A citizens oversight committee tasked with monitoring about $176 million in projected revenue over the next 10 years from a half-cent sales tax increase is taking shape.
Chula Vista’s Sustainability Commission became the first commission on Monday to nominate three members to potentially sit on the oversight committee. Those nominees are Robert Coleman, Oscar Romo and Sassan Rahimzadeh.
The Chula Vista City Council will interview the nominees, selecting only one to sit on the Measure P Oversight Committee.
As part of November’s voter-approved Measure P, a 16-member oversight committee must be in place before the committee holds its first meeting April 1.
Of the 16, 11 of them must be designated members coming from designated authorities that include nominations from the fire chief and the chief of police. Designated members are members nominated by local organizations and individuals such as the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce and the Chula Vista Youth Sports Council.
According to the City Clerk’s Office, Leon Firsht has been the only designated member nominated so far.
Firsht, a member of the Asset Management Program Advisory Commission, received the nomination from Public Works Director Rick Hopkins.
Rounding out the 16-member group are five at-large members. At-large members are residents who serve on the committee.
The city clerk said as of Tuesday there have only been eight submitted applications for at-large positions: Jesus Gonzalez, Paul Crawford, John Cressler, Christopher Redo, Mona Freels, Martin Calvo, Walter Fisher and Christopher Sheridan.
The oversight committee’s responsibilities will include drafting an annual report and reviewing the finance department’s spending reports to ensure the revenue from the tax is being spent appropriately toward infrastructure and public safety — not on other expenses since the money will go directly to the general fund.
Since Measure P is a general tax, revenue will go into the general fund. The commission will be established to ensure the City Council spends the money on the infrastructure as it said it would.
Nominating authorities must submit their designated member nominees before the Feb. 2 deadline.
