50 I PoliStreet • po. Box 99 •Ventura, California 93002-0099 ...
50 I PoliStreet • po. Box 99 •Ventura, California 93002-0099 ...
50 I PoliStreet • po. Box 99 •Ventura, California 93002-0099 ...
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July 28, 2010<br />
Via Facsimile (916-324-8835), Email (peter.chang@doj.ca.gov)<br />
and U.S. Mail<br />
Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.<br />
Attorney General's Office<br />
1300 I Street, Suite 125<br />
P.O. <strong>Box</strong> 944255<br />
Sacramento, CA 94244-25<strong>50</strong><br />
Att'n: Peter H. Chang, Deputy Attorney General<br />
City Council<br />
Bill Fulton, Mayor<br />
Mike Tracy. Deputy Mayor<br />
Neal Andrews, Councilmember<br />
Brian Brennan, Councilmember<br />
James L. Monahan, Councilmember<br />
Carl E. Morehouse, Councilmember<br />
Christy Weir, Councilmember<br />
Re: Alleged Salary and Pension Abuses Relating to Former City of Bell<br />
Police Chief and Assistant City Manager<br />
Dear Attorney General Brown:<br />
We understand your office has sub<strong>po</strong>enaed records and is investigating<br />
<strong>po</strong>tential legal remedies available as a result of the recent news that certain toplevel<br />
City of Bell staff members were being paid unconscionably high salaries<br />
and, as a result, stand to gain <strong>po</strong>tentially inflated PERS pensions. The City of<br />
San Buenaventura (Ventura) joins with the League of <strong>California</strong> Cities in<br />
condemning these outrageous salaries. In addition, we are concerned and seek<br />
your assistance in protecting Ventura's financial well being.<br />
Two of the officials (<strong>po</strong>lice chief and assistant city manager) were former<br />
employees of the City and, as such, Ventura will be paying part of their PERS<br />
pensions. Unfortunately, the unconscionably high salaries paid by the City of<br />
Bell appear to have dramatically increased the City's pension obligation. While<br />
we have as yet been unable to complete a full actuarial review, it is reasonable to<br />
expect a <strong>po</strong>tential net present value liability to Ventura of well in excess of<br />
$<strong>50</strong>0,000.<br />
We sup<strong>po</strong>rt your investigation as to not only the circumstances<br />
surrounding the payment of unconscionably high salaries, but also as to whether<br />
there is any legal basis to set aside the salaries or a <strong>po</strong>rtion of the <strong>po</strong>tential<br />
pensions. While we will be doing our own research to determine if Ventura has<br />
A10-00215<br />
<strong>50</strong> I Poli Street <strong>•</strong> <strong>po</strong>. <strong>Box</strong> <strong>99</strong> <strong>•</strong> Ventura, <strong>California</strong> <strong>93002</strong>-00<strong>99</strong> <strong>•</strong> 805.654.7827 <strong>•</strong> cityofventura.net
Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.<br />
July 28, 2010<br />
Page 2<br />
Re: Alleged Salary and Pension Abuses Relating to Former City of Bell Police<br />
Chief and Assistant City Manager<br />
any legal recourse for this unreasonable gift of public funds, we would hope your<br />
investigation is broad enough to include all the issues surrounding the salaries<br />
and pensions.<br />
Please do not hesitate to contact our city attorney, Ariel Calonne at (805)<br />
654-7818 at any time if you need further assistance or if you have any further<br />
questions.<br />
RC:APC:as<br />
7~~<br />
Rick Cole<br />
City Manager<br />
cc: Steve Cooley, Los Angeles County District Attorney<br />
Mayor and City Council<br />
Ariel Pierre Calonne, City Attorney
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