project from the owners thereof
provided that the City and/or Agency fulfill their obligation to
replace the churches and/or the Magnolia Court Housing Project,
or any of them as the case may be, as provided in section VI,
subsection B, and section VII of this Decree. Any notification
of the election to acquire all or any one of the Transfer
Properties shall be given by the City and/or Agency in writing to
the authorized representatives of the intervenor churches, the
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Riverside County
Housing Authority and current residents of the Magnolia Court
Housing Project as of the date of the City's and/or Agency's
notification within said five year period.
B. The City and/or Agency shall have an obligation to
acquire the unencumbered fee title only to the Transfer
Properties and fulfill their obligations as provided in section
VI, subsection B, and section VII of this Decree without
challenge by plaintiffs and plaintiff -intervenor churches if,
during the five years following the Court's approval of this
Decree, the City and/or Agency undertakes substantial commercial
development throughout Noble's Ranch. "Substantial commercial
development" shall mean any simultaneous commercial development
done by the Agency and/or the City, including development by a
developer pursuant to an agreement with the City and/or Agency,
which involves both the construction on, and utilization of, at
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least 90-o of total acreage of Noble's Ranch for commercial
purposes. The parties' obligations under this paragraph shall
commence at such time as a developer or developers obtain
building permits for the construction of the "substantial
commercial development."
• "Community Facility Obligation"
C. The "Community Facility Obligation" refers to the
obligation of the City and/or Agency to transfer certain property
and funds for the purpose of constructing the Noble's Ranch
Community Center as hereinafter described. Such obligation shall
arise if, during the five years following the Court's approval of
this Consent Decree, the City and/or Agency undertakes
substantial commercial development (see above definition)
throughout at least 75% of that portion of Noble's Ranch lying
westerly of Larkspur Street, excluding for purposes of such
computation APN 614-100-001 (the Meza/Mitchell property),
provided, however, such substantial commercial development shall
not also trigger the Replacement Obligation defined in this
Decree.
Upon triggering of the Community Facility Obligation as
hereinabove described, the Agency shall set aside the cash sum of
Ni-nsty Thousand Dollars ($90,000) and a deed conveying
unencumbered fee title to either APN 614-101-035 or APN 614-101-
010. Such funds and deed shall be held in trust by bhe Agency
until the expiration of the five year Replacement Obligation
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period. Upon the expiration of the five year Replacement
Obligation period, without exercise or trigger of the Replacement
Obligation, the deed and funds will be transferred by the Agency
to First AME in trust for the sole purpose of constructing the
Noble's Ranch Community Center for the benefit of the plaintiffs.
However, in the event of the exercise or trigger of the
Replacement Obligation as described in this Decree, the Agency
shall be relieved of any obligation to transfer the deed or any
funds under the Community Facility Obligation to First AME or
otherwise.
The existence of the Replacement Obligation and the
Community Facility Obligation does not affect the City's and/or
Agency's rights to abandon the Project or abandon the acquisition
of any properties at any time. The Church Replacement Obligation
and the Community Facility Obligation shall remain in effect
until exercised or triggered or until the passage of five years
without exercise or trigger at which time it shall terminate
automatically.
V. HOMEOWNERS
A. The Agency will transfer ownership and possession
(pursuant to paragraph 1, immediately below) of the following
houses located in the El Cid I subdivision to the Homeowners as
set forth below:
Earline Oliver: Lot 11
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Quillar Hampton: Lot 10
McGaha Estate: Lot 6
Lester and Genevieve Riles: Lot 15
Josephine Williams: Lot 16
Lizzie B. McCoy: Lot 12
Charles Makes: Lot 8
1. Within thirty (30) days of approval by the Court
of the Decree, the Agency will transfer to each Homeowner
ownership of one house, as specified above. Title to each house
shall be transferred by grant deed, with no covenants or
restrictions except those which encumbered title upon defendants'
acquiring same, or those that are required by California Health
and Safety Code sections 33435 and 33436. The parties hereby
a9ree to prepare and execute all documents necessary to
effectuate this provision. The City and/or Agency shall pay all
transaction costs incidental to this transfer.
2. At the time the Homeowners take title to their
replacement houses, they shall concurrently transfer title to
their existing houses to the Agency. The equivalent
indebtedness, if any, on the original property as of the date of
Court approval of this Decree, as well as the monthly mortgage
obligation, shall be carried over to the new property at no cost
to the Homeowners. No Homeowner shall be required to incur any
additional debt as a result of the relocation. Any refinanced
obligations shall be at the same or at a better interest rate.
If, in order to fulfill the requirements of this provision, the
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Agency or City becomes the new lender, neither the Agency nor the
City shall be required to pay property taxes or insurance on
behalf of the Homeowner/borrower (whether through impound
accounts or otherwise) -- such obligations shall be the
responsibility of the Homeowner/borrower alone. The Agency shall
lease back these houses to the Homeowners for a sum of one dollar
on a "net lease" basis (with utilities, maintenance and repair to
be the obligation of the tenant) for a term that will end at the
time their replacement units are ready for occupancy or the
expiration of 150 days, whichever is sooner. The parties hereby
agree to prepare and execute all documents necessary to
effectuate this provision.
3. Within thirty (30) days of the Court's approval of
this Decree, the Agency shall pay $58,600.00 in total to plain-
fs ' counsel (for the benefit of the Homeowners) for modifica
tions to the existing structures attached hereto as Exhibits "B"
(Makes), "C" (McCoy), "D" (Hampton, Riles, Oliver and Williams)
and "E" (McGaha Estate).
4. To meet the requirements of paragraph 3, above,
plaintiffs have selected and will contract with Blazer for
modification of the existing homes in El Cid I.
5. Additionally, the Agency shall pay to plaintiffs'
counsel the sum of $4,000.00 for plaintiffs to retain the
services of a construction inspector to advise plaintiffs
throughout the process of modifying the El Cid I homes and'
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inspecting the workmanship of Blazer prior to the remittance of
payments to Blazer, under the contract described in paragraph 4,
above. Such sum shall be remitted to plaintiffs' counsel within
thirty (30) days of the courts approval of this decree.
6. The Agency shall pay each Homeowner the reasonable
moving expenses equal to either (1) the actual charges of a
moving company if the Homeowner engages the services of a
licensed mover or (2) a fixed moving payment determined from the
following schedule:
Rooms ofFurniture Amount Paid
One $ 250
Two $ 400
Three $ 550
Four $ 650
Five $ 750
Six $ 850
Seven $ 950
Eiqht $1, 050
Each Addtn'l $ 100Room
B. The sum of $35,000 shall be set aside by the Agency in
a financial institution to be agreed upon by parties for the
purpose of compensating Homeowners Earline Oliver, Quillar
Hampton, Lester and Genevieve Riles, Josephine Williams, Lizzie
McCoy and Charles Makes (but not the McGaha Estate) for the
difference between property tax assessments on the replacement
housing and the tax assessments each Homeowner would have paid on
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the original house. The parties acknowledge and agree that
Elvella Davis, a member of the plaintiff class, shall also be
entitled the relief specified in this paragraph, and for purposes
of paragraph 1 through 3 below should be deemed a Homeowner
(although not a Homeowner, as defined herein).
1. Each Homeowner is entitled to payments only during
the time the Homeowner owns the replacement house, and entitle
ment shall end upon the sale of the Homeowner's entire interest
in the house or the death of both the Homeowner and his or her
surviving spouse, if any.
2. Payments shall be made by the financial institu
tion within thirty (30) days of presentation of a tax bill by the
Homeowner.
3. The precise amount to be paid by the Agency shall
be determined according to the schedule set forth as Exhibit "F"
hereto. The sums indicated in this chart represent the "base
tax" currently paid by each of these Homeowners and the
statutorily calculated (2% per annum) increase in that tax. The
amount of withdrawal from this fund to which these Homeowners are
entitled is to be calculated by comparing this figure to the
property tax (not including additional assessments) assessed on
the replacement homes. Payments shall be made to the Homeowners
and their surviving spouses so long as the funds deposited into
this account remain or the last of them dies. Any sum remaining
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after the death of the last of the Homeowners or their surviving
spouses shall revert back to the Agency.
4. Within 60 days of the date when their replacement
homes are ready, all Homeowners, including the McGaha Estate,
shall be entitled to withdraw from this fund a sum sufficient to
compensate that Homeowner for the necessary incidental costs of
connecting utilities at the new home, up to a total cost of no
more than $200.00 per Homeowner.
C. The Agency will provide Homeowners Quillar Hampton,
Earline Oliver, and Lester and Genevieve Riles the following
relief with respect to their rental property in Noble's Ranch:
1. Within thirty days of the Court's approval of this
Consent Decree, the Agency shall pay Homeowner Quillar Hampton
$110,000 in exchange for and concurrent with her conveying the
entirety of her interest in her rental property located at 46-201
Larkspur St.., Assessor's Parcel Number 614-100-011, to the Agency
free and clear of all liens and other encumbrances. All costs
and fees associated with the transfer of title shall be borne by
the defendants.
2. The Agency shall convey to Homeowner Earline
Oliver $170,000 in cash, in addition to the consideration
described above, in exchange for and concurrent with her
conveying the entirety of her interest in her property at
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Assessors' Parcel No. 614-10-006 to the Agency, free and clear of
all liens and other encumbrances.
3. The Agency shall pay over to Homeowners Lester and
Genevieve Riles $56,000 in cash, in addition to the compensation
described above, in exchange for and concurrent with their
conveying to the Agency their interests in their property at
Assessors Parcel No. 614-100-013, free and clear of all liens and
other encumbrances.
4. Within thirty (30) days of the Agency taking title
to a parcel on which such rental units are situated, the Agency
shall pay the following amounts as compensation for lost rental
income as a result of relocation activity:
a. Homeowner Quillar Hampton: $16,525.00, plus
a maximum of $730 for each month after June, 1992 and before the
Agency takes title to the rental property -- (portions of months
to be prorated).
b. Homeowner Earline Oliver: $12,000.00, plus a
maximum of $500 each month after June 1, 1992 and before
defendants pay to Ms. Oliver the sum indicated in section C .2
above -- (portions of months to be prorated.)
c. Homeowners Lester and Genevieve Riles:
$9,200.00, plus a maximum of $400 each month after June 1, 1992
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and before defendants pay to the Riles the sum indicated in
section C.3 above -- (portions of months to be prorated.)
5. The amounts paid to Homeowners Quillar Hampton,
Earline Oliver and Lester and Genevieve Riles, respectively,
pursuant to paragraphs 1 through 4 above, shall constitute full
and complete resolution of their respective claims for
compensation involving loss of income generated by rental prop
erties in Noble's Ranch.
vi- ISSUES AFFECTING NOBLE'S RANCH RESIDENTS RENTING OR LEASING
LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING
A. Within thirty (30) days of the Court's approval of this
Decree the Agency shall take the following steps:
1. Pay $18,500 to plaintiffs' counsel for the benefit
of plaintiffs residing in the Magnolia Court Housing Project
("Magnolia Court") to be used by plaintiffs' counsel only for the
installation of flood lighting on residential units within
Magnolia Court, the replacement of the fence surrounding the
housing project and to make any repairs that the Magnolia Court
residents deem necessary.
2. Within thirty (30) days of the time in which the
housing on APN Nos. 614-100-006, 614-100-007, and 614-100-008
within Noble's Ranch is acquired by the Agency and becomes
vacant, the Agency shall cause to be constructed a chain-link
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fence that will stretch contiguously from the fence that
currently borders the back yards of the easterly units of
Magnolia Court to Date Avenue as shown on Exhibit "G." This
fence shall be at least five feet high and shall be maintained by
the Agency until such time as new construction, if any, is
completed on the property now designated as APN Nos. 614-100-006,
614-100-007, and 614-100-008 in the Riverside County Assessors
records.
B. If any development activity gives rise to the
Replacement Obligation, the Agency shall diligently commence or
cause to commence the construction of replacement units for
Magnolia Court.
1. For the purpose of replacing Magnolia Court, the
Agency shall make diligent efforts to acquire, as a site for this
housing, the northern two-thirds, more or less, of lot #613-600-
049 located at the corner of Aladdin Avenue and Avenue 46 in
Indio, identified as Parcel 2 in the Exhibit "H," attached
hereto. If the Agency is unable to acquire said site, a
reasonable alternative site, acceptable to plaintiffs' counsel,
HUD and the Housing Authority, will be selected using the
procedure set forth below:
a.
to locate a suitable
2.75 acres within a
Project.
The Agency shall first use its best efforts
alternative site with a minimum lot size of
one (1) mile radius from the existing
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b. If no reasonable alternative site is located
within a one (1) mile radius, the Agency shall use its best
efforts to locate another alternative site with the same lot size
requirements within a two (2) mile radius of the original site.
c. If necessary, the Agency shall extend its
search of a reasonable alternative site of the same lot size to a
three (3) mile radius from the existing site. If no reasonable
alternative site can be located within the three (3) mile radius
the Agency will select a reasonable alternative site (with
different site characteristics). In any event, the site selected
shall be adequate for the construction of a housing complex with
at least as many units and bedrooms as the existing Magnolia
Court. Any dispute between the plaintiffs and the City and/or
Agency over this site will be resolved through binding
arbitration, using the mechanism set forth in section VIII,
below.
2. The replacement housing units constructed pursuant
to this section shall conform substantially to the floor plans
set forth in Exhibit "I" hereto. To the extent a change in the
site of the new units necessitates a deviation from these plans,
the numbers of units or bedrooms in the replacement units shall
not be lowered.
The Agency and City shall use their best efforts
to ensure that, insofar as is reasonably possible, the
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replacement units shall be ready for occupancy within twelve (12)
months of the commencement of construction.
4. The replacement units shall be made available to
the persons residing in Magnolia Court units at the time the
replacement units are ready for occupancy, as defined in
subsection 12, below. They shall be leased to those occupants
under leases which contain terms and conditions identical or
which are as close as reasonably possible to those in effect at
Magnolia Court at the time of the move.
5. To the extent legally and practically tenable,
families shall be assigned to units in the replacement public
housing in a configuration and in a manner designed to preserve
existing relationships between neighbors.
6. The replacement housing units shall have installed
new, operative, evaporative coolers with 3/4 horsepower and two-
speed motors. These evaporative coolers shall be made a part of
an air distribution system which system is comprised of ducting
providing adequate, direct and separate air flow into each bed
room, living area and kitchen.
7. Residents of each new unit may elect to receive a
new operable washer and dryer to be placed in their dwelling
unit. If accepted, such appliances are to become the personal
property of the resident. Each resident must inform'the Agency
aiid the Housing Authority whether they wish to receive the
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washers and dryers in writing and at least thirty (30) days
before the move to the replacement public housing.
8. The Agency shall place electrical outlets in each
bedroom and position such outlet near a window.
9. All replacement housing units shall have floor
coverings such as linoleum, tile or carpet.
10. To enhance security, lighting shall be provided in
all outdoor areas, particularly the community area in the center
of the dwelling complex. Such lighting need not be sufficient
for outdoor athletic activity.
11. Retractable clothes lines will be placed in a
suitable and convenient area on an exterior wall of each dwelling
unit.
12. The replacement project shall be deemed ready for
occupancy when (1) all applicable building, health and safety
requirements are met as determined by a building inspector of the
City of Indio; and (2) when the project is approved for occupancy
by the Housing Authority.
C. All Renters who resided in Noble's Ranch as of February
14, 1990, except those renters who reside in Magnolia Court,
shall receive either one (but not both) of the following
alternative forms of compensation set forth in subparagraphs 1
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and 2, below in full settlement of each Renter's relocation
entitlement under state law.
EITHER l. Renters otherwise eligible to participate in the
federal Section 8 housing subsidy program, pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
§ 1437(f) but unable to receive immediate assistance under such
program because of the unavailability of Section 8 housing,
certificates or vouchers, may elect to participate in a temporary
housing subsidy program established by the Agency and admin
istered by the Housing Authority until such Renters actually
receive housing assistance pursuant to the federal Section 8
program. This housing subsidy program shall ensure that Renter's
monthly housing costs (rent plus utilities) do not exceed 30% of
the household income as that income is measured under federal
regulations.
OR 2. Alternatively, any Renter in Noble's Ranch may
elect the option of a relocation benefit lump sum payment
pursuant to Chapter 16 (commencing with section 7260) of Division
7 of Title 1 of the California Government Code and Title 25 of
the California Code of Regulations, up to the maximum provided
for by the state statute and regulations. Additionally, the
Agency shall make available special compensation for Bobby
Cotton. Such special compensation shall be paid in a lump sum
and shall be calculated as the greater of: $5,250 plus moving
costs; or the difference between the rent Bobby Cotton pays as of
the date of Court approval of this Decree and the rent charged in
a comparable unit (as determined under California Health & Safety
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Code § 33411.1) within the City over a twenty-four month period,
plus moving costs.
D. Up to 74 residential units in Noble's Ranch may be
demolished pursuant to the Project, noninclusive of the 20
Magnolia Court units which could be demolished pursuant to this
Decree. The Agency shall replace, or cause to be replaced, those
units within four years of their demolition according to the
following schedule:
• 45 of those units shall be affordable to very
low income households
• 8 of those units shall be affordable to lower
income households
• The remaining 21 units shall at least be
affordable to moderate income households.
The terms "low income" and "very low income" and "moderate
income" households are defined by California Health & Safety Code
§ 50093.
a. Defendants shall construct or cause to be
constructed at least nineteen of these 74 units prior to June,
1994.
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b. Any Renter or Relocated Renter eligible to
participate in the federal Section 8 housing program shall have
first priority for placement in one of 74 above-described units
of affordable housing. The Agency shall cause notice to be given
to all eligible Renters and Relocated Renters listed in
Exhibit "J" hereto, before these units are offered for rent to
the general public.
1. All Renters and Relocated Renters listed on
Exhibit "J" shall receive notice from the Agency of the existence
of a vacant rental unit for which they are entitled to a priority
on a waiting list in the following manner:
a. Written notification by certified letter
return receipt requested from the Agency to the Renter's last
known address; and
b. Publication for three weekdays and two
consecutive Sundays in the Riverside Press - Enterprise or The
Desert Sun newspapers, using the notice attached as Exhibit "K."
2. Any Renter residing in Noble's Ranch who has not
already reached an agreement with the Agency or the City and who
is moving as a direct result of Agency activity shall be eligible
to receive reasonable moving expenses equal to either (1) the
actual charges of a moving company if the homeowner engages the
services of a licensed mover, or (2) a
determined from the following schedule:
fixed moving payment
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Rooms of
Furniture Amount Paid
One $ 250
Two $ 400
Three $ 550
Four $ 650
Five $ 750
Six $ 850
Seven $ 950
Eight $1, 050
Each Addtn'1
Room $ 100
VII - ISSUES AFFECTING INTERVKNOR CHURCHES
First AME
A. Within thirty (30) days of the Court's approval of this
Decree, the Agency shall transfer to the First AME title to the
house located in the El Cid I subdivision at Lot 19 for use as
the church parsonage. The Agency shall transfer this title via
grant deed, with no covenants or restrictions except those which
encumbered title upon defendants' acquiring same, or those that
might be required by California Health and Safety Code sections
33435 and 33436.
B. Within thirty (30) days of the Court's approval of this
Decree, the Agency shall pay First AME $6,050 to allow the church
to contract for the following: -
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1. Installation of outdoor flood lighting sufficient
to illuminate all sides of the church structure;
2. Replacement of all exterior doors, door frames and
door locks.
C. Upon the court's approval of this Decree, the Agency
shall begin paying and shall continue to pay in a timely fashion,
all monthly installments of principal and interest owing on a
trust deed held by the Bank of America, loan number 0791-999-
9122036. The Agency shall continue to pay such installments
until the church is replaced or at the expiration of five years
following the Court's approval of this Decree, whichever is the
earlier. To the extent the Agency is required to pay any
arrearages and applicable penalties any such amounts shall be
deducted from the sum to be received by First AME as specified in
paragraph B, above. First AME represents that as of the date of
approval of this Decree such arrearages and/or penalties, if any,
separately or combined, do not exceed the sum of the amount
specified in paragraph B, above.
REPLACEMENT FACILITY FOR FIRST AME
D. If development activity gives rise to the Replacement
Obligation, the Agency shall, within sixty (60) days of the time
the obligation arises, make available a sum sufficient to allow
AME to contract for the design and construction of a
replacement church complex that includes a church, a day care
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facility and a community center. This funding must be sufficient
to cover the reasonable costs of the design and construction of
the church complex, including, but not limited to, the costs of
full architectural services, engineering, site improvement (to
meet all city, county, and state requirements for soil
compaction, on site/off site drainage, and contaminated soils
testing and removal as may be required by any governmental body,
construction, and landscaping, as well as the costs of all
permits, bonds, fees and other reasonable charges and costs,
including the costs of any on or off-site improvements required
by land-use laws and/or regulatory agencies. This funding may be
made in installments and pursuant to reasonable mechanisms for
the timely transfer of funds.
E. If development activity gives rise to the Replacement
Obligation, First AME shall deposit a grant deed conveying fee
title to Assessor's Parcel Nos. 614-101-012 and 614-101-013 into
escrow within sixty (60) days of the time at which the Replace
ment Obligation. Escrow shall close and fee title to these
parcels shall pass to the Agency upon the filing of notice of
completion for construction areas for the replacement church.
F. First AME shall be prohibited by this Decree from
encumbering or otherwise transferring or conveying away any
portion of its title to or interest in the property or take any
other action that would jeopardize or interfere with the Agency's
rights pursuant to the Church Replacement Obligationt A summary
of these provisions of the Decree, as they affect title, may be
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recorded with the County of Riverside after approval of this
Decree, using the document attached as Exhibit "L" hereto.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, First AME shall
not be prohibited from executing a trust deed on the'existing
church, provided such trust deed shall be subordinate to the
City's and Agency's rights under the Replacement Obligation.
G. Site Selection
The Agency shall make diligent efforts to acquire as a site
for the replacement church the lot identified as Assessor's
Parcel No. #608-230-003 (as described in the public records of
the County Recorder's Office for the County of Riverside).
1. If the Agency is able to acquire title to
Assessor's Parcel No. #608-230-003, the Agency shall convey to
the First AME the southern one third of that parcel, more or
less, described as "Parcel 1" in Exhibit "I" attached hereto.
The conveyance to First AME shall be via grant deed, with no
encumbrances other than those which existed upon the Agency's
acquisition of title to the property, or those required by
California Health and Safety Code §§ 33435 and 33436.
2. If, after exercising due diligence, the Agency is
unable to acquire Assessor's Parcel No. #608-230-003, it shall
purchase and convey to First AME a parcel of land for the
construction of the church complex, cleared of all improvements,
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of a minimum size of 0.75 acres and in a suitable location within
the City using the following procedure:
a. The Agency shall first use its best efforts
to locate a suitable alternative site of a minimum size of 0.75
acres within a one (1) mile radius from the existing church site.
b. If no reasonable alternative site is located
within a one (1) mile radius, the Agency shall use its best
efforts to locate another alternative site with the same lot size
requirements within a two (2) mile radius of the original site.
c. If necessary, the Agency shall extend its
search for a reasonable alternative site of the same minimum lot
size to a three (3) mile radius from the existing site. If no
reasonable alternative site can be located within a three (3)
mile radius, the Agency will select a reasonable alternative site
elsewhere in the City or with different characteristics.
3. The site selected for the church complex shall be
the subject of a soils analysis and geological survey to
determine its suitability for a building with a footprint of
4,700 square feet prior to the conveyance of the property to
First AME.
Within a reasonable time after the selection of a
suitable site for the replacement church, the defendants shall
cause title to the site to be conveyed to First AME.
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5. The Trustees of First AME shall have the right to
approve any site that is selected. The Trustees shall approve or
disapprove of the site selected prior to the soils and
contaminants tests required by this Decree. The Trustees'
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any dispute between
the parties over the site will be resolved through binding
arbitration pursuant to section VIII, below.
H. Replacement Facility, General Principles
1. The parties agree that the replacement First AME
church complex, if built, shall be substantially equivalent to
the complex depicted in the floor plans and elevations contained
in Exhibit "M," utilizing the construction methods and materials
described in Exhibit "N," or their substantial equivalents. The
parties recognize, however, that without a site certain for the
replacement church, it is impractical to agree as to the exact
costs or the total design of the church. In building any such
replacement church, the parties agree to follow the principles
set forth below insofar as possible. Any dispute between First
AME and the Agency regarding the design and/or construction of
the replacement facility shall be submitted to binding
arbitration pursuant to section VIII, below.
2. Design
Within sixty (60) days of the time of which the Church
Replacement Obligation arises, defendants shall pay to tfie~Fdn~st
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AME a sum sufficient to retain an architect who is fully licensed
by the California State Board of Architectural Examiners. The
defendants shall pay to First AME a sum sufficient to compensate
this architect at a reasonable rate to perform services as listed
in the model Owner/Architect Agreement attached hereto as
Exhibit "0." The rate to be paid this architect shall be
commensurate with the rates prevailing in the community for the
design of similar structures. The parties agree that the
Owner/Architect Agreement executed between First AME and the
architect need not be identical to this model.
3. Site Improvements
a. If required by any branch or agency of
government, the site shall be the subject of testing for sub
soils contaminants.
b. The Agency shall make available to First AME
funds sufficient to allow it to contract for site improvements
necessary for the construction of a building with a footprint of
4,700 square feet and a parking lot of 22,000 square feet. These
site improvements shall be commensurate with standards prevailing
for construction in the area for the improvement of building
sites to prevent undue or uneven settling, to allow for adequate
water drainage and to eliminate or satisfactorily mitigate any
sub soils contaminants. If deemed necessary by prevailing
standards for construction in the area, or if required by any
branch or agency of government, the site improvements shall
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include, but not be limited to, sub-excavation and soils removal,
importation of soils, compaction of soils, grading, and the
installation of dry wells.
c. The complex shall have parking for at least
25 cars. The parking lot will be of asphalt and shall have posts
and backboards for a high school size basketball court.
d. The site shall be improved with aesthetically
appropriate landscaping and signage.
4. Structure
a. The design and construction of the church
complex shall comply with all current and applicable editions of
all state, local and uniform building codes as well as all
directives issued by any governmental agency. It shall comply,
as far as is reasonably possible, with the plans and description
attached hereto as Exhibit "M."
b. Whenever possible, the building shall utilize
the materials identified in Exhibit "N," or materials of like
quality and value.
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5. Financing
a. First AME shall contract directly for all
design, engineering and construction services necessary to build
a replacement facility.
b. The Agency shall provide to First AME funds
sufficient to cover all costs of design and construction,
including, but not limited to the costs of architectural and
engineering services, site analyses, site preparation,
construction services, project management, fees, permits, bonds,
and escrow and other transactional costs. Neither the City
and/or Agency shall be liable to indemnify plaintiffs or First
AME for attorneys' fees and other costs incurred by plaintiffs
and/or First AME in the prosecution, defense of or participation
in any lawsuit or other legal proceeding arising out of the
future design and/or construction of the replacement church.
c. The Agency shall provide First AME with funds
suffi-cient to purchase a performance bond provided purchase of
such bond does not exceed three percent (3%) of the total
construction cost.
d. The City or Agency shall have the right to
review and approve all contracts valued at $1,000 or more,
including the agreement for architectural and design services,
which First AME enters into for the design and construction of
the replacement church complex and shall have the right to review
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and approve the design of the church complex before any binding
contract for construction is executed. The Agency shall not
withhold its approval of the design or any contract absent a good
faith belief that the design or contract violates the terms of
this Decree. In the event the parties are unable to resolve a
dispute regarding the design or any contract, such dispute shall
be submitted to binding arbitration pursuant to section VIII,
below. If defendants do not exercise the above-described right
of approval within a reasonable time after notification by First
AME or its representative of the work or contract that is
proposed, defendants shall be deemed to have approved the
proposed work or contract. "Reasonable time" for the purposes of
this paragraph is defined as twenty (20) days in situations
involving contracts valued at $10,000 or less and forty (40) days
for contracts valued in excess of $10,000.
e. The parties agree that First AME will assume
a trust deed indebtedness on the replacement church complex
equivalent to the indebtedness extant on the existing church at
the time the defendants take title to the existing church. The
Agency will pay Bank of America the balance of the amount owing
on any note secured by a trust deed on the existing church
property. First AME will execute a note secured by a trust deed
on the replacement complex in an amount equal to the amount paid
by the Agency to extinguish the previous note and trust deed and
on the same terms as the previous note and trust deed.
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f- The parties agree that the funds for
construction provided by the Agency shall be reduced by whatever
amounts are paid by the Agency towards reducing the indebtedness
incurred by First AME to the Bank of America on loan no. 0791-
999-9122036.
g. The Agency shall pay to First AME $15,000.00
cash sixty (60) days prior to the date on which the architect
estimates the notice of completion will be final. This cash is
to be used for the purchase of furniture and equipment for the
day care and community centers.
6. Permits and Approvals
a. The Agency and, where necessary, the City
shall take all steps consistent with their obligations under
local, state and federal law to facilitate the granting of all
permits and approvals necessary for the construction of the
replacement church.
Christ Sanctified Church
I. Within 30 days of the court's approval of this Decree,
the City or the Agency shall make available to Christ Sanctified
Holy Church a cash sum not to exceed $6,050 to allow it to
contract for the following:
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1. Installation of bright outdoor flood lighting
outside of the Church structure sufficient to illuminate all
sides of the building.
2. Replacement of all exterior doors, door frames and
door locks.
REPLACEMENT FACILITY FOR CHRIST SANCTIFIED CHURCH
J. If development activity causes the Replacement
Obligation to arise, the Agency shall, within sixty (60) days of
the time the Replacement Obligation arises, make available a sum
sufficient to allow Christ Sanctified Church to enter into
contracts for the design and construction of a replacement
church. This funding must be sufficient to cover the reasonable
costs of the design and construction of the church, including,
but not limited to, the costs of full architectural services,
engineering, site improvement (to meet all city, county, and
state requirements for soil compaction, on site/off site
drainage, contaminated soils testing and removal as may be
required by governmental agencies) construction, and landscaping,
as well as the costs of all permits, bonds, fees and other
incidental charges, including the costs of any on- or off-site
improvements required by land-use laws and/or regulatory
agencies. This funding may be made in installments and pursuant
to reasonable mechanisms for the timely transfer of funds.
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K. If development activity gives rise to the Replacement
Obligation arises, the Christ Sanctified Church of Indio shall
deposit a grant deed conveying fee title to Assessor's Parcel No.
614-101-037 into escrow within sixty (60) days of the' time at
which the Replacement Obligation arises. Escrow shall close and
fee title to pass to the Agency upon filing of the notice of
completion for the replacement church.
L. Site Selection
1. The Agency shall make diligent efforts to acquire
as a site for the replacement church the lot identified as
Assessors Parcel No. 614-130-014 located on Daisy Street south of
Garden Avenue. Upon acquiring title to this property, if title
is so acquired, the Agency shall deed it to the Christ Sanctified
Church by grant deed, with no encumbrances other than those which
existed at the time of the Agency's acquisition of title to the
original facility, other than those required by California Health
& Safety Code §§ 33435 and 33436.
2. If, after exercising due diligence, the Agency is
unable to acquire Assessor's Parcel No. 614-130-014, it shall
purchase and convey to the Christ Sanctified Church a parcel of
land for the construction of the church, cleared of all
improvements, of a minimum size of 0.40 acres and in a suitable
location within the City using the following procedure:
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a. The Agency shall first use its best efforts
to locate a suitable alternative site of a minimum size of 0.40
acres within a one (1) mile radius from the existing church site.
b. If no reasonable alternative site is located
within a one (1) mile radius, the Agency shall use its best
efforts to locate another alternative site with the same lot size
requirements within a two (2) mile radius of the original site.
c. If necessary, the Agency shall extend its
search for a reasonable alternative site of the same minimum lot
size to a three (3) mile radius from the existing site. If no
reasonable alternative site can be located within a three (3)
mile radius, the Agency will select a reasonable alternative site
elsewhere in the City or with different characteristics.
3. The site selected for the church complex shall be
the subject of a soils analysis and geological survey to
determine its suitability for a building with a footprint of
2,700 square feet prior to the conveyance of the property to the
Christ Sanctified Church.
Within a reasonable time after the selection of a
suitable site for the replacement church, the defendants shall
cause title to the site to be conveyed to the Christ Sanctified
Church.
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5. The Christ Sanctified Church shall have the right
to approve any site that is selected. The Christ Sanctified
Church shall approve or disapprove of the site selected prior to
the soils and contaminants tests required by this Decree. The
Christ Sanctified Church's approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld. Any dispute between the parties over the site will be
resolved through binding arbitration pursuant to section VIII,
below.
M. Replacement Facility, General Principles
1. The parties agree that the replacement church, if
built, substantially equivalent to the complex depicted in
Exhibit "P", utilizing the construction methods and materials
described in Exhibit "Q", or their substantial equivalents. The
parties recognize, however, that without a site certain for the
replacement church, it is impossible to agree as to the exact
costs or even the total design of the church. The parties agree,
however, to the following principles and further agree to submit
any disputes regarding the design or costs for construction to
binding arbitration, pursuant to section VIII, below.
Within sixty (60) days of the time at which the
Replacement Obligation arises, defendants shall pay to Christ
Sanctified Church a sum sufficient to retain an architect who is
fully licensed by the California State Board of Architectural
Examiners. The defendants shall pay to Christ Sanctified Church
a sum sufficient to compensate this architect at a reasonable
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rate to perform services as listed in the model Owner/Architect
Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit "N". The rate to be paid
this architect shall be commensurate with the rates prevailing in
the community for the design of similar structures. The parties
agree that the Owner/Architect Agreement executed between Christ
Sanctified Church and the architect need not be identical to this
model.
3. The replacement church shall incorporate the
following site improvements:
a. If required by any branch or agency of
government, the site selected for the replacement church shall be
the subject of testing for sub soil contaminants.
b. The Agency shall make available to Christ
Sanctified Church funds sufficient to allow it to contract for
site improvements necessary for the construction of a building
with a footprint of 2,700 square feet and a parking lot
sufficient for the parking of 20 vehicles. These site
improvements shall be commensurate with standards prevailing for
construction in the area for the improvement of building sites to
prevent undue or uneven settling, to allow for adequate water
drainage and to eliminate or satisfactorily mitigate any sub
soils contaminants. If deemed necessary by prevailing standards
for construction in the area, or if required by any branch or
agency of government, the site improvements shall include, but
not be limited to, sub-excavation and soils removal, importation
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of soils, compaction of soils, grading, and the installation of
dry wells.
c. The site shall be improved with aesthetically
appropriate landscaping and signage.
d. If the church is to be built on the Daisy
Street site, Assessors Parcel No. 614-130-014, a wall of up to 10
feet shall be built on the western property line and landscaping
shall be designed to mitigate noise pollution from the pumping
station located on Assessors Parcel No. 614-130-004. Such
landscaping may utilize mature trees.
4. Structure
a. The design and construction of the
replacement church shall comply with all current and applicable
editions of all state, local and uniform building codes. It
shall comply, as far as is reasonably possible, with the plans
and description attached hereto as Exhibit "P."
b. Whenever applicable, the building shall
utilize the materials identified in Exhibit "Q," or materials of
like quality and value.
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5. Financing
The Christ Sanctified Church shall contract
directly for all design, engineering and construction services
necessary to build a replacement facility.
The Agency shall provide to Christ Sanctified
Church funds sufficient to cover all costs of design and
construction, including, but not limited to the costs of
architectural and engineering services, site analyses, site
preparation, construction services, project management, fees,
permits, bonds, and escrow and other transactional costs.
Neither the City nor the Agency shall be liable to indemnify
plaintiffs and/or by Christ Sanctified Church for attorney's fees
and other costs incurred by plaintiffs and/or Christ Sanctified
Church as a result of the prosecution, defense of or participa
tion in any legal proceeding arising out of the future design
and/or construction of the replacement church.
Church funds sufficient to purchase a performance bond provided
purchase of such bond does not exceed three percent (3%) of the
total construction cost.
review and approve all contracts valued at $1,000 or more the
Christ Sanctified Church enters into for the design and
construction of the replacement church complex, including^ the
c. The Agency shall provide Christ Sanctified
d. The City or Agency shall have the right to
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agreement for architectural and design services, and shall have
the right to review and approve the design of the church complex
before any binding contract for construction is executed. The
Agency shall not withhold its approval of the design'or any
contract absent a good faith belief that the design or contract
violates the terms of this Decree. In the event the parties are
unable to resolve a dispute regarding the design or any contract,
such dispute shall be submitted to binding arbitration, pursuant
to section VIII, below. If defendants do not exercise the above-
described right of approval within a reasonable time after
notification by Christ Sanctified Church or its representative of
the work or contract that is proposed, defendants shall be deemed
to have approved the proposed work or contract. "Reasonable
time" for the purposes of this paragraph is defined as twenty
(20) days in situations involving contracts valued at $10,000.00
or less and forty (40) days for contracts valued in excess of
$10,000.
6. Approvals and Permits
a. The Agency and, to the extent applicable, the
City shall take all steps consistent with their obligations under
local, state and federal law to facilitate the granting of all
permits and approvals necessary for the construction of the
replacement church.
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VIII. ARBITRATION
The parties to this Decree acknowledge that, while the
United States District Court retains jurisdiction over the
enforcement and general interpretation of the Decree, certain of
terms, conditions and other provisions contained in the
Decree specifically reference the resolution of disputes relating
thereto through binding arbitration. In such cases, arbitration I
will take place in the manner set forth below.
Selection of Arbitrator. All arbitrations shall take
place before the Honorable Paul Egley (retired). If Judge Egley
is unavailable to act as an arbitrator in relation to any dispute
regarding this Decree, the parties shall instead select a judge
listed with the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service
( JAMS ) to act as an arbitrator, or may select any other
mutually agreeable arbitrator or process of arbitration.
Election to Arbitrate. Arbitration pursuant to this
Decree must be specifically requested by the party seeking
arbitration pursuant to this paragraph. Such an election to
arbitrate a dispute can be made by a party only by formally
notifying all other parties to this Decree of an election to
arbitrate in relation to a particular dispute. Such a notice
must be sent to all parties within a reasonable time after the
dispute first arose and the notice shall contain, at a minimum, a
detailed description of the subject dispute and a statement that
the party is electing arbitration pursuant to this paragraph.
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Timing—of_Arbitration. Arbitrations pursuant to this
P̂ -̂ Ŝ̂ -̂Ph must take place within sixty (60) days from the date
the election to arbitrate pursuant to subparagraph 2, above, is
made.
D * Conduct of the Arbitration. The manner in which
arbitrations under this paragraph shall be conducted is to be
left to the sole discretion of the selected arbitrator. All
parties to this Decree represent and warrant that they shall
cooperate in providing the selected arbitrator with all
documents, materials and any information necessary to assist the
selected arbitrator in the performance of his or her role.
E - Costs of Arbitration. To the extent that any party to
this Decree incurs attorney's fees and other costs in connection
with the arbitration, those fees and costs shall be the responsi-
bilitY that party alone. The fees and costs incurred by the
selected arbitrator in the performance of his or her role pursu
ant to this paragraph shall be paid by the City and/or Agency and
the plaintiffs jointly, with the City and/or Agency paying 75% of
said fees and costs, and the plaintiffs paying 25% of said fees
and costs.
F- Decision of Selected Arbitrator. The selected
arbitrator may render his or her decision orally or in writing.
Such a decision is binding on all parties.
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IX. COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
A. The defendants shall cause the name of Date Avenue,
between Monroe and Arabian, to be renamed John Nobles' Avenue.
B. Within ninety (90) days after approval by the Court of
this Decree, the Agency shall pay $56,700.00 to plaintiffs'
counsel to be held in trust for plaintiffs for the charitable
purpose of commemorating Noble's Ranch. Plaintiffs shall give
thirty (30) days advance notice to the City and Agency regarding
any use of the funds.
X. OTHER REUTER
A. The Agency shall pay plaintiffs $15,000.00 to reimburse
plaintiffs for all fees and expenses paid to plaintiffs'
architect to develop plans for this Decree. This amount is to be
paid within thirty (30) days of approval by the Court of the
Decree.
XI. IMPLEMENTATION OF DECREE
A. In the event that any dispute or controversy arises
concerning the interpretation, application, or enforcement of the
Decree, the parties reserve the right to select a third party to
mediate or arbitrate the controversy or dispute on terms to be
agreed upon at that time.
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B. The parties reserve the right to petition or apply to
this Court for modification of this Decree for any purposeany purpose
whatsoever.
C. The parties agree to prepare and provide documents and
relevant information, reasonably necessary to effectuate the
terms of this Decree.
XII. COSTS AND FEES
Jurisdiction over the issue of costs attorneys' fees as
provided for under 42 U.S.C.A. § 1988 is reserved to this Court.
HILL, FARRER & BURRILL
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC.
DATED: 1993 By:
oui nann nee
Kevin S. Reed
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
BEST, BEST & KRIEGER
Kendall H. MacVey 7
Patrick H.W.F. Pearce'
Attorneys for Defendants
It is sc ordered