SAN DIEGO - There is an absence of oversight and a lack of transparency in the operations and finances of San Diego's redevelopment agencies, according to a county grand jury report released Wednesday.
"Unfortunately the public perception of the city's redevelopment activities today is one of dysfunctional organizations, weak governance and opaque operations," the grand jury concluded.
"Many public officials and employees agree that there is a lack of effective oversight of the operations and finances of the city's redevelopment activities, exacerbated by insufficient transparency," the 18-page report continues. "In general, the city's redevelopment activities lack distinct lines of responsibility and authority."
The grand jury's report follows nearly a year of questions aimed at the city's two redevelopment agencies -- the Centre City Development Corp. and Southeastern Economic Development Corp.
In July, a voiceofsandiego.org investigation revealed financial improprieties by the former head of SEDC, including the granting of bonuses to top agency executives without city approval.
The former president of CCDC, downtown San Diego's redevelopment arm, resigned in July amid an alleged conflict of interest with a developer looking to build a skyscraper. Last week, Nancy Graham pleaded no contest to a charge of failing to disclose her economic interests in dealings with the developer and agreed to pay a $3,000 fine.
The grand jury report contained 11 recommendations urging the city to overhaul CCDC and SEDC and to institute "consistent measures to increase transparency in redevelopment activities."
Suggestions included establishing clear lines of authority and responsibility for the operation and financial management, amending the mayor's role as executive director, making activities and documents readily available to the public and amending how agency heads are selected.
Mayor Jerry Sanders and the City Council are already considering proposals to reorganize how the troubled redevelopment agencies are run.
http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/story/Grand-jury-criticizes-San-Diego-development-agency/zjQ49pgl5Em5JnUuhsCwRQ.cspx
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