duh wrote on Sep 30, 2008 1:24 PM:Just waiting till they are out of office and we get some new blood in there that won't give away money.

Priorities wrote on Sep 30, 2008 1:36 PM:When we talk about using tax payer's money. What do we need more? A new school, or a new fancy hotel.

doi wrote on Sep 30, 2008 2:15 PM:I agree with Priorities...we need new council people and a new mayor. We need teachers and the playgrounds at the Felicita Elementary are horrible. They have graffiti all over them and they need repairs. How about that Mayor Pfifer?

Escondidoteer wrote on Sep 30, 2008 2:16 PM:Why does the City Council even bother with a deadline if there is no intention of enforcment? Kill this project before it can do more damage! No one is going to stay in a Marriot next to City Hall. One day it may make another fine shelter for the homeless but as a Hotel this screams disaster. Build another used car lot, swapmeet, taco stand, or, God Forbid, perhaps retain the property for parking.

CITIZEN AT RISK wrote on Sep 30, 2008 2:27 PM:TO PRIORITIES: How about more cops!
Escondido is not a seven-story Marriott town. Escondido is a Days Inn - Motel 6 headed for a LaQuinta town.

wondering wrote on Sep 30, 2008 2:27 PM:North County Times please tell us, if and when this project fails how much money will the taxpayers of Escondido lose?

now wrote on Sep 30, 2008 2:39 PM:get french and diaz in there... lose the dead weight now..

now wrote on Sep 30, 2008 2:40 PM:we have enough schools and we need another hotel like we need crime..

Escondeeter wrote on Sep 30, 2008 3:00 PM:Once again, I vote for Pfeiler's option two, "not do it". The property's valuable, there's good future potential, let's go find a developer who doesn't keep coming back to us trying to better the deal.

The new La Raza hotel will give us a business hotel conveniently located near the Conference Center, letting the Art Center keep the conference business instead of forcing them to give away their only profitable segment will improve their financial position, and, in a couple of years we can build that five story boutique hotel that we started out to build.

Everything downtown that's going to be hurt by the absence of the hotel has already been hurt. It's time to find a solution that makes financial sense, stick that 18 million in the reserve fund, and kick this deal (with its wildly overestimated revenue) to the curb.

Hard to get Loans wrote on Sep 30, 2008 4:04 PM:Risky loans are now hard to get. A seven-story Marriott hotel planned for downtown Escondido is RISKY at best!

To doi wrote on Sep 30, 2008 4:05 PM:The state of California owns and operates the schools, not the city.

Doi wrote on Sep 30, 2008 4:44 PM:The state has no money either but how about a playground that the gangs don't inhabit? How about more police?

Everyone complained about the Christmas Parade and thank goodness the Indians rescued us...Why more hotels? go look at the hotels and see how much of them have people staying in them, especially the one on Washington.

To to doi wrote on Sep 30, 2008 4:45 PM:You are right. The city does not own or operate the schools...

they just approve development after development despite the conditions at the schools (like overcrowding). The city does hold responsibility for the condition of the schools! PERIOD.

Abed says wrote on Sep 30, 2008 4:48 PM:Abed says: it's not fair to the taxpayers to increase the city's contribution

WHAT???

Does that mean Abed thinks it's ok to give $18.9 million of taxpayer money? As well as a few more million for infrastructure improvements (associated with the hotel)?

VOTE ABED OUT!!! And tell him to take the hotel with him!! Do you think Clark will ask for his campaign contribution back?

Jaque wrote on Sep 30, 2008 6:37 PM:The kind of hotel we really need is one that is right on Grand, with a bar underneath. This would be four stories, and of a boutique nature. Something for the few folks that would have a good time in downtown late night, and for those few holiday events like first night.

Citizens of chamber wrote on Sep 30, 2008 6:44 PM:We at the Citizens of Chamber(all four of us) cannot wait for the campaign to be over so that the Olga Diaz negative campaigners will stop their senseless attacks on the council. Stay classy.

We the Council of Members wrote on Sep 30, 2008 8:08 PM:We the Council of power trippin members think that the citizens have good reason to be attacking the actions of the council.

Anytime your city council GIVES $18.9 MILLION DOLLARS AWAY TO A DEVELOPER (THAT'S A DEVELOPER) and at the same time cuts city services and fails to staff our services as needed...
well, then the citizens have a very good reason to attack such idiotic actions!!

The post at 6:44 pm suggests citizens "stay classy"...and who on the council would be the role model for "class". Not anyone I've seen there!!

Boo Hoo. The council incumbents are having to answer for all the money they are wasting! Chin Up - stand up and answer for what you have done!! Don't cry about it and attack the residents for your bad management!!!

I, too can't wait until the elections are over! It will be my pleasure to address these incumbents as: Mr. So & So...because they certainly are not worthy of another four years! Justify the $9.8 million revenue shortfall!! And try to "stay classy" (you know use actual factual data vs. the residents are picking on us campaign whining data).

Lisa Lisa wrote on Sep 30, 2008 8:47 PM:There have been several references of giving away $18 million in tax payers money. Regardless of one's position onthe hotel, the council didn't "give" money away. The article clearly states the the city participated in the venture with the developer and expects to return 10% annually on the money. Last I checked, 10% was better than Fannie, Freddie, Uncle Sam, Moe, Larry or Curley are paying.

To We the Council of Members wrote on Sep 30, 2008 9:11 PM:Thanks Olga Diaz, for your opinion (biased as it might be).

Aunt Samantha wrote on Sep 30, 2008 9:34 PM:Let's see:

It will cost about $66 mil to develop the hotel.

The city will "contribute" (pc version of giving away taxpayer money while cutting services)...$18.9 (when you include few million for infrastructure, you can round it up to at least $20 million).

The difference is $40 mil (or so) the developer will "contribute". Not a bad deal for a developer!

So...we get into the "expected return":

Cities already get TOT and property taxes (whether the city puts money in (toward the project) or not). Regarding money generated as a result of hotel - shouldn't bank on the unknown - projections are fine, but betting the cow on it doesn't work (see CCAE).

Escondido "puts in" $20 mil and in 55 YEARS we can expect to see $30+ mil (in today's dollars)....

So, what I understand as a mere citizen is that it will take 55 years for the city to make $10 million on a $20 million dollar "investment". That does not sound like a good deal.

Now, if you can...please explain to us - how this is a good deal. A good deal for the majority of the citizens who are feeling the heat from increased costs of living (& increased city fees).

Then, please tell us all in "plain English" WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?

Instead of dancing around the subject and trying to "sale" the "what a good deal this is"...tell the citizens WHY? Why are you cutting services and under-staffing departments and why there is a hiring freeze - YET you can "invest" $20mil in THIS ECONOMY!!

Also, your references to Fannie & Freddie - pretty "un-classy" - many have lost their life savings, their homes and so on...and you...well, you continue to get pay raises! AND the economy - well isn't that the point?

And what is Escondido city council doing? Giving $20 mil for a hotel, $4.6 for tract932, a Few Hundred Thousand for a bogus parking ordinance! (BTW: when is that coming back to the table - after the elections?) Sweet timing!

Try to answer those questions regarding the hotel - maybe then some of the average residents will get behind you on this - otherwise expect continued opposition!!

Not wrote on Sep 30, 2008 9:44 PM:The council of members post is NOT Olga!

It is an "average citizen" that is sick of the mismanagement at city hall. It is someone that as a resident will not sit by while our council trys to sugar coat the most preposterous.

My quality of life has been negatively impacted by the actions of Council members Sam Abed, Ed Gallo and Marie Waldron. They created a huge mess with the hospital, the rental ban, the parking ordinance. They give away all kinds of money to developers (along with the other council members) AND they raise the fees on the residents and tell us to essentially "suck it up".

Well, I'm sick of sucking it up! So, if my quality of life (and the lives of my friends and neighbors) is to improve, then we must replace the council. The current council IS NOT looking out for the benefit of the majority of the citizens, but for those the council deems "worthy". Now, since Abed and Gallo are up for re-election - you can count on the fact that I will continue to write in to counter their "sales pitches".

So, again - I am not Olga. But, I do like her - that is for sure! Also, I like Richard Barron!

And I also support Dennis French!

Just REMEMBER: Don't vote for Abed or Gallo!!

Lokal Yokal wrote on Sep 30, 2008 10:27 PM:$18.9 MILLION of our money going to a Hotel To Nowhere?! What is my share of that? In a down economy? #$@! I'm really tired of the financial mis-management happening by City Council.

To To To Doi wrote on Oct 1, 2008 4:12 AM:You are wrong! The City is responsible for the condition of the schools. In 1984, the City formed a Redevelopment Agency that then was estimated $120 million from Escondido schools during the 45 year life of the Agency. At the time, the City signed Tax Sharing Agreements with the school districts to gather their support for the Redevelopment Agency formation. The diverted school funds were used to construct the Civic Center (City Hall) and the California Center for the Arts. The Tax Sharing Agreements promised to provide, in the future, about $150 million to the high school district, and about $200 million to the elementary and middle school district. With those funds, the City of Escondido contractually agreed to:
'3.1 The Agency agrees to fund up to fifteen (15) new schools, including the cost of property acquistion or exchange.
3.2 The Agency agrees to fund the rehabilitation of facilities and grounds as needed at any existing District schools.
3.3 The Agency agrees to fund two (2) new middle schools, including the cost of property, acquisition, or exchange.'
and
'3.1 The Agency agrees to fund three (3) or more new high schools, including the cost of property acquistion or exchange.
3.2 The Agency agrees to fund two (2) or more new continuation high schools, including the cost of property acquisition or exchange.
3.3 The Agency agrees to fund the rehabilitation and construction of facilities and grounds, on a one-time basis, at all existing District schools.'

The future is now upon us. The Mayor, as head of the Redevelopment Agency (aka, the Community Development Commission) is definitely directly responsible for contining the poor condition of Escondido schools. Where is the money promised to the schools? Ask City Hall like I did. The response: We have no records on the matter since 1991.

Word has it had the City has hired expensive consultants to fend off the school districts, in an attempt to renege 'renegotiate' on the required payments to the schools.

The Schools And The City wrote on Oct 1, 2008 4:45 AM:How much is the City required to pay the schools. One estimate, in arguments in favor of Proposition T, states that the high school district is negotiating an agreement for the City to pay the high school district between $82 million and $254 million from its Redevelopment Agency funds.

Why the wide range ($172 million)?

Are the City's payments lower if Proposition T passes?

Back in 1984, the school districts promised to support the formation of the Escondido Redevelopment Agency (aka, the Community Development Commission), in exchange for a substantial percentage (2/3 of 20.63%) of future redevelopment funds.

'12. The District agrees to support the formation of the Agency, and to support and not challenge the project area and the adoption of the Redevelopment Plan'

Has the City now made a new reciprocal agreement to support Proposition T ($98 million) in order to lower its payment of redevelopment funds to the high school district?

Are those 'savings' to be used to fund projects like this hotel?

Christine wrote on Oct 1, 2008 6:34 AM:We need the Marriott like a hole in the head. How about something Escondido family friendly for our city residence. So far everything built has failed, doesn't that sink in to our city council. How long is the mayor's term? Anyone know? Let's get some conservatives in.

Difference between Councils wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:11 AM:Is the San Marcos Council giving a developer millions in taxpayer money for their new Marriott Hotel??

May May wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:46 AM:What is this May stuff? Council members said the recent banking crisis MAY have made securing large loans nearly impossible.

Pay down your credit cards and your credit limit goes down also.

We need a fast wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:48 AM:source of income for the City, my advise is having vechicle check points done weekly. Hit the apartment owners give them heavy fines for any code violations.

World Wide Recession wrote on Oct 1, 2008 8:37 AM:Every economic indicator is beyond hinting that the time to build this hotel has passed. Time to re-think the decision, these tough economic times aren't going to get better any time soon, we are experiencing an historic melt down of our financial system. We have already proven that the city made a disasterous investment in the arts center, now is not the time to make another during an era of financial instability.

Due diligence wrote on Oct 1, 2008 8:51 AM:What is the financial condition of C.W. Clark? Will they get the money and run?

Money owed to schools wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:09 AM:If the 4:12 am post is correct and the city does owe the school district all that money, can the school district take possession of the Art Center through a lean and convert it to a school?

Sunshine wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:16 AM:Look like more transparency is needed at the Escondido Redevelopment Agency.

to to to to wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:20 AM:The City Manager and the City Attorney have to do something to bring in enough money to pay their and other city employees higher than normal salaries and pensions. They can't get tax revenue from the overcrowders, takers certainly not contributors, they have let take over the city. So, to continue overcompensating the overpaid, the powers to be have devised a method to steal funding from the children. Great job Lori, Clay and Jeff.

To Money owed to schools wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:56 AM:No lien is required. The money is collected in the form of property taxes each year. The City just needs to give the schools the agreed upon percentages of the redevelopment spawned tax increment. For example, for FY 09/10, the projected redevelopment allocated property taxes are $25 million. The high school districts share would be about $2.2 million, and the union school district's share would be about $2.8 million. In FY 2025/26, the projected redevelopment tax revenue would be about $62 million, with the high school district's share being $9.2 million and the union school district's share being about $12.2 million.

Needless to say, no one should vote yes on Prop T until City Hall explains where the redevelopment funds promised to the schools are being diverted. We need to make sure the promises to the school are met before the promised funds are diverted to a hotel developer.

Sweet facts wrote on Oct 1, 2008 10:19 AM:It sounds like the posters at 4:12 and 4:45 AM have some solid facts about how Esco's misguided aspirations to be a "big city" have directly impacted our area schools. Granted, none of the current council members were in office in 1984, but that doesn't mean that they should just continue the status quo policy of "borrowing" against the future. The NCT needs to investigate this issue thoroughly and get to the bottom of it, so we as taxpaying voters can make an informed choice on Election Day.

QUESTIONS NO ANSWERS wrote on Oct 1, 2008 11:13 AM:If soneone wishes to build a hotel,should they know how many rooms would need to be filled to make a profit? Can this project keep those rooms filled?
Is the 18 million needed from the city because the developer is over building?
Would another developer build a more cost effective project without the city funds?
Has any thought been given to the unfinished construction at Washington and center city? Could this developent be converted to a Hotel/ Motel? Am I the only one who think this unfinshed building is an eyesore? How many high paying jobs will a motel provide to Escondido?

Redevelopment Money For Schools wrote on Oct 1, 2008 11:30 AM:The Mayor has been recruited by the District to lobby in favor of Proposition T.

'This is a good investment,' Pfeiler said. 'It's our community, it's our schools. And it's all about economic development and having students prepared for a good job.'
www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/09/01/news/inland/escondido/zae0184796a7437a3882574b30071d8d0.txt

Sound like do as I say, not as I do.

SMC wrote on Oct 1, 2008 12:43 PM:Well if looking at this from a small business owner and local residences point of view, Hotel Marriott would do some good for attracting tourism into Escondido, which in turn would increase the amount of $ coming into the City’s pockets in numerous ways. I note that the Center for the Arts, our local restaurants, winery's, wedding venues and many other wonderful places of interest in the beautiful city are really struggling to keep their doors open. I hear from out of towners all the time how there is not one decent place to stay in Escondido. Just this summer I was fortunate to meet several European families who were more than eager to spend their $ here, which they had plenty of…but were only able to book into a Best Western and a Motel 6. What a horrible introduction to Escondido. When visiting our City can offer highlights such as the Wild Animal Park, the Center for the Arts, the Old Town with all of its great boutique shops, gourmet restaurants, historical points of interest, local winery’s, gorgeous lakes, and be 20-30 minutes away from the ocean, mountains, dessert or downtown San Diego and just 45 minutes from the border of Mexico…we should have at least ONE hotel worthy of its visitors!!!!!

To SMCers wrote on Oct 1, 2008 1:53 PM:Uh, there are nice hotels near the beaches, Scripps Aquarium, Legoland, Sea World, the Zoo, Sea Port Village, and downtown San Diego. Tourists are going to stay near San Diego's greatest and most beautiful resource, THE BEACH! Most visitors to the Wild Animal Park do not event tarvel through downtown Escondido (Thank God!) Escondido is not La Jolla and never will be. Get used to it and do the best with what you can make work. Acutally, TacoLand is not such a bad idea.

Oh Sure SMC wrote on Oct 1, 2008 4:18 PM:You just happen to hear that all the time. You just happened to meet some European visitors...

Yea. We need to spend $20 million on a hotel for those few european visitors...all while increasing the fees for services for the residents.

Sounds like you are running for office, trying to sale "this good deal" hotel farce! Sorry. There are more pressing things we can use that taxpayer money for rather than a hoy-tee toy-tee hotel.

I CANT WAIT wrote on Oct 1, 2008 4:22 PM:I cant wait for his hotel! Its where all the successful "ladies of the night" will register...lets me shop in a smaller area of town!

to the three stooges wrote on Oct 1, 2008 6:00 PM:if you as a regular citizen ask the council to help you with money to start your business, what you think they'll do?
what about if you're late in a date line to fill anything at cityhall, would they extend it for you?
why they want to talk about this in close session? anything to hide?

WE NEED A NEW COUNCIL!!!

Funny wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:30 PM:Dennis must be sitting around the house commenting on why the city needs him and Diaz what a loon.

Council confused wrote on Oct 1, 2008 10:42 PM:All the talk about needing a downtown hotel and the downtown being a destination. The council's plan to "revitalize" the urban core...this as they have allowed Good Will (nothing against Goodwill) to inhabit one of the most visible commercial locations in Escondido (the corner of Washington & Centre City) - such an upgrade in quality shopping. You can't miss the Goodwill - it's kitty corner from the abandoned Paramount/Venue condominium projects.

Our council is confused!!

Dennis wrote on Oct 1, 2008 11:17 PM:Not the same one "Funny" was talking about. There is another deadline the city it missing and a lot of other people too! There is a road called Barham Dr. Its right by the Sprinter station on Nordahl. This short 1/2 segment of road is one of the busyest places besides the Nordahl Bridge. This is whats happening. The city of San marcos has the road Equiptment rented and has made it a 4 lane road all the way to Twin oaks valley road. Escondido all of a sudden now cann't come up with its Promissied amount to complete the road widing job. If they don't do that soon the city of Escondido not only pospones the project for every body, The cost will extras millions of dollars because well we are on the far side of town and doesn't have the GLORY of a new Hotel, just that of finishing up a job they prommissed to DO !! Just thought you all should know

YES wrote on Oct 1, 2008 11:59 PM:YES - VOTE FOR DIAZ - SHE HAS A DEGREE IN FINANCE!!

AND VOTE FOR BARRON - HE HAS A BACKGROUND IN NUCLEAR SCIENCE - FOR REAL - HE DOES! HOW IN THE WORLD COULD ESCONDIDO PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO "EMPLOY" AS MAN OF SUCH HIGH INTELLECT TO THE COUNCIL? WE CANNOT PASS UP THIS OPPORTUNITY! ALSO, BARRON HAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT!

WE NEED COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WILL USE OUR TAX DOLLARS WISELY. COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WILL INVEST OUR MONEY IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY BENEFITS THE RESIDENTS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE CITY!

VOTE OUT ABED & GALLO!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!

TO ALL THE REPUBLICANS wrote on Oct 2, 2008 7:39 AM:now we have a better choice!!!
DENNIS FRENCH

Christian
Republican
family oriented
business man
help to run the shelter in EHS during the wild fires
helping to run a distribution center for the food bank every saturday in Pioneer School

FINALLY A REPUBLICAN WITH HEART !!!

THREE GREAT CHOICES wrote on Oct 2, 2008 7:56 AM:Barron; a nuclear scientist and financial consultant.
Diaz; with a finance degree and experience in business.
French; navy Veteran and business man.

any of them is 100 times better than what we have on city council, we make the mistake of re-electin the t-shirt maker, let's improve our city,changing the city council!

Dennis again wrote on Oct 2, 2008 4:08 PM:hahaha only Waldron and the other three are worth my vote after 30 yrs of voting !! The new people will have neat little parties to get your vote at your expense, stop the lies with belt tighting it hurts but so does porverty which is all they will bring you I too am X-navy honrabl discharge, with a letter of appreiation (hard work) this is too, Escondido can not be a safe haven for thugs, and people who are scared, you vote in private go REPUBLICAN, or go with out.

To Dennis again wrote on Oct 2, 2008 5:45 PM:You should tell that to your republican president George W. Bush!

And while you are at it...tell us how the US is in such a financial sink hole with your republican leader at the helm?

Yea. Vote for the candidate that will use our dollars wisely - not those that give $18.9 mil to a hotel developer!!

VOTE DIAZ & BARRON!!! FINANCIAL WHIZZES!

(Vote out the "Financial Fizzes" Abed & Gallo)

Dennis wrote on Oct 4, 2008 1:06 AM:To Dennis again--
What are you 18 haha the snowcone is not always full but you'll eat yours and want mine too, oohh look out that extra parking place, ooh its right next to the fire plug!! curse me huhu! read my post dear, 30yrs voting,HONRABLE DISCHARGE USN but that wont buy a snow cone, not even at Thriftys we had 2 in town they are 99c stores now (problay before your day) I'm not trying to change you, just remember your not going to change me to your free, for every body world, cause when you have killed me WHO is going to pay for it !!??

To Dennis wrote on Oct 6, 2008 4:50 PM:Wow. Man. That is some kind of serious rambling you have going on. I have absolutely no idea what point you are trying to make. That's ok though - the only thing that matters is that our city has not funded our police and fire accordingly - YET have $18.9 million + a few million for related infrastructure and now...I have just learned that we will pay the developer to make sure that the hotel will get built according to codes and standards (usually the developer pays those guaranteee fees).

Dennis - man, I don't even know what to say to you - because I am unable to figure out your point - I mean you went form parking places & fire plugs to 99c stores and snow cones. Slow down and think out what you want to communicate and then try to stay on point.

p.s. if you want quality leadership - vote for Barron & Diaz!

To Dennis wrote on Oct 11, 2008 11:00 PM:Frenchy. They are getting afraid of you. It shows by some of these letters. I can understand that they want you to win but to blame you for not even writing any of this garbage above is foolish. It seems to be a desparate Democrat tactic. Go French GO!!! you are what this city needs. A person that cares and whos focus isn't just on downtown