Residents accuse Calimesa officials of contract steering and secret property talks; city staff disputes claims
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Summary
Two public commenters accused city leadership of nondisclosure and steering contracts; one said recent remarks by the mayor were disparaging to seniors. City staff and the mayor disputed the timeline of a Bank of America building acquisition and defended procurement practices; the city manager said the accusations were inaccurate and that staff operate with integrity.
During communications from the public, Donna Johnson told the council she was speaking for many senior residents in mobile‑home parks and said recent remarks by Mayor Molina and a deputy city manager (quoted in the record) were ‘‘disparaging, demeaning and untrue’’ and put seniors at risk. Johnson described intensive monitoring by park managers (cameras and audio/video in shared spaces) and urged council awareness of residents’ dignity and safety.
Another commenter, Heather Carruthers, told the council she believes the city has developed a ‘‘pattern of conduct’’ that undermines transparency and fair competition. Carruthers accused the city of claiming it cannot hire employees while contracting out work (citing California Government Code sections during her remarks), of steering contracts to preferred vendors, and of conducting a closed‑door, multi‑year effort to acquire a Bank of America building without adequate public disclosure. She said she would file formal complaints with the California attorney general, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit, the Fair Political Practices Commission, the California State Auditor and the Riverside County Civil Grand Jury.
A city representative and multiple councilmembers responded at the meeting. A staff speaker said, "We have not been in contract or looking to purchase a building at the B Of A for 2 years. That's false." Mayor Molina and Councilmember Edgar defended staff transparency and said the city follows procurement rules. City Manager Will Cobo later told the council that he takes integrity seriously, described the accusations as inaccurate and said the city operates with transparency and in compliance with law.
What happens next: The public commenter said she planned to pursue external complaints. The council and staff disputed the claims on the record. Any formal filings to outside oversight bodies were described by the commenter; council or staff did not announce additional internal investigations during the meeting.