A Riverside County Grand Jury report has found that the City of Wildomar both lacks transparency and has failed to put a contract out to bid that was awarded to a city worker.
According to the report released Monday (see attached or click here to download a copy of the report), in 2009 the city awarded an $87,600 annual contract to Diamond W Events Inc. without first putting out a public notice and without first going out to bid; the grand jury report also finds the city renegotiated the contract and still failed to follow its own ordinance that requires a bidding process.
Diamond W Events Inc. is located in Wildomar and its active officers include Paula Willette, according to Dun & Bradstreet. Willette is the city’s community services director.
“During the investigation, the Grand Jury requested to see documentation that would identify any other bids submitted on this contract. The City did not present any such documents,” the report finds.
Monday’s report is not the first Grand Jury finding on the issue of Diamond W Events. A 2009-10 Riverside County Grand Jury report (see attached or click here to download a copy of the report) recommended that the city be more specific in its contract with Diamond W Events and “identify specific tasks, accounting, and how time is utilized.”
On the issue of Diamond W Events, the 2009-10 report also recommended that the city comply with its own ordinance to find “responsible bidders.”
In response to the 2009-10 findings, on July 14, 2010, Wildomar City Manager Frank Oviedo made his case that the city was following all processes under the law. (See his attached response or click here to download a copy.)
As part of its recent April 23 report, the Grand Jury also found the city does not clearly identify which of its workers are contracted and which are city employees.
“Lack of identification has caused confusion with residents of the City,” the report finds.
The city is expected to file a response to the April 23 report.
