San Clemente : City Withholds Money to Inspector on Pier Project

The company responsible for the 15-inch bulge in the San Clemente Pier won’t be getting its money until it furnishes the city with an explanation, City Treasurer Robert Morris said Thursday.

Although the city routinely approved payment of a $4,185 invoice from Irvine-based Lowry and Associates for inspection services, some of which involved the restoration project on the 1,275-foot landmark, Morris withheld the check last week after Councilwoman Karoline Koester raised questions about whether the city should pay for the services. According to its contract with Lowry and Associates, the city, which has no inspector of its own, pays the firm $26 an hour for the inspector it provides.

After checking with the city attorney to make sure he could withhold payment, Morris locked the check in his desk drawer. He said it will stay there until after Wednesday’s City Council meeting. At the meeting, the council is expected to review a city Engineering Department evaluation of a report Lowry and Associates is to submit to Ed Putz, the city engineer.

“If this were my own money . . . I would be anxious to see if their work is in conformity with the contract,” Morris said. “You should pay for services rendered, not just hours worked.” Nevertheless, Morris said whatever the council decided to do, he will comply.

Meanwhile, Koester questions whether the city should be paying the company for some of its services and has indicated that depending on what the engineering report reveals, she may use Wednesday’s meeting to ask for an audit of invoices submitted by the firm, which she said total more than $12,000. A Lowry and Associates spokesman refused comment on the matter.