Assembly Passes Legislation Undermining Gold Line Lawsuit

A bill allowing sitting city council members to also serve on the Gold Line Construction Authority (GLCA) board passed the Assembly Friday and is headed to the governor's desk, according to a Gold Line official.

The bill already passed the State Senate and was drafted in response to a alleging that Gold Line board members like Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz were illegally serving in other elected offices.

Lutz recently after discovering that the law didn't call for alternate board members, but will likely be re-appointed to her position if Gov. Jerry Brown signs the legislation.

Habib Balian, CEO of the GLCA, said in a written statement that the legislation vindicated the Gold Line's position that its board members were not doing anything wrong by holding multiple offices.

"By the nearly unanimous approval by both bodies this week, it is clear that the Legislature’s position continues to support local officials overseeing the Authority’s work by serving on our board," Balian wrote.

A land deal between the city of Monrovia and the GLCA crucial to the progress of the Foothill Extension as the California Supreme Court sorts out a lawsuit against the state filed by a coalition of redevelopment agencies.