pool ponderings 4

Continuing in a legal vein, is there not something in the City charter about NOT allowing the subsidizing of private enterprises? Wonder what his legal opinion would be regarding the ridiculously low pool rental payments on the pool? If PENNIES on the dollar RENT isn’t a subsidy to a for-profit business, at the taxpayer’s expense, what is? When did the City Attorney know there were NO contracts and NO use agreements? Has he ever offered a legal opinion regarding the validity and enforceability of these handshake deals? If so, what WAS that legal opinion? On what legal basis was it formed? When did that happen? By doing nothing, or NOT suggesting any changes, the City Attorney seems to be in tacit legal approval of the handshake process already in place.

Santa Gym is giving away FREE pool services?

When you talk about the "bad publicity" that MDAC is receiving, are you talking about any ONE of the following issues? To address the apparently unauthorized handshake deal to rent our pool for PENNIES on the dollar! Or the imaginary Optimist connection that ISNT NOW and NEVER WAS. Or the legality of the sweetheart handshake deal! Or the actual numbers of Springs kids involved in MDAC! Or the lack of controls or sound business practices at the pool regarding admissions! Or the new Recreation Directors rumored hitting on the young ladies at the pool? Or the lack of specific itemized records of how many swimmers from each swim team is utilizing our facility, and when? Or the meet revenues and where THAT money goes and how much has been received over the years from various meets- GMAC, districts, MDAC, Sun Devils, etc. Or the taping incident! Or when, if ever, the City Manager was authorized to rent the pool for whatever he wanted! Or why he didnt follow the Councils edicts? or direction? Or when did he receive approval by the Mayor and Council to charge whatever he wanted, if ever! Or does he have ANY idea NOW how much other pools charge for swim practices and meets (if not, why not?)? If he does know, what has he found to be the standard rates charged at other pools, and why are we NOT charging the standard rates ? While hes at it he can demonstrate where the MS and Doral middle school rental fees are! It would also be interesting to know if he NOW has ANY idea how the annual pool revenue numbers are derived? If so, why has he NOT made THOSE public? Which of these issues would you be saying isnt valid, and for WHAT reason? Which of those issues have ANYTHING to do with the Santa meet?Because a Santa meet somewhere else may have had problems? problems that were apparently resolved? Talk to the appropriate governing body, Fla Gold Coast Swimming Assn. We would only be interested in Ms Silveira if she was connected to MDAC and involved with this current sweetheart deal and ripoff of the residents from the City Manager! If she is NOT associated with, or connected to, this ripoff with MDAC, we have little and NO interest in her or what shes doing, or NOT doing! Refer your complaints to FGC. Our focus is on this giveaway of our facilities for PENNIES in the dollar for YEARS!

MDAC profits at our expense

Shouldnt every citizen have a say in whether we want our money to go to cover expenses incurred by a private business based in Doral that has only a handful of Springs kids and doesnt even pay enough to cover the expenses of keeping the pool open for their group? Why should WE take a BIG loss so that THEY can profit? The City Council APPROVED the City Manager renting our pool for PENNIES on the dollar??? Without any contract? on a handshake? NOW that the Council knows all this is happening, what are they DOING about it? No oversight, supervision, or accountability has been required of the City Manager in YEARS! Why would they START now? Gym will continue to bleed the city of needed tax dollars and resources until we are bled dry. And the City Council will act surprised. They ALL need to go. Start with the City Manager.

Santa meet as a diversion?

What does the Santa Claus meet have to do with paying the rent for the use of our pool? or not? How are the facts and figures presented here in any way changed by who won the Santa Claus meet? Why would Springs taxpayer care about the Santa Claus meet when we are in a recession, people are out of work, foreclosures are at a multi-year highs, and the City Manager is giving away use of city facilities for PENNIES on the dollar? Wouldnt an ETHICAL business want to clear up any doubts about the rents they might still owe, and put the Springs taxpayers minds at ease, as a part of being a good neighbor and someone who might want to CONTINUE doing business with the City? The focus next time will be on pool operations, and NOT closing the pool, so THAT scare tactic wont be as effective then.

no taxpayer discount

"If I was running a business, and I was charged pennies to run it, so be it." What are the chances that Mr Santana wrote this comment? or the MDAC swim team chief? It COULD be either one, of course, because they are BOTH running businesses in our city for pennies on the dollar at the taxpayers expense! The taxpayers however, get NO such discount and are charged the full amount. Straight out of the taxpayers pockets and into their pockets! What is wrong with this picture?