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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOB Item No 3 Asset Transfer Review Report 09-23-2014OVERSIGHT BOARD OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE TO: CHAIRMAN OSTER AND MEMBERS OF THE OVERSIGHT BOARD FROM: BARBARA LEIBOLD, SUCCESSOR AGENCY COUNSEL DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 SUBJECT: RECEIVE AND FILE LAKE ELSINORE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY — ASSET TRANSFER REVIEW REPORT Recommendation Receive and file the Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency ( "RDA ") Asset Transfer Review Report for the period January 1, 2011 through January 31, 2012 issued be the California State Controller's office. Background Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 34167.5, the State Controller's Office (SCO) reviewed all asset transfers made by the Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency (RDA) to the City of Lake Elsinore (City) or any other public agency after January 1, 2011. This statutory provision states, "The Legislature hereby finds that a transfer of assets by a redevelopment agency during the period covered in this section is deemed not to be in furtherance of the Community Redevelopment Law and is thereby unauthorized." Therefore, their review included an assessment of whether each asset transfer was allowable and whether the asset should be turned over to the Successor Agency. The review applied to all assets including but not limited to, real and personal property, cash funds, accounts receivable, deeds of trust and mortgages, contract rights, and rights to payment of any kind. Discussion Attached is the final report of the State Controller's Office with respect to the dissolution of the former Redevelopment Agency of the City of Lake Elsinore. The purpose of the State Controller's Office Asset Transfer Review was to determine whether the former Redevelopment Agency made any transfers after January 1, 2011 in violation of state law applicable to such transfers. The report finds that no transfers were made in violation of applicable law, and therefore does not order any funds or other assets returned. Page 1 Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency — Asset Transfer Review September 23, 2014 Page 2 This is very good news, and means that all loan and other payments made to the City by the former Redevelopment Agency are no longer subject to return or forfeiture. As you recall, both the Department of Finance and the State Controller's Office were required to perform audits of transfers by the former Redevelopment Agency going back to January 1, 2011. Lake Elsinore has now received final approval of the audits from both the DOF and the SCO and no illegal transfers were found by either agency. FISCAL IMPACT None. The State Controller's review found that the RDA transferred $121,118,540 in assets to the Successor Agency after January 1, 2011. The State Controller's office did not identify any unallowable transfers that occurred during the review period between the RDA, the City, and /or any other public agency. Prepared by: Barbara Leibold, Successor Agency Counsel Attachment: Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency — Asset Transfer Review (PDF) Page 2 LAKE ELSINORE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ASSET TRANSFER REVIEW Review Report January 1, 2011, through January 31, 2012 JOHN CHIANG California State Controller August 2014 THE o- ..m fF OF CAS \40P JOHN CHIANG Taftfvrnia ,�$tate CTvntxaller August 20, 2014 Nancy Lassey, Finance Manager Lake Elsinore Successor Agency 130 S. Main Street Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 Dear Ms. Lassey: Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 34167.5, the State Controller's Office (SCO) reviewed all asset transfers made by the Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency (RDA) to the City of Lake Elsinore (City) or any other public agency after January 1, 2011. This statutory provision states, "The Legislature hereby finds that a transfer of assets by a redevelopment agency during the period covered in this section is deemed not to be in furtherance of the Community Redevelopment Law and is thereby unauthorized." Therefore, our review included an assessment of whether each asset transfer was allowable and whether the asset should be turned over to the Successor Agency. Our review applied to all assets including but not limited to, real and personal property, cash funds, accounts receivable, deeds of trust and mortgages, contract rights, and rights to payment of any kind. We also reviewed and determined whether any unallowable transfers of assets to the City or any other public agency have been reversed. Our review found that the RDA transferred $121,118,540 in assets to the Successor Agency after January 1, 2011. We did not identify any unallowable transfers that occurred during the review period between the RDA, the City, and /or any other public agency. If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Gonzalez, Chief, Local Government Compliance Bureau, by telephone at (916) 324 -0622. Sincerely, Original signed by JEFFREY V. BROWNFIELD, CPA Chief, Division of Audits JVB /kw Nancy Lassey, Finance Manager -2- cc: Paul Angulo, Auditor - Controller Riverside County David Botelho, Program Budget Manager California Department of Finance Richard J. Chivaro, Chief Legal Counsel State Controller's Office Elizabeth Gonzalez, Bureau Chief Division of Audits, State Controller's Office Betty Moya, Audit Manager Division of Audits, State Controller's Office Shadi Ahmadi, Auditor -in- Charge Division of Audits, State Controller's Office August 20, 2014 Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency Asset Transfer Review Contents Review Report Summary............................................................................................. ............................... 1 Background......................................................................................... ............................... 1 Objective, Scope, and Methodology .................................................. ............................... 2 Conclusion........................................................................................... ............................... 2 Views of Responsible Official ............................................................ ............................... 2 RestrictedUse ..................................................................................... ............................... 2 Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency Asset Transfer Review Asset Transfer Review Report Summary The State Controller's Office (SCO) reviewed the asset transfers made by the Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency (RDA) after January 1, 2011. Our review included, but was not limited to, real and personal property, cash funds, accounts receivable, deeds of trust and mortgages, contract rights, and rights to payments of any kind from any source. Our review found that the RDA transferred $121,118,540 in assets to the Successor Agency after January 1, 2011. We did not identify any unallowable transfers that occurred during the review period between the RDA, the City of Lake Elsinore (City), and /or any other public agency. Background In January of 2011, the Governor of the State of California proposed statewide elimination of redevelopment agencies (RDAs) beginning with the fiscal year (FY) 2011 -12 State budget. The Governor's proposal was incorporated into Assembly Bill 26 (ABXl 26, Chapter 5, Statutes of 2011, First Extraordinary Session), which was passed by the Legislature, and signed into law by the Governor on June 28, 2011. ABX1 26 prohibited RDAs from engaging in new business, established mechanisms and timelines for dissolution of the RDAs, and created RDA successor agencies and oversight boards to oversee dissolution of the RDAs and redistribution of RDA assets. A California Supreme Court decision on December 28, 2011 (California Redevelopment Association et al. v. Matosantos), upheld ABX 1 26 and the Legislature's constitutional authority to dissolve the RDAs. ABX1 26 was codified in the Health and Safety (H &S) Code beginning with section 34161. H &S Code section 34167.5 states in part, "... the Controller shall review the activities of redevelopment agencies in the state to determine whether an asset transfer has occurred after January 1, 2011, between the city or county, or city and county that created a redevelopment agency or any other public agency, and the redevelopment agency." The SCO identified asset transfers that occurred after January 1, 2011, between the RDA, the City and /or any other public agency. By law, the SCO is required to order that such assets, except those that already had been committed to a third party prior to June 28, 2011, the effective date of ABX1 26, be turned over to the Successor Agency. In addition, the SCO may file a legal action to ensure compliance with this order. -1- Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency Asset Transfer Review Objective, Scope, Our review objective was to determine whether asset transfers that and Methodology occurred after January 1, 2011, and the date upon which the RDA ceased to operate, or January 31, 2012, whichever was earlier, between the city or county, or city and county that created an RDA, or any other public agency, and the RDA, were appropriate. We performed the following procedures: • Interviewed Successor Agency personnel to gain an understanding of the Successor Agency's operations and procedures. • Reviewed meeting minutes, resolutions, and ordinances of the City, the RDA, the Successor Agency, and the Oversight Board. • Reviewed accounting records relating to the recording of assets. • Verified the accuracy of the Asset Transfer Assessment Form. This form was sent to all former RDAs to provide a list of all assets transferred between January 1, 2011, and January 31, 2012. • Reviewed applicable financial reports to verify assets (capital, cash, property, etc.). Conclusion Our review found that the Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency (RDA) transferred $121,118,540 in assets to the Successor Agency after January 1, 2011. We did not identify any unallowable transfers that occurred during the review period between the RDA, the City, and /or any other public agency. Views of At an exit conference on June 26, 2014, we discussed the review results Responsible with Jason Simpson, Director of Administrative Services, who agreed with the review results. Mr. Simpson further agreed that a draft review Official report was not necessary and that the report could be issued as final. Restricted Use This report is solely for the information and use of the City of Lake Elsinore, the Successor Agency, the Oversight Board, and the SCO; it is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties. This restriction is not intended to limit distribution of this report, which is a matter of public record when issued final. Original signed by JEFFREY V. BROWNFIELD, CPA Chief, Division of Audits August 20, 2014 -2- State Controller's Office Division of Audits Post Office Box 942850 Sacramento, CA 94250 -5874 http: / /www.sco.ca.gov S 14 -RDB -910