Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept of Finance Ltrs - ROPS 1 & 2SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM \ l�G��• �" `i3ro-r�I,.S�i�� �L3SCnf i� 5"°� BY OVERSIGHT BOARD TO: John M. Wohlmuth, Executive Director ON—�- ��- 2�� 2-� FIED BY � � "��ss,.� FROM: Janet M. Moore, Director of Housi Origin�l on file wirh City Clerks Of�ce DATE: May 29, 2012 SUBJECT: Department of Finance Letter to Palm Desert Regarding ROPS 1& 2 Attached are the letters from the Department of Finance (DOF) regarding our Recognized Obligation Payment Schedules (ROPS) for the periods that cover January 2�12 through December 2012. The DOF originally returned the schedules for reconsideration of several items: 1. Incorrect listing of Pass-Through Trust Obligations 2. Advances (loans) from the City to the Agency 3. Planned Projects In the DOF's letter of approval dated May 26, 2012 for Palm Desert's ROPS indicates they have further reviewed the Pass-Through Trust Obligations and accepted the line items as enforceable obligations. We are currently drafting our formal written response to the DOF on the remaining items to be reconsidered. The response will include backup and related documentation for the advances (loans) from the City for the acquisition of real property as well as identifying the need for the upcoming planned projects funded by bond proceeds. There are bond proceeds available to complete or participate in many of the planned projects which cannot be used for any other purpose under the bond documents and tax certificates. The final issue identified in both letters from the DOF is related to the calculated administrative cost allowance. The calculated allowance for January through June is close to the estimate, however, the calculation for the period from July through December is significantly reduced because it is based on the actual amount to be disbursed by the County of Riverside to Palm Desert on June 1. Certain payments on the approved ROPS for this period will be paid from monies on hand and therefore are not subject to the administrative cost calculation which in turn reduced the allowance. We are in the process of reviewing the effects of this change. G:kda`,HOUSINGVanc[ Moorc�DRAFTSVohn R'ohlmulh`,Memo for OS Board DOF 2ops I[r 5-2)-2012.docx '� (��7 �R Q � � �'i� a"�'^"�" z w 1111 n o rr � DEPARTMENT OF C4ClFORr�P � 1 N A N C E� M ay 26, 2012 Veranica Tapia, Accountant City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Dear Ms. Tapia: EDMUND G. BROWN �ifl. • G�VERNOR 91 5 L 6TRQCT ■ BAGRAM�NTO CA � 95H 14•3706 ■ WWW.00F.CA.pOV Subject: Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule Approval Le#ter Pursuant to Health and Safety Code (HSC) section 34177 {I) (2) (C), the City of Palm Qese�t Successor Agency submitted Recognized Obligation Payment Schedules {ROPSj to the California Department of Finance (Finance) on April 11, 2012 for the period January to June 20'12 and April '17, 2012 for the period July #o December 2012. Finance is assuming appropriate oversight board approval. Finance has completed its review of your ROPS, which may have included obtaining clarification for various items. In Finance's letter dated April 26, 2012, the following pass-thru trust account obligations from both ROPS periods were denied as enforceable abligations (EOs); however, after further review of documents, they have been accepted as EOs: . Project Area 1, page 1, item 25 • Project Area 2, page 5, item 45 • Project Area 3, page 8, ikem 25 • Project Area 4, page 12, item 27 Additionally, after recalculating administrative cast a(lowance, we are no longer questioning the January to June 2012 administrative expenses as they are within the allowable amoun#. For the July to December 2012 administrative expenses, we recalculated and reduced the questioned amount to $239,969 from $613,182 (as stated in the April 26, 2012 letter}. Except for items disallowed in whole or in part as enforceable obligations noted in Finance's Istter dated April 26, 2012, Finance is approving the remaining items listed in your ROPS for both periods. This is our determination with respect to any items funded from the Recievelopment Property Tax Trust Fund (RPTTF) for the June 1, 2012 property tax allocations. If your oversight board disagrees with our determination with respect to any items not funded with property tax, any future resolution of the disputed issue may be accommodated by amending the ROPS for the appropriate time perioci. Items nat questioned during this review are subject to a subsequent review, if they are included on a future ROPS. If an item included on a future ROPS is not an enforceable obligation, Finance reserves the right to remove that item from the future ROPS, even if it was not removed from the preceding RpPS. 1 �-{' Ms. Tapia May 26, 20'12 Page 2 Please refer #o Exhibit 12 at httv:/rwww.dof.ca.4ov/assembiv bills 26-27/view php for the amount of Ftedevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund (RPTTF) that was approved by Finance based on the schedule submitted. As you are aware the amount of available RPTTF is the same as the property tax increment that was available prior to ABx1 26. This amount is not and never was an unlimited funding source. Therefore as a practical matter, the abifity to fund the items on the RQPS with property tax is limited to the amount of funding available in the RPTTF. Please direct inquiries to Evelyn Suess, Supervisor or Mindy Patterson, Lead Analyst at (916) 322-2985. Sincerely, ��� � MARK HILL Program 8udget Manager cc: Ms. Janet Moore, Director of Housing, City af Palm Qesert Ms. Pam Elias, Chief Accounting Property Tax Division, Couniy of Riverside Ms. April Nash, Supervising Accountant, County of Riverside Ms. Jennifer Baechel, Business Process Analyst II; County of Riverside �� gr+T o� � � ? �ti a"�"^"�' z w 1(I � a n, � DEPARTMENT OF EoMUNo G. Baowk JR. • GOVERNOR C,���aN�' F I N A N C E q 1 9 L HTNCiT � SACMMENTO CA � iS9 7 4-37OB � W1MW.DG�.CA.�OV April 26, 2012 Veronica 7apia, Accountant City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Dear Ms. Tapia: Pursuant to Health and Safety Code (HSC) section 34177 (I) {2) (C), the City of Pafm Desert Successor Agency submitted a Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS) to the Califomia Department of Finance (Finance) on April 11, 2012 for the periods January through June 2012 and July through December 2012. Finance staff contacted you for clar�cation of items listed in the ROPS, HSG section 34171 {d) lists enforceabJe obligation (EO) characteristics. Based on a sample of line items reviewed and application of the law, the following do not qualify as EOs; January throu�h June 2012 ROPS: • The following line items were for pass-thni trust account obligations totaling $6Q.5 million. HSC secti�n 34163 (b) prohibits a redevelopment agency (RDA) from entering into a contract with any entity after June 27, 2011. ft is our understanding that no contracts are in place for these line items. � The following line items are for agreements or contracts between the City of Palm Desert and the Palm Desert Redevelopment �qency {RDA) totaling $13.5 million. HSC section 34171 (d} (2) states that agreements or contracts between the city that created the RDA and the former RDA are not enforceable unless the agreements were entered into within the first two years of the date of the creation of the RDA. Ms. Veronica Tapia Aprif 26, 2012 Page 2 Item Project Page Number Area Number Pro'ect Amount 5 2 4 No�th S here Hatel Land $5,500,004 North Sphere 6 2 4 Praperty Acquisition 2,055,0�0 Ciry Loan fo� formation of 7 2 4 Pro'ect Area No.2-1986 6,QOO,OQQ Total $13,555,000 • The following line items are for projects that do not have contracts in pisce in the amount totaling $123.3 million. HSC section 34163(b) prahibits a ROA from entering inta a contract with any entiry after June 27, 2011. It is our understanding that contracts for these line items were awarded after June 27. 2011. Item Project Page Number Area Number Pro' ct Amount Alessandro Aliey Frontage 46 1 2 Rd Im s $5,000,000 Core Commercial Parking 47 i 2 Improvements i.Od0,000 President's Plaza Parking 48 1 2 Lot Im s 1,200,000 49 1 2 Under round Utilities 90 Q00,000 50 1 2 Portola Ave Widenin 3.000,000 49 2 5 North S here Fire Station 10,000,000 50 2 5 Monterey Ave On/Off Ramp 6,000,000 Im s 51 2 6 Portola I-101m s 16,800,000 52 2 6 Unde round Utilities 12,000,000 30 3 9 Portola Ave On/Off Ramp 6,200,OOd Construction 31 3 9 Under round Utilities 2,000 000 32 3 9 Portola Avenue Widenin 5,000,000 32 4 12 Carios Orte a Vilias 16,500,OOQ 33 4 12 Desert Pointe Rehabilitation 6 000,000 34 4 12 Unde round Utilities 1 B 571,000 Total s123 271 000 • Administrative cost claimed exceeds allowance by $708,712 (see Attachment A). HSC section 34171 (b) limits flscal year 2011-12 administrative expenses to five percent of property tax altocated to the successor agency or $250,000, whichever is greater. `� Ms. Verortica Tapia Aprii 26, 2012 Page 3 Julv to December 2Q12 ROPS: • The following line items were for pass-thru trust account obligations totaling $12.4 million. HSC section 34183 (b) prohibits a RDA from entering into a contract with any entity after June 27, 2011. It is our understanding that there are no contracts for these line items. item Numb� 25 45 25 27 Project 1 2 3 4 Page Number Project 1 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obli aiion 5 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 8 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Ubli ation 12 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obli ation _ _ _ ___ -- -- Totai Amount $8,667,301 250,169 532,295 2,990,664 • Yhe following lina items are for agreements or contracts between the City of Palm Desert and the Palm Desert RDA totaling $13.5 million. HSC section 34i71 (d) (2) states that agreements or contracts between the city that created the RDA and the former RDA are not enforceable unless ihe agreernents were entered into within the first two years of the date of the creation of the RDA. Additionally, these line iterns were shown as payments in the January io June 2012 ROPS. • The following line items are for projects that do not have contracts in place in the amount totaling $123.3 million. In addiaon, HSC section 34163(b) prohibits a redevelopment agency from entering into a contract wifh any entity after June 28, 2011. It is our understanding that contracts for these line items were awarded after June 27, 2011. Item � Project Paga Number Area Number Pra'ect Amount i Alessandro Alley Frontage 46 'f 2 Rd Im s $5,000,000 Core Commercial Parking 47 1 2 (mprovements 1,000,000 PresidenYs Plaza Parking 48 1 2 Lot fm s 1,200,OQ0 49 1 2 Unde tound Utilities 10,000,000 50 1 2 Portola Ave Widenin 3 000 000 �9 ' 2 5 North S here Fire 5tafion 10,Q00,000 50 2 5 AAonterey Ave OnlOff Ramp 6,dOQ,000 Im s � Ms. Veronica Tapia April 26, 2012 Page 4 As authorized by HSC section 34179 (h), Finance is returning your ROPS for your reconsideration. This adion will cause the spec�c ROPS items noted above to be ineffective until Finance approval. Furthermore, items lis#ed on future ROPS wili be subject to review and may be denied as EOs. If you believe we have reached this conclusio� in error, piease provide further evidence khat the items questioned above meet the definition of an EO. Please direct inquiries to Evefyn Suess, Supervisor or Mindy Patterson, Lead Analyst at {916) 322-2985. Since�ely, ��'�,�yT / /��� MARK HILL Program Budget Manager cc: Ms. Janet Moore, Director of Housing, City of Palm Desert Ms. Pam Elias, Chief Accounting Property Tax Division, County of Riverside Ms. April Nash, Supervising Accountant, County of Riverside Ms. Jennifer Baechel, Business Process Analyst II, County of Riverside � Administrative expenses totaling $613,182 (Attachment B}. HSC section 34171 (b) limits administrative expenses to three percent of property tax aliocated to the successor agency or $250,000, whichever is greater. ATTACHMENT A ADMiNISTRATIVE COST CALCULATION For the Pertod January — June 2012 Project Line Payment Area item Pro'ect NamelDebt Obli ation Source Amount 1 4 2002 Tax Allocation Refunding Bond Issue RPTTF $1 114 S64 � 2 2003 Tax Allocation Bond Issue - S19,OQ0,000 RP1TF $950 000 � 3 2004 7ax AliocaUon Bond Issue -$24,945,Q00 RPTTF $1 502,588 1 4 2008 7au Aliocation 8ond Issue - 362,320,000 RPTTF �5,093,952 1 5 2007 Tax Allocation Bond Issue -$32,600,000 RPTfF $3 881,750 � 7 2002 Housing Tax Allocation Bond Issue -$12M RP7TF 5769 449 1 g 2007 Housing Tax Allocation Bond Issue -$87M RPTTF $B 418 137 1 g Indian Springs Stipulated Agreement __ RPTTF $89 834 � �p UM Housing Fund Laan RPTTF $1,304,76fi � Zg� Pass-thru trust accou�t obligations RP7TF $39,862 122 � 26 Energy Independence Program RPTTF $200 � 32 Stipulated Judgment Case No. 51124 RPTTF $2,833 633 1 33 Replacement Reserve Fund F2PTTF $1 618199 1 39 PDHA Property Management RPl'fF $164 94fi � 42 PDHA Property Maintenance _ RPTTF �44,536 1 43 A9encY 0`N�ed Properties RP1T� $25 000 1 44 Additional Disclosures on TAB's RPTTF $i 400 � �ti NSP Rehabilitation RPTTF $41 900 1 52 Santa Rosa Apartments _ RPTTF $30 000 2 1 20Q2 Tax Allocation Refundin Bond Issue -$17M RPTTF $1 324 83] 2 2 2003 Tax Ailocation Bond issue -$15M RPTTF $769 006 2 3 2006 Tax Atlocation Bond Issue -$67M RPTTF $3,920 987 2 4 County CIP Reimbursement tor 88/89 and 90t91 RPTTF $122 T07 2 5' North Sphere Hotel land RP7'fF $90 OQO 2 g* North Sphere Property Acquisition RPTTF $68 750 2 7' City Loan formation of Project Area No. 2-1886 RPTTF $25,688 y g UM Housing Loen RPTiF $375 581 2 32 Stipulated Judgment Case No. 51124 RP'fTF $882 60� 2 33 PDHA Property Managament RPTTF $18,488 2 36 Replacement Reserve Fund RPTTF $179 800 2 45* Pass-Thru Trust Account C3bligations RPTTF $3 665 266 2 qg Additionaf Disclosures on TAB's RPTTF $600 3 1 2003 Tax Allocation Bond Issue -$4,745,000 RPTTF $294 245 3 2 2006 Ta�c Allocation Bond lssue - 315,029,526 RPTTF $i57 475 3 3 VM Housing loan RPTTF $121 289 3 13 Stipulated Judgment Case Na. 51124 RPTTF $232 265 � a-i Line items Considered Administrative Costs January - June 2012 ROPS ProJect Li�e Area item Descri tion Pa ment Source Amount � �$ TrusteeServices RPTTF $1392 1 16 �sclosure Services RPTTF $1 152 � 17 legai Services RPTTF $8 224 1 18 Legai Services RPTTF $648 1 18 Professional Association RPTTF $2 530 � 2p Auditing Services RPTTF $1 U63 1 21 Reporting Services �- RPTTF $422 � 22 Banking Services RPTTF �99 1 23 Liability Insurance � RPTTF $1 160 1 24 Facilities Lease RPTTF $32,000 � 27 Carrying Costs - Agency Property RPTTF 1 944 � 28 Carrying Cosls - Agency Property RPTTF $15,000 1 30 ' Project Area AdministraGon RPTfF $1 247 855 � 31 Vested Emplayee Benefit Obligation RPTfF $332,195 2 21 Trustee Services RPTTF $7 974 Z � Disclasure Services RPTTF �6 602 2 23 Legat Services RPTTF $44 268 Z 44 Legat Serv)ces RPTTF $3 715 2 25 Professionai Association RPTTF S14 498 2 2g Audft3ng Services RPTTF $6 089 2 30 project Rrea Administradon RPTTF g388 676 2 31 Vested Employse Benefit obligation RPTTF $1Q3 470 2 43 Reporting Services RPTTF $2 416 2 44 Liabiliiy Insurance RPiTF $6 645 2 47 Banking Services RPITF g546 3 11 Project Area Administratlon RPTTF $102 283 3 ti2 Vested Employee Benefit Obligation RPTfF $27 229 3 j$ Trustee Services RPTTF $4 216 3 1g Disclosure Services RPTTF $3 491 3 2p Legal Services RPTTF $23 409 3 2� Legal Services RPTTF $1,965 3 ZZ Professional Association RPTTF $7,666 3 23 Auditing Services RPTTF $3,094 3 24 Reporting Services RPl?F $2,455 3 27 Liability insurance RPTTF $3 514 3 2g Banking Services RPTTF $300 4 g Trustee Services RpTTF $100 4 9 Disclosure Services RPTTF $83 �� ProJect Line Area item Descri ton Pa ment Source Amount 4 10 legal Services RPTTF $557 4 � � Legal Services RP1TF �47 4 12 Professional Associalion RPTTF $175 4 13 Auditing Services ' RPTTF $74 4 14 aeporting Services RPTTF $29 4 15 Lfability insurance � RPITF g84 4 16 Banking Services RPTTF $7 4 �g Project Area Administration RPTTF $306,849 4 20 Vested Employee Benefit Obiigation RPTTF $68,073 Total $2,78fi 278 Less Admin Allowance $2,077 566 Total Dlsaliowed Administntive Costs E708 i12 2-3 ATTACHMENT B ADMINISTRATIVE COST CALCULATtON July - December 2012 Project Line Area item Pro'ect Name/Debt Obtigation 1 1 2002 7ax Aliocation Refunding Bond Issue -$22M 1 2 20Q3 Tax Allocation Bond Issue -$i9,000,004 � 3 2004 Tax Allocation 6ond Issue -$24,945,00� 1 4 2006 Tax Allocation 8ond Issue -$62,320,000 1 5 2007 Tax Allocation 8ond Issue -$32,60Q,000 � 7 2002 Hausing Tax Ailocation Bond Issue -$12M 1 8 2007 Nousing Tax Ailocalion Bond Issue -$87M � g Indian Springs Stipulated Agreernent � �p LJM Housing Fund Loan � 25� Pass-thru trust account obiigations � 26 Energy Independence Program � 32 Stlpulated Judgement Case No. 51124 1 33 Repiacement Reserve Fund � 1 39 PDHA Property Management t 40 PDHA P�operties 1 41 PDHA Properties � 42 PDHA Property Maintenance 1 43 Agency Owned Properties � q4 Additional Disclosures on TA8's � � 51 NSP Rehabilitabion 1 52 Santa Rosa Apartments 2 � 2002 Tax Ailocation Retunding Bond issue -$17M 2 Z 2003 Tatt Allocation Bond Issue -$15M 2 3 2006 T� Allocation Bond Issue -$67M 2 5� North Sphere Hotel land 2 g• North Sphere Property Acquisition 2 7' City Loan formallon of Project Area No. 2-1986 2 g L!M Housing �oan 3 26 Additionak DisGosures on TAB's Z 32 Stipulated Judgement Case No. 51124 2 33 PDHA Property Managemenk 2 34 POHA Properties 2 35 PDHA Properties 2 3g Replacement Reserve Fund 2 45" Pass-Thru Trust Account Obligations 2 46 Additional Disclosures on TAB's Payment Source Ama RPTTF $1,11 RPTTF $95 RPTTF $7,88 RPTTF $518 RPl?F $3.89 RPTTF RPiTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF 766 30i 1 783 $25,688 12.366 281 169 5 �'� ProJect � Line 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 13 14 15 3 25' 3 26 4 1 4 2 4 3 4 4 4 21 4 23 4 24 Project NamelDebt Obligation 2003 Tax Allocation Bond Issue -$4,745,000+ 2006 Tax Alloqtion Bond Issue -$15,029,526 UM Housing Loan Stipulated Judgement Case No. 51124 Replacement Reserve Fund PDHA Property Management POHA Properties POHA Properties Pass-Thru Trust Account Obligations Additional Disclosures on TAB's 1998 $11,020,Q00 Tax Allocation Bond issue 2001 $15,695,000 Tax Allocation Bond Issue 2006 $19,273,089 Tax Allocation Bond Issue UM Housing Fund Loan Stipulated Judgement Case No. 51124 PDHA Property Management PbHA Property Management PDHA Propetty Management Additional Disclosures an TA8's Pass-Thru Tnlst Account Obligations NSP Rehabilitation Less Amount Disaifowed GT�iiTt'i7 Payment Source RPTTF RPTTF RP7TF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPTTF RPiTFiOther line items with aste�is Tota! RPTTF 121 i 1 70 133 � �".� Line Items Considend Administrative Costs July - December 2012 ROPS Project Line Area item Descri tion Pa me�t Source Amount � 15 Trustee Services RPTTF $1,419 1 16 Disclosure Services RPTTF �1,176 � 17 Legal Services RPT7F $7,8T8 � 18 Legal Services RPT7F $660 y 19 Professionai Association RPTTF $2,58� � 20 Auditlng Services RPTTF $2 167 � 21 Reporting Services RPTTF $430 1 22 Banking Services RPTTF $102 � 23 Liability Insurance RPTTF $1 158 1 24 Facilities Lease RPTTF $31,998 1 27 Carrying Costs - Agency Property Rp� g � gqq 1 28 Carrying Costs - Agency Property RPTTF $11 224 � 3p Project Area Administration RPTTF $860 818 � 3� Vested Empbyee Benefit Obkgation RPTTF $352,053 2 21 Trustee Services RPTTF $7 812 2 22 Disclosure Services RPTTF $6,468 2 23 �-e9�� Sen►ices RPTTF $43,386 2 24 �egal Services RPTTF $3 642 2 25 PrMesslonal As�ociation RPTTF $14,208 Z 2g Auditing Services RPTT1= $5 968 2 30 Project Area Administration RPTTF $205,828 2 31 Vested Employee Beneflt �bligation RP1TF $109 656 2 43 Reporting Services RpTTF S2 368 2 44 Liability Insurance RP1TF $6 3B4 2 47 Banking Services RPTTF $558 3 � � Project Area Administration RPTTF $54165 3 12 Vested Emptoyee Benefit Obligation RPTTF $28,857 3 18 Trustee Services RP'TTF a4,134 3 19 Disctosure 5ervices RPTTF 33,420 3 20 Legal Services RPTTF S22 938 3 Z� Legal Services RPTfF ' $1 926 3 22 Professional Association RPTfF $7 513 3 23 Auditing Services RPTTF $3156 3 24 Reporting Services RPTTF $1 252 3 2� liability insurance RPTTF $3,378 3 28 eanking Services RPTt'F $294 4 8 Trustee Services RPTTF $96 4 g Disclosure Serviaes }�p� $gq ,,,� y Moore, Janet From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Hi Mindy, Tapia, Veronica Thursday, May 03, 2012 10:39 AM Patterson, Mindy Suess, Evelyn; Moore, Janet RE: Palm Desert ROPS Review Jan - June We are stiil working.through our review/response to your letter regarding the ROPs for Palm Desert. In the interim, i just wanted to address a couple of things that seemed easy. I think we have managed to figure out how our pass thru payments were not meeting the requirements under the DOF's guideline. We have spoken with the County of Riverside and understand that we should be listing the previously earned payments due to the taxing entities as "held in reserve" as opposed to coming from the "RPTfF fund". These funds, currently held in trust (or reserved) for the taxing entities are then to be paid directly by the successor agency from cash on hand. I think there was just some confusion with the timing of the payments and whether or not the funds would in fact be with the successor agency or have already been turned over with the assets to the County of Riverside (the chicken and the egg sort of dispute). Can you please confirm for me that if we make this adjustment we would meet the satisfaction of the DOF, by changing the source from "E" (RPTTF) to "C' (Reserve Balances) for the following items: As listed under ROPS 1 Item Page Number Pro'ect Area Number Pro'ect Amount 25 l 1 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obli ation $39,862,122 45 2 5 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 3,665,266 25 3 8 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 6,549,775 27 4 12 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obli ation 10,435,341 Total $60,5 I 2,504 Balances remaining under ROPS 2 Item Number 25 45 25 27 ect Area 1 4 Page Number Pro'ect 1 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 5 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 8 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 12 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation Total Amount $8,667,301 250,169 532,295 2,990,664 $12,440,429 Also, in your review of ROPS 2(July — December), I noticed that there was a duplicate item counted, as well as one omitted from the list of the Administrative Costs Calculation. On page 5 and page 6, you have included Additional Disclosures on TAB's for Project Area No. 3/Item 26 two times ($400/ea). And then on page 6, Project Area No. 4/Item 22 Replacement Reserve Fund for $273,489 is omitted (but included for all other project areas and on the prior ROPS). 0 � + A formal response to the review is forthcoming. As aiways, thank you so much for your time and assistance with this matter. Veronica From: Patterson, Mindy [mailto:Mindy.PattersonC�dof.ca.gov] Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 12:35 PM To: Tapia, Veronica Cc: Suess, Evelyn Subject: Palm Desert ROPS Review Jan - June Hi Veronica, We have reviewed the two ROPS. Here are our results that will be provided in a letter coming to you later today. The attachments for the administrative calculation are shown in attachments that will be provided in the letter. If you have further support for these questioned items, please send them our way. Thank you, Mindy Patterson Lead Analyst lanuary through June 2012: HSC section 34171 (d) lists enforceable obligation (EO) characteristics. Based on a sample of line items reviewed and application of the law, the following do not qualify as EOs: The following line items were for pass-thru trust account obligations totaling $60.5 million. HSC section 34163 (b) prohibits a redevelopment agency from entering into a contract with any entity after June 28, 2011. It is our understanding that no contracts are in place for these line items. Item Page Number Project Area Number Pro ect Amount 25 ] 1 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obli ation $39,862,122 45 2 5 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 3,665,266 25 3 8 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 6,549,775 27 4 12 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obli ation 10,435,341 Total $60,512,504 ? The following line items are for agreements or contracts between the City of Palm Desert and the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency (RDA) totaling $13.5 million. HSC section 34171 (d) (2) states that agreements or contracts between the city that created the RDA and the former RDA are not enforceable unless the agreements were entered into within the first two years of the date of the creation of the RDA. Item Page Number Number Pro'ect Area Pro'ect Amount 5 2 4 North S here Hotel Land $5,500,000 North Sphere 6 2 4 Property Acquisition 2,055,000 City Loan for formation of � 2 q Project Area No.2-1986 6,000,000 .��� �---- l I I Ta�l � $i3,sss,oao ( ? The following line items are for projects that do not have contracts in place in the amount totaling $123.3 million. HSC section 34163(b) prohibits a RDA from entering into a contract with any entity after June 28, 2011. It is our understanding that contracts for these line items were awarded after June 28, 2011. Item Page Number Number Yro'ect Area Pro�ect Amount Alessandro Alley Frontage Rd 46 1 2 Imps $5,000,000 Care Couunercial Parking 47 1 2 Improvements 1,000,000 President's Plaza Parking Lot 48 1 2 Imps 1,200,000 49 1 2 Under round Utilities 10,000,000 50 1 2 Portola Ave Widenin 3,000,000 49 2 5 North S here Fire Station 10,000,000 50 2 5 Monterey Ave On/Off Ramp 6,000,000 im s 51 2 6 Portola cL I-10 Im s 16,800,000 52 2 6 Under round Utilities 12,000,000 30 3 9 Portola Ave On/Off Ramp 8,200,000 Construction 31 3 9 Under round Utilities 2,000,000 32 3 9 Portola Avenue Widenin 5,000,000 32 4 12 Carlos Orte a Villas 18,500,000 33 4 12 Desert Pointe Rehabilitation 6,000,000 34 4 12 Under round Utilities 18,571,000 Total $123,271,000 ? Administrative expenses totaling $788,712. HSC section 34171 (b) limits administrative expenses to five percent of property tax allocated to the successor agency or $250,000, whichever is greater. Five percent of the property tax allocated is $1,997,516. Therefore, $788,712 of the claimed $2,786,278 is not an EO. The calculation for administrative expenses is shown in Attachment A. 3 � July to December 2012: Based on a sample of line items reviewed and application of the law, the following do not qualify as EOs for the July through December 2012 period: The following line items were for pass-thru trust account obligations totaling $12.4 million. HSC section 34163 (b) prohibits a RDA from entering into a contract with any entity after June 28, 2011. It is our understanding that there are no contracts for these line items. Item Page Number Pro'ect Area Number Pro�ect Amount 25 1 1 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation $8,667,301 45 2 5 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 250,169 25 3 8 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 532,295 27 4 12 Pass-Thru Trust Acct Obligation 2,990,664 Total $12,440,429 ? The following line items are for agreements or contracts between the City of Palm Desert and the Palm Desert RDA totaling $13.5 million. HSC section 34171(d) (2} states that agreements or contracts between the city that created the RDA and the former RDA are not enforceable unless the agreements were entered into within the first two years of the date of the creation of the RDA. Additionally, these line items were shown as payments in the January to lune 2012 ROPS. Item Page Number Number Pro'ect Area Pro'ect Amount 5 2 4 North S here Hotel Land $5,500,000 North Sphere 6 2 4 Property Acquisition 2,055,000 City Loan for formation of '7 2 4 Project Area No.2-1986 6,000,000 Total $13,555,000 ? The following line items are for projects that do not have contracts in place in the amount totaling $123.3 million. In addition, HSC section 34163(b) prohibits a redevelopment agency from entering into a contract with any entity after June 28, 2011. It is our understanding that contracts for these line items were awarded after June 28, 2011. Item Page Number Number Pro'ect Area Pro'ect Amount Alessandro Alley Frontage Rd 46 1 2 Imps $5,000,000 Core Commercial Parking 47 1 2 Improvements 1,000,000 President's Plaza Parking Lot 48 1 2 Imps 1,200,000 49 1 2 Under ound Utilities 10,000,000 50 1 2 Portola Ave Widenin 3,000,000 49 2 5 North S here Fire Station 10,000,000 50 2 5 Monterey Ave On/Off Ramp 6,000,000 Im s 51 2 6 Portola a� 1-lO lm s 16,800,000 4 � J' 52 30 31 32 32 33 34 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 6 9 9 9 12 l2 12 Underground Utilities Portola Ave On/Off Ramp Construction Underground Utilities Portola Avenue Widening Carlos Ortega Viilas Desert Pointe Rehabilitation Underground Utilities Total 12,000,000 8,200,000 2,000,000 5,000,000 15,500,000 6,000,000 l 8,571,000 $123,271,000 ? Administrative expenses totaling $613,182. HSC section 34171 (b) limits administrative expenses to three percent of property tax allocated to the successor agency or $250,000, whichever is greater. Three percent of the property tax allocated is $1,249,954. Therefore, $613,182 of the claimed $1,863,136 is not an E0. The calculation for administrative expenses is shown in Attachment B. Mindy Patterson Lead Analyst Department of Finance 916.322.2985 x 3117 5 �� THE SUC(ESSOR AGENCY TO THE Pfll(Cl DESERI �EDEVELOPff1EN1 AGENCY 73-5io FxF.t� W�kwc; DHi��� P�i.M I�FSFRT, C,Al,1FORNIA 922fi0-2j]H rEL:76o 346—o6�i F.as: 760 34i-637� in toC�palm-d,serc.org May 21, 2012 Paul Angulo, CPA, MA C�unty Auditor-Controlier County of Riverside Mail Stop 1050 4080 Lemon Street, 11th floor Riverside, CA 92502 Dear Mr. Angulo: Recently, the Department of Finance ("DOF") has provided confusing communications regarding the manner in which county auditor-controllers should be distributing property tax revenues pursuant to a successor agency's Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule ("ROPS"). These communications suggest that possibly successor agencies will not be receiving the revenues they need to timely meet their enforceable obligations. This would be contrary to the duty imposed by AB X1 26 and other laws upon successor agencies, county auditor-controllers, and DOF to ensure that all enforceable obligations are timely met. Moreover, we are concerned about statements from DOF suggesting that funds withheld from successor agencies in connection with disputed items on the ROPS should be treated as surplus and distributed to the taxing entities. This would effectivety result in an unlawful forfeiture of funds that the successor agency is entitled to receive under AB X1 26. Under Health & Safety Code Section 34182(c)(2), "each county auditor-controller shall administer the Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund for the benefit of the holders of former redevelopment agency enforceable obligations and the taxing entities that receive pass through payments and distributions of property taxes pursuant to [Part 1.85 of AB X1 26]." Under Health & Safety Code Section 34174(a), the Legislature has stated its clear intent that nothing in AB X1 26 "is intended to be construed as an action or circumstance that may give rise to an event of default under any of the documents governing the enforceable obligations." Health 8� Safety Code Section 34175(a) further sets forth the Legislature's clear intent "that pledges of revenues associated with enforceable obligations of the former redevelopment agencies are to be honored. It is intended that the cessation of any redevelopment agency shall not affect either the pledge, fhe legal existence of that pledge, or the stream of revenues available to meet the requirements of that pledge." G: rda Vcronica Tapia Word Filcs Succcssor Agrncc i•:Id: I.ata m Coumy Audimr re RPTTEDOCX.doc t� ni�rw ow �Ercmm �n� � Paul Angulo, CPA, MA, County Auditor-Controller County of Riverside May 21, 2012 Page 2 of 2 Accordingly, it is our position that DOF has no authority under AB X1 26 to prevent the payment of obligations on a successor agency's ROPS as a result of certain disputed items when those disputes have not yet been resolved between DOF, the successor agency and its oversight board. Further, there is no legal authority for DOF to direct the county auditor-controller to not disburse property tax revenues to a successor agency for the July through December 2012 period if DOF has not provided an approval letter to the county auditor-controller by June 1 or the lock-down date, whichever is earlier. This direction may cause the successor agency to default on enforceable obligations to the fi�ancial detriment of the holders of enforceable obligations. As described above, a primary purpose of AB X1 26 is to ensure that this disastrous result does not occur. Therefore, it is our position that if DOF disputes items listed on the ROPS for the Successor Agency to the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency (the "Successor Agency") that its Oversight Board approved, or fails to timely inform you of the undisputed enforceable obligations that should be paid from the Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund, at the minimum you are required by Health & Safety Code Sections 34182(c)(2), 34174(a) and 34175(a) to distribute property tax revenues to the Successor Agency in the amounts needed to satisfy all but the obligations in dispute and to retain the revenues needed to satisfy the disputed items and place them in a separate escrow or fund pending the outcome of these disputes. Since the Successor Agency and its Oversight Board have not fully exhausted their administrative remedies with respect to any disputed items, the funds related to the disputed items cann�t be treated as surplus for distribution to the taxing entities on June 1, but instead must be held by your office pending the final determination of these disputes. We request that you send electronic confirmation to me, at jwohlmuth(a�citvofpalmdesert.orq , by no later than May 25, 2012 describing the manner in which you will distribute property tax revenues on June 1, 2012 so that the Successor Agency can take appropriate actions in response. ly, i ���I r: John M. Wohlmuth Executive Director � cc: Ms. Janet M. Moore, Director of Housing Mr. Paul Gibson, Director of Finance Ms. Veronica Tapia, Accountant II Ms. Pam Elias, Chief Accountant, Property Tax Division County of Riverside Ms. Evelyn Suess, Supervisor, Department of Finance Ms. Mindy Patterson, Lead Analyst, Department of Finance SU(CESSOR AGENCY TO THE PH��I DESERi REOEVE�OPMERI AGENCV G: rda�Nnonica'lapia�W'ord Fi)a Succasor Agrncy 3: Ll: Ictta to Countv Audi�or re RPTTI'.DO('X.doc e.Eo ox x:at.i� a+to � �