Crowdog
08-18-2005, 07:23 AM
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/13433752p-14274912c.html
Audit blasts oversight of off-road parks
State says the problem is being corrected
By Alexa H. Bluth -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, August 18, 2005
Story appeared on Page A3 of The Bee
The program in charge of the state's off-road recreation parks has violated state contracting rules and misused its funds by developing projects that offer few or no new opportunities for off-highway vehicles, according to a report released Wednesday by state Auditor Elaine Howle's office.
The highly critical audit details shortcomings in California's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Program that range from insufficient environmental planning to the unauthorized chartering of a private aircraft.
"The division has also used contracts for questionable purchases and violated state contracting rules," the 93-page audit states.
The program administers eight state-run off-road recreation areas, including the Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area about 20 miles east of Sacramento, and partners with local governments and federal agencies to provide other off-road opportunities.
The off-highway vehicle program, run by the state Parks and Recreation Department, receives its funding mainly from fuel tax revenues, vehicle registration fees and entrance fees to the off-road parks.
The agency does not dispute most of the findings in the audit, even the most serious, said Roy Stearns, deputy director for communications at the parks department.
He said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed a new deputy director for the program, Daphne Greene, last summer and that "she is on board to help us fix it and make it right."
"We look at this audit as a way to give us an immediate laundry list of good recommendations that we can start on," Stearns said. "Clearly, we think the program needs some significant midcourse corrections."
One off-road advocate who sits on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission criticized the audit.
"Personally, I think it's a witch hunt, and any time you audit, you are always going to find something. Nobody is infallible," said Ed Waldheim, president of the California Off Road Vehicle Association.
Waldheim was appointed to the state commission by former Gov. Gray Davis.
But state Sen. Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside, who requested the audit about a year ago, said the report confirmed his suspicions that the program is "pickpocketing the off-highway users."
"This is what we feared," he said. "Now we have the proof, if you will, of chronic misfeasance and negligence by government agencies."
Specifically, Morrow said he was concerned about findings that the program's grant awards have shifted away from expanding off-road opportunities and toward funding restoration projects.
The audit found that the program earmarked $38 million for three land acquisition projects that will provide little or no new acreage for off-road trails.
"Basically what it comes down to is that there was one ... $38 million slush fund for the department in which monies were going into uses that have little or nothing to do with off-highway use," Morrow said.
Among the more serious findings, the audit discovered several violations of state contracting rules.
A review of 42 contracts, totaling more than $8 million, found the program contracted for "questionable purposes, including the unauthorized chartering of private aircraft."
The review also found the program violated state contracting rules that prohibit splitting up related tasks to avoid bidding rules and oversight.
The audit suggested that the department should review whether tasks can better be done by its own officials rather than outside contractors.
Stearns said state officials already have begun to address contracting problems.
"That's already been stopped, and we've got a process in place to make sure it doesn't happen again," he said.
Other findings in the audit include:
* The department used $3.6 million in Off-Highway Motor Vehicle trust fund money in 2003-04 to support state parks that do not have off-highway recreation.
* The department has not developed goals to balance off-road vehicle recreation with environmental concerns.
Audit blasts oversight of off-road parks
State says the problem is being corrected
By Alexa H. Bluth -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, August 18, 2005
Story appeared on Page A3 of The Bee
The program in charge of the state's off-road recreation parks has violated state contracting rules and misused its funds by developing projects that offer few or no new opportunities for off-highway vehicles, according to a report released Wednesday by state Auditor Elaine Howle's office.
The highly critical audit details shortcomings in California's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Program that range from insufficient environmental planning to the unauthorized chartering of a private aircraft.
"The division has also used contracts for questionable purchases and violated state contracting rules," the 93-page audit states.
The program administers eight state-run off-road recreation areas, including the Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area about 20 miles east of Sacramento, and partners with local governments and federal agencies to provide other off-road opportunities.
The off-highway vehicle program, run by the state Parks and Recreation Department, receives its funding mainly from fuel tax revenues, vehicle registration fees and entrance fees to the off-road parks.
The agency does not dispute most of the findings in the audit, even the most serious, said Roy Stearns, deputy director for communications at the parks department.
He said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed a new deputy director for the program, Daphne Greene, last summer and that "she is on board to help us fix it and make it right."
"We look at this audit as a way to give us an immediate laundry list of good recommendations that we can start on," Stearns said. "Clearly, we think the program needs some significant midcourse corrections."
One off-road advocate who sits on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission criticized the audit.
"Personally, I think it's a witch hunt, and any time you audit, you are always going to find something. Nobody is infallible," said Ed Waldheim, president of the California Off Road Vehicle Association.
Waldheim was appointed to the state commission by former Gov. Gray Davis.
But state Sen. Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside, who requested the audit about a year ago, said the report confirmed his suspicions that the program is "pickpocketing the off-highway users."
"This is what we feared," he said. "Now we have the proof, if you will, of chronic misfeasance and negligence by government agencies."
Specifically, Morrow said he was concerned about findings that the program's grant awards have shifted away from expanding off-road opportunities and toward funding restoration projects.
The audit found that the program earmarked $38 million for three land acquisition projects that will provide little or no new acreage for off-road trails.
"Basically what it comes down to is that there was one ... $38 million slush fund for the department in which monies were going into uses that have little or nothing to do with off-highway use," Morrow said.
Among the more serious findings, the audit discovered several violations of state contracting rules.
A review of 42 contracts, totaling more than $8 million, found the program contracted for "questionable purposes, including the unauthorized chartering of private aircraft."
The review also found the program violated state contracting rules that prohibit splitting up related tasks to avoid bidding rules and oversight.
The audit suggested that the department should review whether tasks can better be done by its own officials rather than outside contractors.
Stearns said state officials already have begun to address contracting problems.
"That's already been stopped, and we've got a process in place to make sure it doesn't happen again," he said.
Other findings in the audit include:
* The department used $3.6 million in Off-Highway Motor Vehicle trust fund money in 2003-04 to support state parks that do not have off-highway recreation.
* The department has not developed goals to balance off-road vehicle recreation with environmental concerns.