Taxpayer Tab Adds Up as City Officials Do Lunches

Let’s do lunch.

For a political appointee to a City of San Diego board or commission, that suggestion has special significance: It’s an open invitation to chow down at some of the city’s ritzier downtown restaurants--on the public tab.

People serving on the city’s Planning Commission, Civil Service Commission and Board of Zoning appeals ran up more than $5,000 at taxpayer expense during the last month of 1986 and first six months of 1987 for lunches at such places as Dobson’s, Tambo De Oro, the Fontainbleau Room of the Westgate Hotel, Rainwater’s and Lubach’s, according to figures compiled by the city auditor’s office.

In addition, the figures show that the public also has paid more than $500 for weekly sandwich runs for top city administrators, including City Manager John Lockwood, who makes more than $100,000 a year. And taxpayers have footed the bill for more than $2,000 in box lunches and other munchies--cheese, mineral water, M & Ms, breath mints--for City Council members.

Officials Offer Explanation

Lockwood and other city administrators justify charging the public for sandwiches because of the long hours they put in for city business, often working through lunchtime.

Meanwhile, city commission and board members say they consider the publicly funded meals at top-notch restaurants as a justifiable perk, since they serve the city without pay.

Indeed, the city’s administrative regulations for in-town expenses recognizes the volunteer efforts and allows for the meals. In comparison, the County of San Diego, which pays its planning commissioners a minimum of $50 a meeting, does not pay for any meals, said a county spokesman.

“I think that’s the least the city can do,” said Caryl Iseman, who served on the Board of Zoning Appeals until July.

“You’re asking me if I would serve without it. Yes, perhaps,” said Iseman. “But the fact the city buys me a sandwich or a hot meal is fair.”

1,500 Hours on City Business

Former Planning Commissioner Henry Empeno, an attorney, said he easily dedicated more than 1,500 hours to city business during the four years he served on the prestigious panel, either in hearings or studying development proposals at home. At an hourly rate of at least $100, that would amount to more than $150,000 forfeited for the public good.

“I’m sure that all the planning commissioners would agree and the public would agree that the amount of money paid for the lunches is minuscule in terms of the time and sacrifice we make,” said Empeno, who has since been appointed to the zoning appeals board.

Acting Planning Director Mike Stepner called the noontime repasts at some of San Diego’s more chi-chi restaurants part of the “American way,” akin to the country tradition of throwing a pot-luck dinner for neighbors who have helped out in a barn-raising.

But there are other practical reasons, he said.

Keeps Members Together

“By feeding them, you can guarantee we’ll have them together all day long,” Stepner said. “There’s another reason as well--the fear that if they’re off on their own, they might get accosted by a developer and lobbied.”

There’s another bonus. Stepner said the noontime meal provides a break from the tedium of long public hearings.

Asked why he often chooses expensive restaurants for the breaks, Stepner said they are the ones that are closest to City Hall and more likely to hold reservations while commissioners are mired in protracted public hearings

Paid $5,104 for Meals

The Planning Department, records show, has paid $5,104 during the past six months to feed planning commissioners and zoning appeals board members.

The biggest share--$3,356--was spent on the planning commissioners, who meet every Thursday.

Some of the more expensive meals enjoyed by planning commissioners included one at the Old Trieste on Feb. 5. Seven commissioners and four staff members, out on a field trip, ordered $254 in food.

There was the $310 meal for seven commissioners and seven planning staff members at Dobson’s in December, 1986; the $270 meal for 14 people at Lubach’s on June 11, and the $885.45 that planning commissioners and department members ate in five meals at the Tambo De Oro.

Other Restaurants Patronized

Other restaurants at which the planning commissioners dined were the Panda Inn, First Avenue, Borel’s, Corvette’s, the San Diego Yacht Club, the Fontainbleau Room of the Westgate Hotel, and El Indio, the records show. Ralph Pesqueira, a planning commissioner, is owner of El Indio.

Members of the Board of Zoning Appeals, which meets twice a month, spent $687 during the first half of 1987. Their meals were at Tambo De Oro, the Fish House, Harbor House, Gustaf Anders, China Camp, Fat City, the B Street Cafe and the Pacifica Grill. The number of people in attendance in those meals ranged from three to six, the records show.

Piling up more than $1,748 worth of meals--most of it at Dobson’s, a block and a half walk from City Hall--were members of the city’s Civil Service Commission, which sometimes meets two days a week. Their meal charges were paid by the city’s Personnel Department.

Rich Snapper, the city’s personnel director, said he repeatedly brings civil service commissioners to Dobson’s because the restaurant is “accommodating to their schedule.

Late a Lot

“Quite frankly, they’re late a lot of the time and they make accommodations,” Snapper said about the restaurant. “They make that happen . . . .”

All told, the Civil Service Commission gave Dobson’s $1,521 worth of business in 20 lunches over the first six months of 1987.

While some were eating away from City Hall, other city officials were having food brought in at public expense.

$565 for Sandwiches, Chips

For instance, the public has paid $565 for City Manager John Lockwood, his secretary and six top administrators to eat sandwiches and potato chips during 24 weekly lunch meetings. Each meal was ordered from the Uneeda Market deli, located a block from City Hall, the records show.

“It’s my feeling that you have people that are working extremely long hours, and if you’re going to ask them to work through their lunch hours, and to ask them to have their wife or spouse or significant other pack a lunch, then that’s too much, I think,” Lockwood said.

Keeping City Council members supplied with box lunches and munchies has cost taxpayers considerably more--$2,273, the records show.

Most of the money, which was spent by City Clerk Charles Abdelnour, went for box lunches from the Westgate deli to feed council members during extended council meetings, which, like the June 23 meeting over the Interim Development Ordinance, often drone on through lunch hours and late into the night. Sometimes the sandwiches, soft drinks and cheese trays are open targets for hungry journalists as well.

Stocked With Other Goodies

In addition, Abdelnour keeps San Diego’s elected officials stocked with other goodies: a tray of breath mints, candies, mineral water, coffee. Records show that Abdelnour bought a two-month supply of soft drinks and fruit juices for $125 in June, for instance.

In a written statement to explain the expenses, Abdelnour said the refreshments were “necessary to support a legislative body through lengthy meetings” and is a “worthwhile investment in the legislative process.” He said the number of hours council members spent in meetings during the last year has increased 29%.

“During the past year, the issues facing the Mayor and Council have become increasingly complex and controversial,” Abdelnour wrote in a letter to explain the expenses. “As a result, the increases have occurred in the duration and number of meetings held.”