Wildomar’s Cash-Handling Procedures Under Review By City Manager Following Concerns Prompted By Resident

City Manager Gary Nordquist said Tuesday he has reviewed practices of the city’s cash-handling activities and now he plans to speak individually with council members to review updated procedures with them.

Nordquist’s remarks follow allegations made by Wildomar resident Gil Rasmussen that the city may have mismanaged funds generated by the Dec. 15 city-sponsored Breakfast with Santa held at Wildomar Elementary School.

Rasmussen asserts in a Feb. 13 opinion piece posted on his blog that of the $1,084 raised at the 2012 Breakfast with Santa, only $399 was deposited with the city. Rasmussen said he discovered the issue after obtaining documents he requested under the Public Records Act.

Nordquist said there is currently no money missing from city coffers but confirmed he has revised processes for how funds are handled.

“I have reviewed cash-handling activities and have looked at the practices. The process has been revised,” he explained.

Nordquist said he has been speaking with city staff and is now in the process of communicating individually with council members. He declined to provide details on the new changes or specifics on what may have caused monies to be missing, saying he wanted to first discuss the issues with council members. Nordquist said he would be available for additional comment following his meetings with council members.

Wildomar Community Services Director Paula Willette was in charge of the Breakfast with Santa event. On Feb. 21, she turned in her resignation to the city citing personal reasons, Nordquist said.

Her last day on the job is March 1, he confirmed.

Nordquist said Willette’s departure is a separate issue from the cash-handling activity but declined to provide specifics.

“They are two separate issues,” he said.

Nordquist was tapped to fill the role of city manager Jan. 1 after it was publicly announced Dec. 3 that then-City Manager Frank Oviedo had submitted his resignation.

Oviedo’s last day on the job was Dec. 31.