On Friday, September 26th I wrote a blog post whose title read: “Deception or shell game? Something is not kosher in Mission Viejo.”
After further investigation I can now answer the question. This afternoon I visited our records management department and reviewed the 46 pages of documents from my Public Records request. Before leaving I did purchase a few pages for my files and this update.
What triggered this investigation was a back-up statement for a financial request by the Mission Viejo Community Foundation that listed fundraising accomplishments “over $500,000 since it formed in 2005.” MV City Document.
I requested back-up on the entry of $285,000 in new grants that I had no knowledge of as we have not had any progress report from that non-profit for some time.
As it turns out I now have a page signed by Mission Viejo City Manager Dennis Wilberg dated 10/2/06. The form reads: “RECREATION TRAILS PROGRAM APPLICATION. Non-Motorized Project.”
It lists a project name of Oso Creek Trail Comprehensive Sign Program with Dennis listed as the authorized representative and our city hall address.
Without listing the grant scope text let me simply report that the Foundation should not be getting credit for this application and funding.
Another page that I purchased is a council meeting AGENDA REPORT dated October 2, 2006 where the executive Summary reads: “The City of Mission Viejo proposes to prepare and submit a grant application to complete an additional link with the Oso Creek Trail. Staff is requesting council approval of the Attached Draft Resolution authorizing the submittal of a grant application to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation for the Oso Creek Trail Connection and Enhancement Project. A resolution is required as a part of the grant application process.”
That said what contribution to the eventual Grant application or approval did the Mission Viejo Community Foundation have for which they are being credited? From the documents which I reviewed today I can’t find a single reference to the Foundation. What is open ended is a letter to Keith Rattay, Director of Public Works, from State of CA project officer Luan Aubin on the same project dated August 6, 2008. It references a “contract for the above-referenced project.”
My sense is that this is the response to the city’s 2006 direct Grant application.
Readers. How is it that none of our city council appears to challenge the shell game where staff deserves credit but to bolster the Foundation they are acknowledged as the hero’s?
Let us not overlook that this failed non-profit experiment cost Mission Viejo taxpayers close to $500,000 of which only $177,500 was raised and given to the city.
The city council, city staff and Foundation directors have zero credibility. Thank you for looking into this, and you are probably holding your nose while reading their b.s. claims.
Money given to the Foundation might as well be flushed down the toilet — flushing would be much faster and wouldn’t require phony records to document what happened.
As for the city council noticing a financial problem — are you kidding???
Observer.
You are surely observant regarding Mission Viejo council and staff.
It is amazing that unlike traditional news media we have more stories to tell than days in the week.
While another blog covered the “easelgate” story in depth simply look at the response to a local reporter by an upper staff member on the bogus cost of an outside contractor where his cost statement published in the paper did not align with the contractor’s invoices for the same work. This story broke throught the efforts of another MV activist who requested, and later received and reviewed, Public Records.
Unlike print media reporters who must maintain a somewhat friendly relationship with council members and staff, a major advantage of bloggers is that we can break and cover these stories without fear of being cut off from future project updates.
In fact let me suggest to any council member serving in a 1-4 council to consider establishing a rapport with those of us who do post stories on the blog.
While you may struggle to get a second on your policy ideas we might be able to get the word out and apply pressure on your peers. One request. Do NOT share any info that is subject to violation of the Brown Act. We do not wish to know about Closed Session negotiations until they are flushed out in the public arena. Don’t cross that line and jeopardize your seat at the decision making table by exposure to peer sanctions. We can become your messengers.
The city of Mission Viejo’s administration has been caught again in another lie. Just like Easelgate, Firegate, and Dumpgate we the citizens are being lied to by our city administrators.
Time to clean house on the council starting with REJECTING Frank Ury on his reelection bid and saying no Mayor Kelley chosen BINKIE Rich Atkinson. The next step is recalling the balance of the sitting council..
Lying while in office either through omission or commission is an impeachable offense because once you have proof an elected official is lying you can never again assume that they are telling the truth and we need to have leaders we can trust. Its our enemies that we ‘trust but verify’ not our leaders.