Simi Council Approves Housing Plan Despite Calls for Investigation

The Simi Valley City Council on Tuesday gave final approval to construction of a senior citizens housing project, despite calls from the public to delay action until a council member’s ties to the developer’s consultants are investigated.

By a 3-1 vote, the council adopted a rezoning measure that will enable the developer, Yosemite Gardens Partnership, to build 108 apartments instead of 38.

The $5-million project at Los Angeles and Yosemite avenues will include 46 apartments designated as “affordable” with rent from $325 to $495 a month and a 4% annual limit on rent increases. The remaining 62 apartments will be leased at market value, or an estimated $625 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, according to Mayor Greg Stratton.

Stratton cast the only vote against the project, saying he believes the city could have negotiated a better deal in return for the concessions it granted developer Joseph Bonhart.

City’s Concessions

As examples, Stratton cited the number of apartments classified as affordable and the range of their rent, a zoning bonus that gave the developer 70 extra units, and a waiver of park district fees that will save the developer $101,000. Instead, Stratton said, the city will pay $50,000 in park fees for the developer and the park district is waiving the other half.

The controversy centered on the vote in favor of the project by Councilman Glen McAdoo, whose friendship with consultants Bob Swoish and Lloyd Maitland prompted two citizens to call for an investigation.

“It’s not a conflict, it’s ostensible corruption,” said Bill Gress, who demanded that the council delay a vote until the matter was investigated. Another resident, Fred Harrison, asked that McAdoo at least abstain from voting and suggested that the city develop its own code of ethics to address the appearance of impropriety as well as improprieties themselves.

The state Political Reform Act only addresses conflicts of interest that involve financial gain, including gifts as well as business investments, state officials said Tuesday.

Long-Time Friends

Before the meeting, McAdoo acknowledged a long-time friendship with Maitland and Swoish, both of whom have served on the Simi Valley Planning Commission. Maitland and McAdoo served together.

The three men and their families often vacation together at Lake Tahoe, and McAdoo acknowledged that he has been an overnight guest at both consultants’ residences there. The most recent trip was over the Labor Day weekend, as the council was in the midst of voting on a series of measures affecting the Yosemite Gardens project.

But he insisted that he has always paid for use of the Lake Tahoe residences when the owners were not there, and maintained he was objective in negotiating the Yosemite Gardens proposal. McAdoo is one of two council members on an affordable housing committee that screens all proposals from developers.

“We’ve been friends for many, many years. We have never shared any money or joint ventures. I don’t profit from their endeavors and they don’t profit from mine,” McAdoo said.

City Atty. John Torrance said he found no conflict because of McAdoo’s statements that he always paid his own way and because, according to Torrance, state law does not bar a public official from receiving hospitality.