It has been 17 years and 182 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.
Is the current recall effort by Glendale First! justified? It depends. If you are an avid hockey fan it is. Glendale First! is sponsoring two recently formed political committees, Recall Bart Turner and Recall Lauren Tolmachoff. The Recall Lauren Tolmachoff Committee is being led by Bill and Jennifer Eikost, Cholla district residents. I know them personally. They are friends and remain as friends even though I vehemently disagree with their current action. The Recall Bart Turner Committee is being led by Ben Shroyer and Paul Miller, Barrell district residents. All of these folks are not only hockey fans but some of them are season ticket holders. There is nothing wrong with that. However their current actions need to be viewed in the context of keeping hockey in Glendale’s arena by any manner and at any cost.
Glendale First! has had little success so far seeking individuals from the Cactus and Ocotillo districts to form political committees to recall Vice Mayor Ian Hugh and Councilmember Aldama as well. These districts tend to have lower socio-economic demographics and Glendale service cuts are viewed as being caused by the expense of the hockey lease contract.
This avid hockey fan group is angry with a city council that voted 5-2 to cancel a contract that requires payment of $15M annually as part of a lease management agreement for Glendale’s arena with IceArizona. But mounting a recall because they are mad about the contract cancellation won’t get them very far in Glendale as a majority of Glendale’s residents support the action. Strategically they needed another reason for the recall. What better diversion than to conveniently claim mismanagement of Glendale’s revenues by the mayor and only the 4 councilmembers that voted to cancel the contract.
So what exactly is the basis for Glendale First’s! allegation of council fiscal mismanagement? We have to go back a bit. The state legislature passed SB 1609 which made substantial changes to the Public Safety Public Retirement System (PSPRS) as it went into effect in June of 2011. Subsequently SB 1609 was challenged in Superior Court with a ruling in January of 2015 rolling back specific provisions within SB1609. The result is that Glendale (as well as all other participating cities) can expect additional expense per year to the PSPRC of an estimated $4 million (amount varies by city) and it takes effect in Fiscal Year 2016-17.
There were two options available to the city to deal with the increased expense to the PSPRS. One option was to pay as little as possible into the fund initially but it would require higher contributions in future years. The other option was to bite the bullet, add an additional $3.5 million as Glendale’s payment in Fiscal Year 2015-16. This would allow Glendale to increase its fund status (put more money in its PSPRC bank) and result in lower annual contributions in future years. Council’s policy decision was to choose the option of putting $3.5 million into the fund now. It was a prudent decision. It resulted in $3.5 million of General Fund dollars going to shore up Glendale’s PSPRC account.
Glendale First!, aided and abetted by the Glendale fire union, then accused the city council of mismanagement by not using that $3.5M of General Fund revenues for public safety. Apparently they don’t care about the city’s bond ratings and the fact that the bond agencies base part of their ratings on the cushion (contingency) a city has in reserve.
The fire union was not happy with the council’s decision for it wanted the $3.5 million dollars allocated to the fire department now. Hence we saw the media stories planted by the fire union claiming that its response times were alarming and a threat to public safety equal to that of a nuclear bomb. Keep in mind fire response times according to newly retired Fire Chief Burdick have remained at the same level over the past 5 years. The unacknowledged part of Glendale fire’s problem is that it is responding to more uncompensated calls outside of the city than ever before due to automatic aid. Therefore the closer Glendale fire units are not available partly resulting in extended response times. ( See earlier Automatic Aid, Parts 1-3 blogs)
The fire union and Glendale First! seem to have joined forces once again. They have a history of having worked together on previous Glendale issues. They worked together to insure the passage and retention of the temporary sales tax (now permanent).
This is from a former edition of the Glendale First! website: “Glendale First! is a grassroots citizen action group that was originally formed in 2012 as a political action committee in opposition to a referendum (R-12-01) that would have resulted in the Phoenix Coyotes leaving Glendale.” It went on to say, “Now that a long term arena management agreement is in place and the future of Westgate and the Coyotes is assured, it’s time to expand our efforts in Glendale. One can clearly see that Glendale First’s! agenda is in keeping the Coyotes in Glendale.
“The concerted efforts of Glendale First! were instrumental in defeating three referendums aimed at disallowing arena management use agreements between the City of Glendale and various parties. We were also deeply involved in opposition of the Proposition 457 ballot measure.”
The agenda of keeping hockey in Glendale cost money. It appears that Bea Wyatt and her partner, George Fallar, expended as much as $11,000 of their personal funds, over time, to keep hockey in Glendale.
Despite those who are on the paperwork for each recall committee the two most visible spokespersons for this effort have been Bea Wyatt and Larry Feiner. Both are principals in the Glendale First! organization and in the Desert Hockey Development organization. Both have been quoted in the media and have participated in radio interviews. They are now public figures and as public figures if there are skeletons in either person’s closet they are sure to be discovered as in the case of Larry Feiner.
Mismanagement of Glendale’s money? I’m sure Mr. Feiner has heard the old adage, “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” Because when it comes to mismanagement of money I’m not certain he is a position to throw stones. Mr. Feiner’s financial track record isn’t one that any person or institution should emulate.
I received an email recently advising me to go to this site. To my surprise this is what I found following this link: http://recorder.maricopa.gov/recdocdata/GetRecDataPaging.aspx?biz1=&biz2=&fn1=Lawrence&mn1=&ln1=Feiner&fn2=&mn2=&ln2=&begdt=1/1/1947&enddt=6/30/2015&doc1=&doc2=&doc3=&doc4=&doc5= Mr. Feiner owed property taxes for the years 2006 – 2010 in the amount of $11,041.54. Those taxes were recorded as paid by the Maricopa County Recorder and the property liens released on March 3, 2011.
It’s a little different with Mr. Feiner’s federal income taxes however. Apparently he owes Uncle Sam $169,072.70 and there is no record of payment filed as of this date available on the Maricopa County Recorder’s website. Perhaps Mr. Feiner was not Glendale First’s! finest choice as a spokesperson to allege mismanagement of money.
On the same former edition of Glendale First’s! website it goes on to say, “Glendale First! and it’s members remain extremely active in the community, including founding the Desert Hockey Development organization pledged to give back to Glendale while growing the sport of hockey.”
“We are planning a series of fundraising events to, hopefully, retire the debt the committee incurred during the successful opposition to all of the anti-Coyotes referendums. We are proud to be a partner of Desert hockey Development in their inaugural Grow The Game Classic golf tournament to be held June 14, in Glendale, at The Legend at Arrowhead.”
One may assume that the debt the committee incurred in opposition to anti-Coyote efforts was in part, an estimated $11,000 personally spent by Bea Wyatt and George Fallar. It may be fair to ask how much of the money raised from this golf tournament went to reimburse Fallar and Wyatt. If they did receive reimbursement from a golf tournament primarily publicized as a fund raising event for Desert Hockey Development didn’t they, in essence, do the very same thing that Bea Wyatt has accused the 2 councilmembers under threat of recall of doing? Instead of using all of the funds raised for Desert Hockey from the golf tournament was part of that money used to retire previous debts including that of George Fallar and Bea Wyatt? Are we witnesses of the case of the pots (Feiner and Wyatt) calling the kettle (councilmembers) black??
© Joyce Clark, 2015
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These people need a real job with real responsibility to worry about. That might keep thier mind off of hockey just long enough to see the bigger picture and how supporting sports teams is killing the city’s budget. When I think of 20,000 hockey fans protesting the action by the council, I see not 20,000 pro hockey activists; I see the absence of 230,000 taxpaying citizens of Glendale. Taxpayers who either don’t care about the Coyotes or taxpayers who are fed up with tax dollars being spent to prop up another professional sports team. I suppose it’s a case of the glass half full or half empty except, in this case it’s 10% full and 90% empty. I don’t love or hate hockey. However, I know a miss use of taxpayer funds when I see it. That contract personified the miss-use of tax dollars and I’m glad we now have a Council with members who have the resolve to finally represent the interests of the Glendale tax payer.
I always wonder why Joyce never speaks of the almost 13 million per year of losses from Camelback Ranch and the 45 million being paid to the Bidwells for a “new” parking garage. I guess we know her loyalties lie.
Hey Now, That is the next issue to address. The absurdity of the parking garage lies at the feet of Brenda Fisher and those who went along. My relationship with Bidwell is legendary and you must be new to the game here.
Mismanagement of Funds ????? I guess First Choice forgot the most important part of the picture. The recall should have been on Sherwood [who is already under recall] and Chivira. Both of those councilmembers voted for the Arena Management Deal that screwed the Glendale Taxpayers. It isn’t about Hockey, it is about the taxpayers. I have heard some of the interviews with Phoenix residents about moving the Hockey team to Phoenix – they would love to have the Hockey team come to downtown Phoenix – BUT when asked if, as Phoenix taxpayers, they would be willing to pay for it – the answer is always NO. Too bad the Glendale residents weren’t asked about the Arena Management deal Sherwood negotiated and Chivira voted for.
I am a Sahuaro resident [Councilman Gary Sherwood] but I especially want to thank Glendale’s new councilmembers Tolmachof and Turner – who seem to feel some fiscal responsibility to the Glendale taxpayers.
While I don’t agree with what the city did I surely don’t see it as being worthy of any kind of recall. There have been LOTS of bad choices made in the past by the council and nobody went as far as doing a recall that I can remember. I will be so happy when its all settled and done with and the city can move forward before I croak! I love this city! Happy Fourth of July and be safe!
1. Shouldn’t it be constituents from their own district doing or organizing the recall effort? “The Recall Bart Turner Committee is being led by Ben Shroyer and Paul Miller, Sahuaro district residents.” I for one am not for this ridiculous recall effort, I reside in the Barrel district, and will support Bart as much as possible, glad this council is starting to get with the program.
2. The fire union or fire department are always belly aching about money. They certainly do not deserve it more than the police department.
Keep up the good work Joyce!!
AZNative, I’m sorry, my fault. The two gentlemen that took out the Turner recall petitions are indeed from the Barrel district. Thanks for the catch. Will correct now.
Good job once again Joyce. You are knocking it out of the park…er…arena…er…rink…er…whatever!
A thought crossed my mind while reading these posts, and question came up also. I asked myself how much would it cost per attendee at the hockey games if the $15 million was added to the cost of a ticket?
Assuming an average attendance at each game of 15,000 times 41 games adds up to 615,000 attendees. Divide that into the $15 million results in slightly over $24 per attendee. Would the recall promoters be willing to pay an additional $24 per game to watch hockey?
Ken, Very interesting question. If they really want to keep the Coyotes I assume that everyones’ answer should be a resounding ‘yes.’
There was no management fee with Ellman. The concept was introduced by the NHL when they demanded 25 million each year and in typical Glendale fashion the city (Elaine ) capitulated. Here’s a great example of what happens when employees left taking their smarts with them ..
Hey Ken.
Not YES, but HELL YES.
But, I want the team to move to phoenix.
A city the size of Glendale cannot handle the stress of professional sports teams and I agree with the poster who said that taxpayers should not be on the hook for sports teams or any other professional organizations.
I didn’t realize it would only be an extra 24 dollars a ticket..
Which comes back to the matter of the arena being in Glendale.
If the team stays in Glendale, Tuesday and Thursday nights at that arena will never change.
So, maybe the 24 bucks a ticket docent workout at after all.
I’d be willing to pay another 50 bucks a ticket and I already pay over 8100 dollars a year on my season ticket whatever that breaks down to…..
But unless the team moves to Phoenix or elsewhere, Glendale and the owners of my YOTES will be doing this monkey dance in perpetuity.
Joyce, your blog has opened my eyes to problems faced by taxpayer funded things like this.
I love that idea. That way the fans can support the team and the taxpayers can support city services. It’s a win/win for everyone. Or, how about this; owners just support their own business venture with their own capital.
I’m so sick of sports team owners, who are among the most affluent people in the country, crying about money and asking for public monry to fund thier enterprises. How proud they must be to have been so skillfull as to have pulled it off. While their own money is investred in other profitable ventures the public is asked to invest in the potential losers. The financing mechanism is called OPM (Other People’s Money) or in the gevernment world, a “Pubic/Private Patnership”. It minimizes their down side risk while preserving to them the upside benefits. The public gets the bills and the private gets the profits. It’s a great program if you can get it to work for you.
@Ken
While this is a FANTASTIC idea, there is one small problem with this…We ASSUME the number of 15,000 per game(which is highly overinflated attendance numbers announced, but entirely dreamed up by Anthony Leblanc) would be people PAYING for their tickets.. Unfortunately that is not the case. Ice Arizona and the Coyotes give out an INSANE amount of “complimentary tickets”, which I’m sure if Glendale looked hard enough, they would find a contract violation there as well… Hmmmm.. Didn’t Tavares just do an audit of the Coyotes books? Perhaps there is something else to this case as well….
Joyce, please forgive me for making a comment so late into the argument. However, your disdain for firefighters and their association never ceases to amaze me. If I recall it was the police officers union teamed up with Glendale first in the past and not the firefighters. If I recall the firefighters have been asking for help for years even back when you were on Council… Seems to me like you have issue with their organization. I seem to agree with you on a number of issues. However, your view towards the fire department and Firefighters seems to be as fair and balanced as FOXNews. I guess had they endorsed you for election you would be praising them and supporting them rather than accusing them for being involved with frivolous recall efforts. But unlike FOXNews I’m always open to hear the other side. Please enlighten me on the evil actions that the fire union has done in the past.
Steve, I do have an issue with the Glendale fire union. Let me remind you that when I ran as a write in candidate in the 2000 election cycle, the incumbent councilmember, Martin Samaniego, was supported by the fire union. I defeated both. In fact, I believe I am the only write in candidate in the state to have defeated a sitting councilmember. So, it has nothing to do with the fire union’s non endorsement of me.
Rather I perceive the union as using its immense power within the city to self agrandize and acquire more power. It troubles me greatly that their actions are not always directed for the good of Glendale but rather for the good of the union. My concern is not directed toward the men and women of the Glendale Fire Department.They work hard, do their jobs every day with caring, compassion and professionalism.