Some city leaders are not relinquishing their biggest redevelopment tool without a fight.

But Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, says city officials are reneging on a compromise forged in the final days of the legislative session.

Mayors in several cities including Salt Lake, Murray, Centerville, Ogden and Taylorsville are asking Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to veto legislation limiting the scope of redevelopment agencies.

SB184 prohibits the use of eminent domain for RDA projects and puts a one-year moratorium on all retail RDAs. The measure also bans any RDA dollars from funding recreational arenas such as soccer stadiums.

"We feel strongly that this bill not only robs local government leaders of a critical economic development tool but sends the wrong message to business leaders nationwide about the climate in Utah for new business growth," Centerville Mayor Michael Deamer wrote in a letter released this week.

"As elected officials at the level of government closest to the people, our constituents have given us their vote of confidence to exercise good judgment when making decisions that shape the future of our communities. We seek the same trust from our state leaders."

But Bramble said city leaders are not honoring a compromise between cities opposed to the measure and school district leaders pushing the bill. Bramble's original measure would have banned all retail RDAs, but discussions with city leaders prompted the senator to settle on a year suspension.

"The original bill would have effectively eliminated RDAs in Utah," he said. "These mayors are ignoring what led up to the compromise. All parties didn't get everything they wanted, but that's the nature of compromise."

Bramble added that city leaders had a voice in the final draft of the legislation through the League of Cities and Towns, a representative group Bramble worked with to draft the final bill.

"I believe that negotiations were conducted in good faith. Now should a few mayors choose to claim that they weren't at the table or a party to the negotiations, that's a difficult proposition," he said.

Murray Mayor Dan Snarr said he recognized Bramble's effort to reach a middle ground, but the one-year hold on retail RDAs could mean some cities miss out on timely opportunities for growth.

Murray is planning an RDA at 4500 South and Main Street, which will still be allowed to move ahead because it made the Feb. 15 cut-off for the moratorium.

"I thought it was important to make the governor aware that there is a value and a purpose to having those RDA dollars there," Snarr said. "There is a timeliness, and there are windows of opportunity. If you don't avail yourself, those opportunities pass you by and go elsewhere."