Several years ago I filed a law suit against the City of Mission Viejo for altering an Advisory Ballot measure on a future city hall. While the judge agreed with my argument he told us that the pending vote was only “advisory” which enabled the council to change from “size, location and cost” of the future building to “continue leasing space in the building we occupied, purchase that building, or build a 47,750 square foot city hall on land that we owned.” The criteria of “size, location and cost” was established based on a prior city election vote. As you can see this is not exactly the same options but that story is old. Why do I bring it up now? After losing the case the powers to be had us vote on a 47,000 square foot building that was estimated to cost around $10 million. After voters approved the choice to build a new city hall, (on land that we owned), they increased the building size to 52,000 square feet and established a budget of $14,406,681 for design and construction. Source. City document.
Let’s shift gears to the expansion of the Norman P. Murray Senior and Community Center that is scheduled to open next month. When the city selected Design Task Force first presented a very detailed report of the expansion the expansion was to be around 12,000 to 13,000 square feet. On Oct 29, 2004 the city issued a Press Release that stated a $5.5 million estimated cost including the relocation of two soccer fields. I blogged about that report in my September 14,2007 post which read “how to boil a live frog.” At that time the city had issued 10 change orders to the CIP and listed a revised budget of $13.5 million.
Well, folks, on Monday, March 3rd there is another routine item on the Consent Calendar. In this case there is a new request requesting approval of Change Orders #15 and #16 to CIP #994 at $117,048 and $334,641 respectively for a new budget of $15,129,384. I do not know if that includes nearly one million dollars for the architect.
So we built a 52,000 square foot, two story, city hall with an elevator for around $15 million and are told that this roughly 13,000 square foot single story expansion at one forth the size and 10 percent higher cost is justified. As they made numerous improvements to the existing building, which we were never told of when the CIP was first created, it would have been cheaper to tear the building down and build a new center from scratch. And they continue to deceive the voters by denying that the original plan included TWO soccer fields. But what do I know.
The Mission Viejo city council lacks the one thing all councils require–courage.
This pattern of overruns and lack of management of construction programs can be traced to the city manager and public works manager both should be terminated immediately. Both have a long history of non performance. Why the residents of Mission Viejo put up with it is amazing.
Jason Abertroth
Mission Viejo
email response:
Larry:
Very well done–and I am sure the twits in the city administration and the five delinquents on the council could give a rip. Until we get some council members who are dedicated to keeping the city administration–including Dennis Wilberg and Keith Rattay in check–forget about fiscal responsibility.
Opening comments from an email reply:
WOW, you really smashed the City Council.
Larry and other activists helped oust a Mission Viejo City Council which practiced fiscal arrogance.
As Larry points out the community center has surpassed the city hall project in deception, lackadaisical planning and the attitude that the city is flush with cash walking down the street with dollar bills falling out of its pockets.
Larry,
as an activist, you know as well as I do that it only takes a majority of three (3) to turn the City Staff loss on any spending that they want to do. Over the years I have watched the majority on the City Council change from one group to another. We now have Trish “Princess” Kelley, Lance “Angrily Dis-functional” and Frank “Do nothing but talk a good game” as the “New Majority”. Get rid of those three and you will get rid of Wilberg and Rattay. Plus with the State cutting back of jobs and expense, it would be a good time for the city to do the same. Start cutting at the top and work your way down. The City could make a 25% cut and never lose a step. I agree with 2/29/2008 6:27 AM, oust the “New Majority” which is now practicing fiscal arrogance.
anon 7:02 am
What is sad is that the Design Task Force proposed the expansion years before action commenced over which time cost of materials and labor increased. What the public does not know is that I began a petition drive with the intent to force this CIP onto a Ballot Measure which angered one of the council members leading to their eventual approval of the project. We brought that document to a city council meeting to show that we were serious about moving forward. We both know that Time is money!
Hey Anony #5 you forgot the most dysfunction member of the Mission Viejo council–miss goody two shoes Gail Reavis.
She Sued the city
Harassed a city employee
Misspent city funds
Favors special interests
Creates the council cat fights
Shall I identify more ???
Dan The Man
anon 10:01 AM
Stay tuned. I will be covering this project at tomorrow evening’s city council meeting that anyone wth access to a computer can watch and listen to. The Open Session of our meetings begin at 6 pm with ceremonials followed by Public Comments