03-08-10 Special Called Regular Meeting of the Fiscal Affairs Committee minutes

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March 16, 2010 Re: Katherine Aguilar inquiry Chairman Engelken: Thank you for allowing staff the opportunity to respond to issues raised by Ms. Aguilar. Most of the documentation that I reviewed dealt more with policy decisions than actual assertions or concerns. The following are our responses to the fact issues and inaccuracies that Ms. Aguilar raises: · The real "smoking gun" fraud assertion has to do with the wire transfer when Garson paid offhis $150,000 loan to the City. Knox handled this transaction and he's addressed this issue in detail. Attachment 1 · Another question has to do with a d.gqllffient that Ms. Aguilar received as part of her open records request that showsajournal entry moving $153,424.56 from the Sports Complex project to the Main Street (Plaza)pfgject. This money, that was used to purchase the triangle property on October 29,2008, was inadvertently charged to the Sports Complex project (GEN 975) instead of the Plaza project (GEN 976). The recording mistake was identified in January 2009 and a correction was made - see Michael's explanation. Attachment 2 · Regarding the ClPPI'Clisal of the triangle property: ThetrillJ1gle property and the Texas Park&a11dWildlife property were appraised at the same time. We hired The BilicekCompany to perform the appraisal with the understanding that they are a federally i (ipproved. property appraisal company and that they were recommendedby.JexasParks and Wildlife. The actual appraisal methodology is clearly explained in the appraisal document and is pretty straightforward. Ms. Aguilar filed a complaint with the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board in April 2009 on Mr. Bilicek based on similar "facts" that she's stating in this document. The compl(iillt against Mr. Bilicek was dismissed in July 2009. Attachment 3 · The La Porte Development COr]Joration purchased the triangle property for $150,000 (.33 acres). We were able to parlay this .33 acre acquisition into a 1.35 acre park. Attachment 4 · Another question that I understand is being circulated by Ms. Aguilar, concerns the fact that the La Porte Development COI'poration paid $311.92 in property taxes on the triangle property: Under the terms of the purchase agreement for this property, which closed in 2008, the Development COI'poration agreed to pay 2008 taxes for the entire year. The City Attorney's office has since sent a letter to the Harris County Appraisal District to place the property in tax exempt status. Attachment 5 · Contrary to what Ms. Aguilar states in her documentation, I did not hire Gretchen Larson. She was here when I arrived in October 2007. · Garson purchased the triangle property and Alamo building in August 2007. The "vision" for 5-pts did not materialize until after I arrived in October 2007. Garson