The Chula Vista Chargers?

[T-post Tom]

Chargers could get a call

Chula Vista council votes to gauge team's interest

By Tanya Mannes
STAFF WRITER

May 10, 2006

CHULA VISTA – City officials took a cautious step last night toward opening talks with the Chargers in a chance that the city could land the National Football League team.

The City Council voted 5-0 to talk with the Chargers to determine how interested the team is and its minimum terms for a deal to bring the team to Chula Vista.

If the talks go well, the city will create a residents committee to conduct hearings and weigh in on a proposal.
Officials were careful to avoid the appearance of acting hastily.

Councilman John McCann, who is leading the effort to bring the Chargers to town, emphasized that the council would seek public comments – and perhaps a referendum on the November ballot – before acting.

“We're going to go out and listen to the people,” McCann said. “We are not here tonight to actively recruit the Chargers, but to give the citizens of Chula Vista the opportunity to evaluate whether this is a good plan for our community.”

McCann said Chula Vista is one of the few cities in the region that has enough open land to consider building a stadium. A potential location is near the Olympic Training Center and a proposed university site in southeast Chula Vista. McCann also said that he has spoken with property owners who are interested in providing land.

The Chargers have been in San Diego since 1961, and Qualcomm Stadium was built in 1967. The team has been actively pushing for a new stadium since 2002. A San Diego-commissioned task force found that the stadium needed millions of dollars in repairs.

The Chargers had planned to seek San Diego voters' support for a new stadium with a November ballot proposal. But team executives abandoned the idea when it became clear that San Diego's financial problems and political instability at City Hall would scare off co-investors.

The San Diego City Council voted May 1 to let the Chargers talk to other cities in the county this year about moving the team. Under its lease with San Diego, the Chargers can open negotiations with any U.S. city beginning Jan. 1. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders said he decided to give a head start to local cities so the team could remain a regional asset.

Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani said the team will pursue options within the county “immediately” once it receives formal notification of the San Diego City Council's decision.

“The Chargers are very hopeful that the amendment will result in the building of a new Super Bowl-caliber stadium in San Diego County,” he said in a statement yesterday.

At the county level, officials are preparing to assist the Chargers in their search for a new home. County Supervisor Ron Roberts will ask the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to create a “Chargers Stadium Subcommittee,” which would act as the board's liaison with the Chargers.

Chula Vista is seen as the front-runner among three cities – the others being Oceanside and National City – that are widely viewed as potential partners. Any talks within the county will be closely watched by outside cities, including San Antonio and Las Vegas, that have expressed interest in the team.

Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla emphasized the city's role as “an important player on the regional stage” that could help the county harness the benefits of keeping the Chargers local.

At the start of last night's meeting, McCann proposed immediately establishing a 19-member committee to explore the Chargers issue. But Councilman Jerry Rindone argued successfully that city officials should first speak with team officials.

Rindone said the city must protect itself from being used as a pawn in negotiations. He said his primary concern is to avoid getting a bad deal that could threaten the financial stability of the city. “We're not here to get in a bidding war,” Rindone said.

A big question is how much taxpayers would be willing to spend. Team officials estimate that building a stadium to national standards would cost $450 million to $500 million.

Chula Vista is the first local city to take a step toward wooing the team, which drew an average of 63,415 spectators per game in 2005.

Although National City Mayor Nick Inzunza has publicly supported the idea of the Chargers moving to his city, officials have not taken an official position.

“National City needs to focus on its budget,” City Manager Chris Zapata said yesterday.

While Oceanside has been mentioned as a possible site for a new Chargers stadium for several months, city officials indicated yesterday they're not ready to do any bidding.

Councilwoman Esther Sanchez, who first proposed the municipal Center City Golf Course as a possible site, said she would not discuss it again until a public workshop that will be scheduled this summer.

Oceanside Councilman Jack Feller warned that money would be an issue, because a new freeway intersection and other road improvements would be needed. A railway loop off the nearby Sprinter rail line would be necessary, too, he said, and the city would have to buy an adjacent shopping center to make room.

Chula Vista, with stronger freeway connections, is a better choice, Feller said, as is a site in Pala Mesa, in the unincorporated part of North County.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

So there we are agreed.


We need to spend the offseason contstructively coming up with new and improved putdowns for the others.

Sure, what the hell is there else to do? It's the offseason.

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by listopencil

Sure, what the hell is there else to do? It's the offseason.

So, uh, you guys gonna sign Ty Law too.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

So, uh, you guys gonna sign Ty Law too.

We're going to trade Ashley Lelie for him.

[listopencil]

...and then trade him to you for a kazillion dollars and a draft pick.

[alanm]

Originally Posted by listopencil

...and then trade him to you for a kazillion dollars and a draft pick.

Get it done Carl.... Errr... Damnit Carl!

[savedin79]

Chula Vista is 8 miles south of downtown San Diego.

[Kerberos]

Originally Posted by listopencil

Heh, many a dumbass rival fan doesn't realise that it was us Bronco fans that made up the name "Denver Donkeys". We did it in the early days when they were just plain awful. That name doesn't really bother most old timer Bronco fans, just reminds us of how far we've come. How does the KC , Cheeps, Cheats, Qweefs, etc. sit with you?

If the chiefs did CHEAT (as your name suggests) it would be like the POT calling out the kettle wouldn't it?

.

[sd4chiefs]

Originally Posted by el borracho

"A San Diego-commissioned task force found that the stadium needed millions of dollars in repairs...

The Chargers are very hopeful that the amendment will result in the building of a new Super Bowl-caliber stadium in San Diego County,” he said in a statement yesterday."

How is this possible? Less than 10 years ago Qualcomm stadium received millions in upgrades so it could be a superbowl stadium. I am also confused how San Diego is having financial issues. That city has been booming for at least 15 years.

This is why the city is having financial issues.

Pension woes

January 7, 2006

San Diego has been hobbled by investigations of its retirement system, which has a deficit of at least $1.4 billion. The city hasn't completed an annual audit of its financial statements since 2002 and has had difficulty borrowing money since 2004. The crisis can be traced to decisions that are more than a decade old.

1994: Mayor Susan Golding asks about a one-year holiday on the city's contribution to its pension system.


1995: City Auditor Ed Ryan secures a$9.3 million reduction in the city pension payment, which is later nullified on legal grounds.
1996: The City Council approves City Manager Jack McGrory's plan to increase benefits and underfund the pension system, with gradually increased payments and a safety net to guarantee the financial integrity of the system.

2000: Financial markets tumble; pension system assets drop. Dick Murphy elected mayor.

2001-02: Pension fund plunges below the ratio of assets to liabilities set as safety net in 1996 deal. City faces balloon payment of up to $75 million. Later estimates placed the payment at as much as $500 million.

2002

Blue Ribbon Committee on City Finances warns pension system is at risk.

Pension trustee Diann Shipione contends deficit will grow and warns the mayor and council against continued underfunding and benefit increases.

Murphy and a council majority approve benefit increases and a new underfunding plan, but do away with the safety net.

2003: Retirees sue city and retirement board on underfunding.

2004: Auditor Ryan announces resignation in January.

Two weeks later, city officials disclose reporting errors and omissions about the pension system in past bond documents. Huge bond issues for sewer upgrades and Petco Park refinancing are tabled.

City's credit ratings fall.

City is unable to sell bonds to borrow money for capital projects.

The FBI in February confirms joint investigation of city finances with Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Attorney's Office.

Murphy announces tentative settlement of retiree lawsuit to stop the city from underfunding the pension.

City Manager Michael Uberuaga resigns; his assistant, Lamont Ewell, replaces him.

Pension reform committee calls for new pension board and closing deficit – now $1.15 billion – with bonds and other debt.

Vinson & Elkins, the Washington, D.C., law firm hired to represent city in talks with the SEC, finds widespread accounting irregularities but no wrongdoing. In the same month, September, Standard & Poor's suspendsSan Diego credit rating.

The auditing firm KPMG expresses doubts over Vinson & Elkins' report and warns city officials it cannot complete long-overdue audits until the city investigates whether illegal acts have been committed.

San Diego city voters approve ballot propositions in November to restructure pension board and close pension deficit within 15 years.

City Manager Ewell saysfinancial concerns will force an indefinite delay in capital projects, including water and sewer improvements.

2005

New City Attorney Michael Aguirre, conducting his owninvestigation into city finances,issues reports suggesting Murphy and other city officials covered up the city's problems and might have violated civil securities laws.

District Attorney BonnieDumanis' office launches a criminal investigation into the city's pension system and its 13-member board of trustees.

City pension system deficit grows to at least $1.4 billion,although Aguirre says it could be $1.7 billion. With retiree health costs added, the deficit soars above $2 billion.

Murphy announces in April that he will resign July 15, seven months into his second term as mayor.

Dumanis announces on May 17 that felony conflict-of-interest charges have been filed against Cathy Lexin, former city human resources director; Teresa Webster, the city's former acting auditor; Mary Vattimo, former city treasurer; Ronald Saathoff, a fire captain and president of the San Diego firefighters union; John Torres, vice president of the San Diego Municipal Employees Union; and Sharon Wilkinson, a city management analyst. All are former pension board members.

Special election held in July to replace Murphy. Councilwoman Donna Frye and former Police Chief Jerry Sanders finish first and second in the primary. The city's financial and pension crisis dominate the race, which Sanders wins in November.

Ewell carries through in November with promise to resign as the city prepares to switch Jan. 1 to a new form of governing where the mayor assumes the citymanager's executive duties.

Over the year, Aguirre makes public subpoenas that have been issued by federal investigators looking into the city's financial practices and bond disclosures.

2006: Ongoing independent inquiries by city consultants into the financial mess have so far cost $24 million and are not expected to conclude until May. Once they're completed, the city's private auditors are expected to be able to release overdue city audits for fiscal 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Yesterday: A federal grand jury issues a 20-count indictment alleging wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud by Lexin; Webster; Saathoff; Lawrence Grissom, who retired last month after 18 years as the pension system administrator; and Loraine Chapin, the pension system's attorney.

[StcChief]

Isn't it lovely living in paradise by the ocean....