Hawaiian Gardens Council meeting turns ugly over Sports Complex agenda item

Councilman Bruce accuses city employee and Council of "rubber stamping" and calls other employees "baboons".


Once again the Hawaiian Gardens City Council fell into a quagmire of accusations at its Aug. 25 meeting. Councilman Barry Bruce lashed out at Mayor Victor Farfan for moving discussion of the Sports Complex to the beginning of the Council’s agenda without notifying the councilmembers in advance. He also said the council should had been notified about the two presentations added to the Complex discussion.
Mayor Victor Farfan said the reason he moved discussion of the Complex forward was because residents in the audience had questions and this was an opportunity to answer them. However Bruce insisted the council members should had been notified before the meeting began.{{more}}
The accusations followed presentations by the complex’ architect representatives of W.L. C. Architect Inc., James P. D. Camillo, President, and Susanto Agustiadi, Senior Project Architect, plus the city’s financial advisor Mike Bush of Urban Futures.
Steve Gomez, Director of Human Resources, told the council construction of Phase One of the Complex was scheduled for October to March 2011 at an estimated cost of $3.8 million which will consist of construction of the Southside parking lot as well as a pedestrian entryway, basketball/volleyball court and the stadium. He said the City will have unrestricted use of the Complex except when the school is in session or when the District is utilizing it for a public school program.
Gomez said the second phase would begin in March 2011 with a completion date of September 2011. Cost is approximately $4.3 million. Construction includes the eastside parking lot and entryway, concession stand area, playground area and baseball field. He said complete construction is schedule to last eight months at a total cost of $8.2 million.
Gomez listed the current financial contributions, which he said consists of $1.5 million from the Irving Moskowitz Foundation, $500,000 from the school district, $1 million state grant, and a General Fund Project Reserve of $3.7 million. Local fundraising is also planned.
Councilman Rodriguez asked if the City of Lakewood had any objections since they own the park adjacent to the school property. Gomez answered Lakewood had voiced no objections.
Responding to a question about the number of parking spaces from Bruce, Camillo said there would be a total of 150 parking spaces. Bruce also asked if there had been an environmental impact review on the project. He replied yes. The architect explained the project is considered a replacement project not a new project so the environmental impact would not change from its current status. Concerning lighting for the Complex he said the new lighting used will not affect adjoining properties but will shine directly on the fields. Councilmember Rodriguez asked if there was a contingency fund and what was the amount. Camillo said it usually is five percent of the bid.
Financing Options
Turning to financing the project, City Financial Advisor Mike Bush said he had been asked by the City Administrator to take a look at the opportunities to finance the project. He said there were three options. The first is Cash on Hand. He said the city has as a line item for this project in he amount of $5 million which is earning roughly two percent interest. The second is a bank loan, which because of the city’s good credit standing would offer a 10-year loan at four percent. Another option is bonds where fees are a little higher.
Bush said the Council needs to remember the 2.5 percent interest the set aside cash is earning subtracted from the 4.4 percent interest on a loan leaves a true cost interest rate of 1.9 percent. If you choose that option that is what the council should focus on.
Meeting gets ugly
Rodriguez responded, “This presentation should had been put on the agenda and I don’t like taking out loans.” The Mayor replied the items needed to be addressed before the public and that was why they were being presented now.
Bruce wanted to know when the Mayor asked the consultants to address the council. Farfan said Thursday. Bruce said that was time enough for the council members to have been informed.
“There was nothing on the agenda that we were going to have multi presentations.” Rodriguez said. “The Mayor should have had the courtesy to inform us about the presentations.”
Farfan said no one asked the City Administrator what was on the agenda. “I cannot explain why you did not ask him.” Bruce said the agenda only had discussions concerning the Complex, nothing was said about two presentations. He said it is the responsibility of the City Administrator to inform the council members what is placed on the agenda. He accused him of “rubber stamping everything” and doing what he wants and expects “his baboons” to put a rubber stamp on it for him. He said he was tired of three people running the city.
He accused Bush of being a long time parrot of the council. Bruce accused them of political grandstanding on a project that he described as not being well thought out. “People it’s going too happen so I don’t know why you’re getting your shorts all in a knot.”
Councilman Mike Gomez asked the Mayor to rule Bruce out of order. Bruce responded by stating the Mayor could pound his gavel all he wants but he was not through talking.
Gomez asked the city attorney to make a ruling but he only deferred to the council’s own rules of conduct concerning meetings.
The Mayor again said the reason the presentations were put on the agenda was to explain to the residents what was going on. “Obviously you guys are opposed to it. The people need to know the details. That’s what has been requested.”