San Diego Uptown nonprofit spending at issue

Grand jury report cites high expenses

By Leonel Sanchez, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 12:05 a.m.

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego City Council will have a grand jury report to consider this summer when it decides whether to renew a contract with the nonprofit that manages money from parking meters in the city’s Uptown area.

The county grand jury in a report released this week found Uptown Partnership had spent three times more on operating expenses, $3.2 million, than on projects, $1.1 million, since incorporating in 1999. The grand jury had been investigating an allegation of mismanagement by the nonprofit that serves Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, Mission Hills and surrounding communities.

Jury forewoman Victoria Stubblefield said the nonprofit has created only 20 new parking spaces. Carol Schultz, Uptown Partnership’s executive director, said it has produced twice that many and is planning to add as many as 90 more and make other improvements after extensive discussions with people in the neighborhoods it serves.

Schultz said past projects have been slowed by the process of getting the city involved.

“We don’t do projects independently,” Schultz said.

Also, Uptown Partnership submits monthly expenses to get reimbursed from the city “and there’s never been any issue of fiscal mismanagement,” she said.

Still, the grand jury is recommending the city review its contract with Uptown Partnership, consider directing Uptown parking district revenues to the city’s ailing general fund and determine whether to continue the parking district, one of six in the city.

Uptown receives 45 percent of the $1.9 million generated annually by parking meters in the area. The city takes the balance and uses it for parking and traffic programs.

The grand jury’s recommendations were met with mixed reaction, even from critics of Uptown Partnership.

Leo Wilson, chairman of Uptown Planners and Bankers Hill/Park West Community Association, said Uptown Partnership should “be abolished or reformed,” but he does not think money from meters should go to the city’s general fund.

“There’s still need for a parking district but only if its run by a voluntary board and all the money is used for hard projects,” Wilson said.

Since 1999, Uptown Partnership has received $8.6 million and spent $3.2 million on salaries and other overhead and $1.1 million on planning, consultants and projects.

Uptown Partnership is proposing to use its reserve funds, more than $4 million, on 31 projects next fiscal year. The City Council is to vote on its budget proposal in June or July.

The City Council and Mayor Jerry Sanders have until Aug. 23 to comment on the grand jury’s findings and recommendations. A spokesman for Sanders said he is reviewing the reports and recommendations.

Leonel Sanchez: (619) 542-4568; leonel.sanchez@uniontrib.com



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