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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2010-2011
With the City facing a pending budget deficit of $1.9 million, the Grand Jury believes the City Council should have a
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 6 findings
F9
Page 28
It was not possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the WRDA because adequate information is not provided to the public.
F10
Page 28
The City of Watsonville does not provide a publicly available summary of WRDA activities, revenues, or expenses.
F11
Page 30
The City Council failed to fully consider project costs prior to Manabe-Ow project approval.
F12
Page 30
The City Staff misrepresented the plans to finance the Manabe-Ow project prior to the City Council’s approval in 2010.
F13
Page 30
The City Staff favored securing WRDA funding to finance the project but withheld this information from the City Council and the public prior to project approval.
F14
Page 30
City Staff withheld information regarding the requirement for legislative action to include the Manabe-Ow property in the WRDA prior to project approval.
Recommendations 4
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R6Page 28The City of Watsonville should publish on its website, a current record of activities of the WRDA, including projects proposed, approved, in progress, and completed, along with related revenue, bond obligations and expense information. Manabe-Ow Investigation On October 26, 2010, the City Council passed resolution 174-10[69] approving the Manabe-Ow Specific Plan (MOSP)[70] amid a sea of sign-waving young citizens chanting, “We Need Jobs.”[71] The City considers the Manabe-Ow Project key to its strategy for employment, because it projects over 2,000 new jobs over the next twenty years. The project consists of the development of a 95-acre industrial area in the southern part of the City. “The MOSP represents the culmination of the City's extensive efforts to create a new job base for the community. The City of Watsonville has been actively pursuing a new industrial area to provide new jobs for the residents of the City for the past 15 years.”[72] The Grand Jury supports the City and citizens of Watsonville in their political processes, and does not have an opinion concerning the appropriateness of the Manabe-Ow Business Park project. The Grand Jury is concerned with the completeness and accuracy of background information regarding project financing that was provided by City Staff to the public, the Planning Commission and the City Council, prior to the passage of Resolution 174-10. At the October 26, 2010, City Council Meeting,[71] the Interim Community Development Director presented the Manabe-Ow Staff report.[72] Financing was not discussed at the City of Watsonville ∫ 25 meeting;[69] however, the report included several
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R7Page 30The City Manager should implement a process to ensure transparency, completeness and accuracy in the information provided to the City Council, City Commissions and the Public. City of Watsonville ∫ 27
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R8Page 31The City Council should exercise due diligence and demand that it receives adequate information to make informed decisions. “Financial Management for Elected Officials: Questions to Ask,” published by the Institute for Local Governments is a useful resource.[26]
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R9Page 31The City Council should have a public discussion of the Manabe-Ow project with full disclosure of all funding options.