Compton council and successor agency declare parcels surplus under Surplus Land Act; council says no development approved

The Compton City Council on Oct. 28 voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to declare certain city properties surplus under the state Surplus Land Act.

Council action: During the regular agenda, council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to declare specified parcels surplus pursuant to the Surplus Land Act (Government Code §54220 et seq.). The motion passed on a roll-call vote with Council members Doohart, Spicer, Bowers, Darden and Mayor Sharief voting yes.

What it does and does not do: Councilwoman Darden took the floor to clarify the immediate effect of the vote: "for the record so that our public understand this is only declaring this is surplus land. ... There’s no proposals for any development at this time," she said. The declaration is an administrative first step that makes the parcels eligible for the state’s surplus‑land process; it does not authorize a sale, conveyance or a specific development agreement.

Successor agency: The city’s successor agency board took a corresponding action later in the meeting and approved its own surplus‑land declaration on the same vote.

Next steps: Declaring land surplus begins a required public-notice and compliance process under state law before any sale or transfer. Council or successor‑agency staff did not present or approve any development proposals at the meeting; any future sale, disposition, or related development would return to council or the successor agency for separate approvals and public hearing as required by law.