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6/1/Z017 i : ?3 : 03 PM Melissa Hammond PTWWW Page 5 <br /> Maria D. Huizar <br /> June 1,2017 <br /> Page 5 <br /> whether the particular interest in the property that the City seeks to take is necessary. In <br /> the absence of substantial evidence supporting such a determination, the Resolution of <br /> Necessity will be invalid, <br /> The property owner is informed and believes that viable PProject alternatives exist <br /> that would provide all of the amenities of the proposed Project but at a substantially <br /> reduced cost and with less private property. Those alternatives would materially reduce <br /> the need to acquire any private property for construction of the proposed Project. <br /> However, the City has failed to consider those project alternatives, <br /> Barring such consideration, the City cannot make an informed determination as to <br /> whether the Subject Property is actually necessary for the project. <br /> 5. Tile city Is ]area ,able of Conduct, r„ F2ir ;_,: al, And Im partial I>i . rin; <br /> Qn Ibie Proposed Ado i ion•.o.f The Resul flan of Necessi! <br /> It is believed that the. City has already committed itself to the proposed taking, so <br /> any hearing resulting in the adoption of the resolution by the City would he a <br /> predetermined result, The proposed resolution hearing is a pretense andartifice, and any <br /> resolution adopted under these circumstances would be voidable by a court of competent <br /> jurisdiction. (See, Redevelopment Agency v, Norm's Slauson (1985) 173 CaLApp.3d <br /> 1121, 1127.) <br /> As a condition precedent to the exercise of the power of eminent domain, a public <br /> agency "must hold a public hearing to determine whether a particular taking meets the <br /> [requirements of Civil Code section 1245.235, i,e., is for a public use, necessary, and <br /> designed in such a manner to cause the least private injury]...." (Norm's Slauson, supra, <br /> 173 Cal..App.3d at p. 1125 [Emphasis added].) "Implicit in this requirement,„is the <br /> concept that,,.the [ajgency engage in a good faith and judicious consideration of the pros <br /> and cons of the issue and that the decision to take be buttressed by substantial <br /> evidence.,.," (id,, at pp. 1125.1126) "[A]n agency that would take private <br /> property...must,,.conduct a fair hearing and make its determination on the basis of <br /> evidence presented in a judicious and.nonarbitrary fashion." (.Id., at p, 1129.) in the <br /> absence of a fair and impartial hearing, the resolution of necessity is void. <br /> if the condemning agency fails to conduct itself in this manner, then the resolution <br /> is not entitled to its ordinary conclusive effect and the burden of proving the elements for <br /> a particular taking rests on the government agency with the court being the final <br /> • adjudicator. (Norm's Slauson, supra, 173 Cal.App,3d at pp. 1128-1129.) "The <br /> governmental agency in such a situation cannot act arbitrarily and then seek the benefit of <br /> 2f097{9),I <br />