While many Mission Viejo residents and Juice readers cannot understand terms such as “monetization” of cell tower leases or “net present value” of same they can surely understand wasteful spending on our unjustified entry in the 2009 Tournament of Roses parade.
Most of the Juice readers have seen my numerous blog posts of fundraising volunteerism and restricted budgets for nine other southern CA cities entries where most of the participation can be justified. i.e. celebrating your Centennial (Roseville), or being a destination such as the cities of Anaheim and Long Beach each of whose cost “cap” were half of our $300,000 float budget.
At both our city council and MV Community Foundation meetings I told them they missed the boat not getting started a year ago with non profit fundraising to offset some of the project costs as demonstrated by several other cities, especially knowing that they had budgeted $300,000 for the Tournament Float.
Fast forward two months later only to see the following report from fellow Mission Viejo blogger Brad Morton editor/publisher of the Mission Viejo Dispatch. www.missionviejodispatch.com
Brad reports the city now requiring over $60,000 in additional money for the project. “Acts of omission” is a phrase I learned in the corporate world that surely applies in this case. We were told the budget was $300,000. At no time were we told of additional costs, nor did they lower the commitment to Fiesta Parade Float to cover those additional expenditures while staying on, or under, budget. That’s just another example of a lack of project budgeting and management by our council majority. We have promised to transport and feed volunteers willing to work on the float over the next two months. Another expression I discovered many years ago. “There is no free lunch.”
To read Brad’s latest coverage simply click on the following link.
http://missionviejodispatch.com/2008/10/17/rose-float-another-61300/
Rose Float: Another $61,300
October 17, 2008 by MissionViejoDispatch.com
The City’s $300,000 cost for the Rose Parade Float doesn’t include “support costs” which will add another $61,000. The money will be used to underwrite community volunteers and pay for fundraising materials.
Last year’s budget included $27,000 for “Rose Parade-related activities.” Staff is currently requesting an additional $34,300 from this year’s budget for these support activities. About $5,000 will be needed to bus volunteers to Irwindale where they will help decorate the float.
Staff is anticipating receiving revenue to largely offset these costs. It estimates $17,000 from sale of Rose Parade momentos, $31,000 in sponsorships, and $7,800 from other fundraising activities. A recent budget report states sponsorships ”have been and are expected to be received,” but none were identified.
Many cities obtain a large portion of their float building costs from private donations. Mission Viejo did not explore that option after the dismal performance of the Community Foundation in raising private money for the Murray Center renovation. It remains to be seen if it can raise contributions to cover support activities.
Juice readers. Almost 100% of the time I agree with statements by one of my hero’s president Ronald Reagan. This is an exception.
As a fiscal conservative Republican I cannot sit quietly by and ignore wasteful spending by those who claim to be fiscal conservatives on our city council.
The Eleventh Commandment was a phrase used by former President of the United States Ronald Reagan during his 1966 campaign for Governor of California. The Commandment reads:”Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”
Note: While we cannot stop this runaway train, we might be able to remove the engineer next month and the two conductors in 2010.
Larry,
While at the Murray Center recently I looked at the photos of past floats and thought about how much money you were talking about here. The gilded framed photos on display in the hallway they’re truly an ostentatious display, it reminded me of how much good those funds could have done in other places. While the Murray Center is incredibly nice, the fact that the taxpayers have been lied to on the costs of it and now the parade float as well, certainly does not bode well for the level of trust the local taxpayers must be feeling right now. Like lots of the rest of us, mistakes are one thing, we can forgive mistakes. But when the city administrators continue to lie and other wise make excuses for their ineptitude, it’s time to replace them. Like Santa Ana, it sounds like it’s time for a new team to take the helm. Folks that will tell the truth, and at least try to thoughtfully plan ahead and at the very least try to protect taxpayer’s funds from frivolous and unplanned expenditures.
I find it hard to believe that with your coverage of this issue that local news coverage of this hasn’t increased and that the MV citizenry hasn’t taken up torches to hunt for the monster Fran Ury. Lies, mismanagement and theft of public funds. Not a great resume but one helluva indictment. What are MV folks waiting for?
Anonymous.
The problem with the lack of coverage on this project is that the local city reporter needs to maintain a friendly relationship with the council and staff if she intends to get future access and updates on city issues.
There are two blogs in Mission Viejo, in addition to my posts on the Juice, which are troubling to staff and council majority. We can’t be bullied nor intimidated.
http://www.missionviejodispatch.com
http://www.missionviejoca.org