Grand Jury Finds No Favoritism Towards Former Colton Council Members

In its 2014-2015 Final Report published July 1, a San Bernardino Grand Jury stated it found no evidence of favoritism exhibited toward two former Colton City Council members accused last October of benefiting from separate alleged off-the-books public works projects. A complaint alleging violations of various state and city laws, policies and procedures in the Public Works Department accused former Councilman Frank Gonzales of benefiting as a council member from the installation of two speed humps on the 700 block of Canary Street, where he lives, and accused former Councilwoman Susan Oliva of benefiting from the removal of a utility pole and the subsequent filling of the gap in the fence left on her private property. After investigating concerns including the city's records keeping in the Public Works Department related to Capital Improvement Project (CPI) including Measure I funds, a voter-approved half-cent sales tax to help fund transportation projects; the documentation and approval process for Public Works projects; and city council members' interactions with the city manager and city departments, the Grand Jury report said it reviewed how Public Works projects are prioritized and whether city staff is complying with city guidelines and procedures. "The Grand Jury specifically reviewed the approval process for the construction of speed bumps on city streets," the report reads, adding that findings show the project in question was "completed consistently" with established procedures. According to the report, "The Grand Jury uncovered no evidence to support allegations that favoritism was given to elected officials in the decision to approve construction of the speed bumps. There were concerns regarding city work performed on private property of a council member. The work was found to have been completed consistently with city policies and procedures. A city owned utility pole was removed and resulted in damages to a block wall on private property. The block wall was repaired to its original state, as required by city policy." Interviews conducted by the Grand Jury "failed to support concerns that individual city council members were unduly involved in day-to-day city operations," the report said. An investigation conducted last summer by San Diego-based attorney Ron Ball of Best Best & Krieger found similar results, as the Colton City News reported. At an Oct. 7, 2014 council meeting, Ball concluded, “Neither council member had a conflict of interest, broke any criminal or civil laws or resulted in a gift of public funds to that individual.” The complaints levelled at the city were made by six local residents and business owners who told the Colton City News last October that the complaints against Oliva and Gonzales were "a side issue," and their request was for an investigation into the Public Works Department. As such, the recent report also shows that the Grand Jury investigated claims regarding the Public Works Department. For more on those findings, please read the article titled, "Public Works Department Investigated."