Cinema West v. Baker

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 30, 2017
DocketA144265
StatusPublished

This text of Cinema West v. Baker (Cinema West v. Baker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cinema West v. Baker, (Cal. Ct. App. 2017).

Opinion

Filed 6/30/17 CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

CINEMA WEST, LLC, Plaintiff and Appellant, A144265 v. CHRISTINE BAKER et al., (Sonoma County Super. Ct. No. SCV254439) Defendants and Respondents.

This appeal concerns whether the construction of a movie theater built by Cinema West, LLC in Hesperia, California qualifies as a ―public work‖ within the meaning of California‘s prevailing wage law (Lab. Code, §§ 1720–18611) (the PWL), which provides that, with certain exceptions, the prevailing wage ―shall be paid to all workers employed on public works.‖ (§ 1771.) In administrative proceedings initiated by a labor union, respondent Christine Baker, Director of the State Department of Industrial Relations (Director),2 concluded that it did. Cinema West filed a petition for writ of mandate challenging the Director‘s decision, which the superior court denied. This appeal followed. Applying substantial evidence review to the superior court‘s factual findings and de novo review to its application of the PWL to the facts, we find no error and therefore affirm.

1 All further statutory references are to the Labor Code unless otherwise indicated. 2 Cinema West‘s writ petition named the Director and the Department of Industrial Relations (Department), which she heads, as respondents. For convenience, we will refer to respondents collectively as the Director. 1 BACKGROUND Facts In 2004, the City of Hesperia (City)3 began acquiring vacant property in its downtown to facilitate development of a Civic Plaza, which was to include a city hall, public library, other government buildings and ―complimentary retail, restaurant, and entertainment establishments.‖ The City‘s goal was ―to develop a vibrant, participatory multi- and mixed-use civic/downtown environment.‖ Hesperia did not have a movie theater. From 2000 to 2010, it met with numerous theater operators in an effort to facilitate construction of a ―state-of-the-art cinema experience in Hesperia.‖ For predominantly financial reasons, no company had built a theater during that period. In 2010, the City met with appellant Cinema West, LLC (Cinema West), who ―articulated a cogent plan to develop a new, 12-screen digital cinema immediately west of the Civic Plaza Park.‖ Cinema West‘s proposal, according to a City staff report, included the following ―[d]eal points‖: the City would convey about 54,000 square feet of real property to Cinema West for $102,529, the property‘s fair market value; Cinema West would construct a ―38,000 square foot, twelve-screen digital theatre‖; the City would construct ―the necessary parking lot and provid[e] reciprocal access and use of said parking lot,‖ develop a water retention system for the theater and the parking lot, and install ―off-site improvements including curb, gutter and sidewalks‖; Cinema West would execute a ten- year operating agreement with the City.

3 The City‘s redevelopment agency, known as the Hesperia Community Redevelopment Agency (HCRA), was the party to the discussions and agreements with Cinema West, although the City Council of Hesperia acted as the legislative body of the HCRA. In 2011, the Legislature enacted legislation dissolving all redevelopment agencies and transferring control of their assets and responsibility for their obligations to the cities and counties that had created them. (See Health & Safety Code, §§ 34172, 34173, 34175, subd. (b), 34177.) The City of Hesperia became the successor agency to the HCRA, assuming control of its assets and responsibility for its obligations. For convenience, except as otherwise specifically indicated, we will refer to the former HCRA and the City individually and collectively as ―the City.‖ 2 The city manager and staff analyzed the fiscal impacts of the project.4 According to their September 7, 2010 report, development of the parking lot and related amenities would cost ―approximately $1,443,834,‖ and the fair market value of the property being conveyed was $102,529, resulting in a total cost to the City of $1,546,363. This amount would be paid out of the City‘s Economic Development Fund or other City resources. The project would have a negative rate of return, a negative net present value and a lengthy payback period. However, these costs would be partially offset by annual property taxes of $32,882, annual sales taxes of over $8,000 and development-related fees of approximately $227,486. Further, there would be other benefits to the City, including its ownership of and access to the parking lot for ―the City and surrounding civic uses.‖ Although ―the net benefit of the DDA [Disposition and Development Agreement between the City and Cinema West] to the [City] is a negative number,‖ the city manager and staff informed the mayor and city council that ―the Project is worthwhile and will result in the development of a long-awaited entertainment amenity which will benefit the community,‖ ―catalyze future retail and restaurant development proximate to the Civic Plaza and downtown,‖ and bring new jobs, increased foot traffic and associated spending to the area that would benefit local businesses. On September 7, 2010, after reviewing the staff report and conducting a public hearing, the City adopted resolutions approving the DDA and authorizing its execution. Among the resolutions‘ recitals were that ―the [City] desires to encourage commercial growth within the Project Area‖; ―in furtherance of the public purposes of the [City] and the Project Area, Cinema West, LLC (Developer) desires to enter into a [DDA] with the [City] in order to purchase 54,248 square feet of real property located at the southeast corner of Smoke and 9th, Hesperia, California (Site), in order to develop and operate a 36,000 square foot theater (Project)‖; and ―[i]n order to ensure the sustained economic

4 In the staff reports, resolutions and project documents, the City and Cinema West used the term ―Project‖ to refer to the theater only, and described the parking lot as a related and adjacent amenity to be constructed and funded by the City for the benefit of the theater and other uses. 3 viability of the Project, the Developer has requested certain forms of [City] participation as more fully described in the DDA.‖ On or about September 7, 2010, the City and Cinema West entered into the DDA and, as a part of it, a series of related documents and agreements, including an operating covenant; a reciprocal access and easement agreement; covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs); a promissory note; and deed of trust. Under these agreements, Cinema West agreed (1) to purchase property from the City at a fair market value determined to be $102,529; (2) to develop the site with a 12- screen, 36,000 square foot movie theater; (3) to obtain financing for, and bear the costs of, construction of the theater and related facilities other than the parking lot; to obtain necessary entitlements, approvals and permits; to create at least 40 employment positions on the site; to maintain the property, including landscaping and the on-grade parking lot; and to operate the site as a movie theater for at least ten years.

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Bluebook (online)
Cinema West v. Baker, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cinema-west-v-baker-calctapp-2017.