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WHY 1S MY PROPERTY REQUIRED? <br />The City of Santa Ana, Public Works Agency (the City), has determined that your property <br />may be required for the improvements of Bristol Street. <br />WHAT RIGHT DOES THE CITY HAVE TO ACQUIRE MY PROPERTY? <br />Every public agency has certain powers that are necessary for it to operate effectively. For <br />example, States have the power to levy taxes and the power to maintain order. Another power is <br />the power to acquire private property for public purposes. This is known as the power of the <br />eminent domain. <br />The rights of each of us are protected by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. <br />Constitution, the State Constitution and eminent domain laws which guarantee that if a public <br />agency takes private property it must pay "just compensation" to the owner. <br />Further, under the California Government Code and Title 25 of the California Code of <br />Regulations, the owner has additional protections, some of which are explained in this brochure. <br />WHO MAKES THE DECISION TO BUY MY PROPERTY? <br />The decision to acquire specific property for a public project usually involves many persons and <br />many decisions. The final decision to proceed with a project is made by the Santa Ana City <br />Council after a thorough review that includes public hearings to obtain the views of interested <br />citizens. <br />HOW WILL THE CITY DETERMINE HOW MUCH TO OFFER ME FOR MY <br />PROPERTY? <br />Before making you an offer, the City will obtain an appraisal of your property. A qualified, <br />licensed, professional appraiser who is familiar with local property values will do the appraisal. <br />The appraiser will inspect your property and state his or her professional opinion of its current <br />fair market value in an appraisal report. <br />The City is required to offer you "just compensation" for your property. This amount cannot be <br />less than the fair market value of your property, as determined by the City on the basis of its <br />approved appraisal. <br />WHAT IS FAIR MARKET VALUE? <br />The fair market value of real property being taken for a public project is the highest price on the <br />date of valuation that would be agreed to by a seller, being willing to sell but under no particular <br />or urgent necessity for so doing, nor obliged to sell, and a buyer, being ready, willing, and able to <br />buy but under no particular necessity for so doing, each dealing with the other with full <br />knowledge of all the uses and purposes for which the property is reasonably adaptable and <br />available. <br />751-26 <br />