Budgetary issues dominate this week’s municipal agendas, with county leaders scrambling to react to a judge’s order that could cost $140-million and Anaheim set to grant a controversial $158-million tax subsidy to a hotel developer.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is set to have its first official discussion after a judge ordered the county to pay the state $140 million.
That ruling set off a flurry of reactions among political leaders, with two county supervisors calling for across-the-board cuts while state Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, plans to lobby Gov. Jerry Brown directly to restore the funding.
Supervisors are also set to approve a massive $74-million computer contract with Science Applications International for running the county’s data center for five years.
And in Anaheim on Tuesday, City Council members plan to vote on a $158-million room tax subsidy to the developer of hotels near the GardenWalk outdoor mall.
The council had approved the subsidy last January against the advice of their city manager, sparking protests from residents who considered it a corporate giveaway at their expense.
Last year’s approval, however, was struck down by a judge because the public had not been given proper notice.
Now the deal is back on the table, with city staff arguing that the project will produce “a positive increase in revenues to the general fund” as soon as construction is finished.
That differs from last year’s assessment by then City Manager Bob Wingenroth, who wrote that the city’s general fund “will not benefit from the TOT [room] taxes associated with this project until the cap of $158 million is achieved by the Developer or 15 years after the opening of the hotels, whichever comes first.”
The subsidy is expected to be supported again by the council majority, whose political campaigns were largely financed by Disney and other resort businesses.
And finally, with budget approvals due by the end of June, several of Orange County’s cities and agencies — including Laguna Niguel, San Clemente and the Orange County Transportation Authority — are scheduled to debate their financial plans this week.
Orange County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m.
- Approving a $416,000 contract to the sole bidder for overhauling electric sliding doors at the central men’s and women’s jails.
- Approving a $710,000 contract with Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center for providing school readiness services.
- Approving a $218,000, one-year contract with Pacific Bell Telephone Company (dba AT&T DataComm) for Health Care Agency network equipment maintenance.
- Approving a second one-year extension to The Alpha & Omega Group Security Services for Health Care Agency security guard services, at a cost of $130,000.
- Approving a $146,000, two-year contract with the Dana Point Harbor Association for promoting businesses and events at the harbor, the 13th amendment since the original 1991 contract was signed.
- Accepting land from RMV Community Development and DMB San Juan Investment North to enable $8.3 million in Measure M2 dollars to be spent on a new road for the future Ranch plan development.
- Approving a $709,000, 1.5-year agreement with 3Di for information technology support at the Probation Department.
- Awarding a $19.5 million construction contract to Wood Bros. for remediation at the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill.
Closed Session
- Discussion of the state’s VLF fees lawsuit (Orange County Superior Court #30-2012-00559592-CU-WM-CJC).
- Discussion of the prosecution of rescued hiker Nicolas Cendoya for methamphetamine possession (OCSC #13CF1410).
Anaheim City Council, Tuesday, May 14, at 5 p.m.
- Granting a $158-million room tax subsidy to the developer of two four-star hotels near the GardenWalk outdoor mall.
- Extending the proposed construction start date for the GardenWalk hotels.
- Starting the process of reviewing the city charter.
- Extending the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce contract to operate the city’s enterprise zone at $1.8 million over five years.
Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors, Monday, May 13, at 9 a.m.
- ACCESS paratransit services transition update.
- Fiscal year 2013-14 budget workshop.
- Draft Metrolink budget update.
Irvine City Council, Tuesday, May 14, at 5 p.m.
- A $266,000 budget adjustment for the Northwood Community Center expansion.
- Selecting Flying Bull as the event producer and manager for the Solar Decathlon 2013 and Expo.
- A presentation on firearms and public safety.
- Affordable housing options for developmentally disabled residents.
Tustin City Council Special Meeting, Monday, May 13, at 6 p.m.
- Approving a development agreement and exchange of 89 acres of former Marine base property between the city and the South Orange County Community College District and adding a new street (Bell Avenue).
Aliso Viejo City Council, Wednesday, May 15, at 7 p.m.
- Approving a $108,000 contract with Aegis for traffic signal maintenance.
- Reviewing the draft budget and five-year strategic plan for fiscal year 2013-14.
Laguna Hills City Council, Tuesday, May 14, at 6 p.m.
- Approving a $24,500 contract with Pyro Engineering to provide the 2013 Fourth of July fireworks show.
Laguna Niguel City Council, Monday, May 13, at 8:30 a.m.
- Reviewing the draft budget for fiscal year 2013-14.
San Clemente City Council, Thursday, May 16, at 4 p.m.
- Receiving a report on the draft budget for fiscal 2013-14.
San Juan Capistrano City Council, Wednesday, May 15, at 3 p.m.
- Appointing five planning commissioners after holding interviews in the meeting.
Adam Elmahrek and Brendan Wiles contributed to this report.
You can reach Nick Gerda at ngerda@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter: @nicholasgerda.