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<br />Page 20f3 <br /> <br />based on HCAD in 2009 at $25,000 for HCAD # 024004090980006 (which includes lots 6,7 block 198) <br />and $8,230 for HCAD # 0240040980025) lots 10,9 and W 56.4 ft of TR 11,12,13 block 198) <br /> <br />. Did the City of la Porte act as lender for this highly inflated land purchase? <br />. Was any appraisal done? If so, please provide it. <br /> <br />Why was URS chosen as the designer of the park? <br /> <br />Was there competitive bidding on this contract? <br /> <br />@ <br /> <br />It appears that neither of the key designers listed in the contract Bruce Broberg (experienced in <br />healthcare facilities design) and Dan Wardrop (planning/design) have any listed experience in <br />landscape architecture. Was a landscape architectural firm contacted and allowed to bid this <br />project? <br /> <br />What is the reason for the gross cost overrun on URS's contract for $223,900? Actual payments <br />to URS appear to be $316,997. This is more than a 40% cost overrun! <br /> <br />It appears based on Harris County Clerk document 20070477563 that the "purchase" for $60,000 of <br />the Alamo building was secured only with a promissory note by Garson Silver's company(s) --- no <br />actual final sale was made until the City of la Porte purchased a portion of this property (Triangle) for A <br />$150,000 and then added a "loan" of $150,000 and acted as lender for the sale of the adjoining (}I <br />property for $295,000. Owner/Seller in all instances was actually Wade Cooper with Garson Silvers <br />deriving a very substantial profit from this land transfer. In other words, the taxpayers of La Porte <br />were used to finance the land sales at highly inflated prices to benefit Garson Silvers and to a lesser <br />extent Wade Cooper. WHY? <br /> <br />Are there documented business practices that allow the City of La Porte to act against the interests of <br />the Citizens of la Porte and FOR the interest of a private citizen? No <br /> <br />What are the documented criteria to determine when a developer should be offered such favorable <br />treatment by the city government? No"'" - rwf err, ~'- <br /> <br />Are there documented procedures to determine the financial capability of the developer BEFORE these <br />agreements are entered into? As I recall, Ron Bottoms personally indicated in January of 2009 <br />(Bayshore Sun front page article) that Garson Silvers was properly "vetted" prior to the signing of ~ <br />documents to allow this highly favorable (to Garson Silvers) financial arrangement to transpire. Please <br />provide the documentation whereby this was determined. From my research, there is certainly no <br />evidence of financial capacity to fulfill any of the stated contractual obligations (repayment of loan, <br />development of high rise building, completion of Alamo building, provision of $150,000 of public art) <br />on the part of Garson Silvers. <br /> <br />Are COST/BENEFIT analysis calculations done as part ofthe Project Development cycle for all significant <br /> <br />4/16/2010 <br />