Contract for City Image Consultant Questioned

Long Beach community leaders are questioning an $86,000 contract issued by the city manager to hire a part-time “public image” consultant who is married to the head of the city’s politically powerful firefighters union.

Critics say the contract poses a potential conflict of interest and they doubt whether the consultant, Kristy Ardizzone, is worth the money she makes for community outreach, polishing the city’s image and gathering information for the city manager.

“She has never contacted us,” said Robert Fox, president of the Bluff Heights Neighborhood Assn. in coastal Long Beach, as well as the Council of Business Organizations, which represents 40 groups citywide. “Where is that $86,000 going? We’ve not heard a word about her from any of our groups.”

Records show that City Manager Henry Taboada hired Ardizzone Consulting in September 1999 under his signature authority, which allows him to authorize contracts of less than $100,000 a year. As such, Ardizzone’s employment did not require approval by the City Council.

Taboada said that, although he already has a public information officer, his office doesn’t have enough staff to work with neighborhood groups, and he hired Ardizzone to be his “eyes and ears” in the community.

“Hiring her on a part-time basis makes good sense,” Taboada said. “What I need is feedback and intelligence on what the city is all about. She works odd hours and nights. From my reports, she probably puts in more time than her contract requires.”

But activists question whether the contract creates a potential conflict of interest because Ardizzone is the wife of William Ardizzone, a firefighter-paramedic who has been president of the 450-member Long Beach Firefighters Assn. since 1994.

Paying her, they contend, is in effect providing income to the leader of one of the most powerful political forces in the city. The union endorses candidates, lobbies for public safety projects and gives campaign donations during municipal and state elections. The association also negotiates wage contracts with the city and deals with the city manager’s office on Fire Department matters.

“The city manager is the principal signature and leader of the city during contract talks,” said Marc Wilder, a former Long Beach city councilman. “This is a conflict. If not in fact, then certainly it’s a perceived conflict. . . . Henry obviously knows better.”

Taboada and the couple maintain, however, that there is no conflict--real or perceived--because Ardizzone doesn’t discuss Fire Department matters with the city manager as part of her public relations duties.

Union members know about the contract and have never complained about it, her husband said, adding that the last wage negotiations were held in 1998, before his spouse started working for Taboada. Wage talks for a new contract are scheduled to begin next year.

“My wife did not get her position because of my position,” William Ardizzone said.

The Ardizzones have long been active in civic affairs. Kristy Ardizzone is a member of the airport advisory commission and is a board member of the Long Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Taboada said he hired Ardizzone because of her ability and her familiarity with local issues. A nonvoting member of the convention and visitors bureau, Taboada said he was impressed with Ardizzone’s work and approached her about a position with his office. He added that he liked her ideas, and offered her a job.

“We run in the same circles and the same organizations,” Taboada said. “The work she has done at the airport is exemplary. She is someone who has her hands on the pulse of the community.”

Ardizzone’s contract, which expires March 1, calls for her to work at least 100 hours a month. In an interview, she said she doesn’t submit time cards or billing records that detail what she does for her $4,500 a month, plus expenses.

Ardizzone said she also doesn’t submit written reports, but instead briefs Taboada verbally from time to time on her activities--a practice the city manager says is appropriate.

“I go to meetings, gather information for the city manager and do public relations,” said Ardizzone. “What I do is not always in the public eye, but an awful lot of people know who I am and know I’m willing to help.”

Ardizzone said she has worked on such things as the content of the city manager’s Web page, bluff restoration along the city’s coast, and setting up a reward fund to help solve the 1999 killing of Dorothy Bembridge, the owner of a historic home in Long Beach.

John Fialko, president of the Bluff Park Neighborhood Assn., gave Ardizzone high marks. He said she helped to expedite his organization’s $4-million effort to landscape and restore eroded bluffs along 2.8 miles of shoreline.

“I’ve been in touch with her for several months,” Fialko said. “She has a good knowledge of the city and how it works.”

Some Leaders Question Effectiveness

But the heads of other leading community organizations say they have never talked to Ardizzone, nor have they been informed that she works on the city’s behalf.

“We have never been aware that Kristy Ardizzone is a liaison for the city manager,” said Tracy Wilson-Kleekamp, president of the Stearns Park Neighborhood Assn., one of the city’s prominent citizens groups in eastern Long Beach.

“She has had plenty of opportunity to introduce herself as such, but never has,” Wilson-Kleekamp said. “If she is really doing community outreach, why is it such a secret?”

Ardizzone attended the November meeting of the Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations, an umbrella group for community leaders. Wilson-Kleekamp, who organized the event, said Ardizzone never introduced herself as an outreach person.

“No business cards, no phone numbers, not one word,” said Wilson-Kleekamp.

Other neighborhood leaders note that Ardizzone isn’t listed as a contact through the city’s resource center, a government clearinghouse.

Neither did her name come up earlier this year when three community leaders met with Taboada to find out how they could get him to address any issues they might have, the activists said.

“He told us to take our concerns to our City Council members,” said Bry Myown, who is active in several civic and neighborhood organizations. “He did not even mention Kristy or volunteer that there was any outreach person for his office.”

Taboada maintains that outreach to community groups is not Ardizzone’s primary responsibility, and that she often works on assignments given to her by his office.