This week
the San Diego City Council will look at its role in the collapse of the 100th
anniversary celebration of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition at Balboa
Park.
The
council is expected to vote Tuesday on its response to a highly critical San
Diego County Grand Jury report released in May, which questioned the city’s
oversight of the nonprofit group setup to oversee this year’s events.
A draft
City Council resolution released ahead of Tuesday’s meetings said members agree
with the Grand Jury finding that the Balboa Park Celebration Inc. did not
receive enough in return from the $2.8 million it received from the city.
Much of
the money went to outside consultants.
The City
Council rejected findings that the city did not provide enough direction when
it created the outside group, and did not adequately monitor the nonprofit.
The City
Council is required to respond to the Grand Jury. The Office of the Independent
Budget Analyst will work with the council and mayor’s office to agree on its
response, which will be made part of a report that must be submitted to the San
Diego Superior Court by Aug. 18.
Leaders
will discuss a total of six findings and recommendations made in the Grand Jury
report.
The City Auditor’s Office released a performance report in October 2014,
which found that planning around the 100 year celebration had largely fizzled
ahead of the 2015 anniversary. Donations had not materialized. The report
blamed an inexperienced board and the lack of a coherent plan.
July 27, 2015
KPBS
Radio News
By
Steve Walsh
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