The conflict of interest presented by Mayor Al Pinheiro’s
dueling dual roles as a member of both City Council and the
Bonfante Gardens board of directors is clearly demonstrated by the
rent-increase negotiations under way for the CDF fire station on
Hecker Pass.
The conflict of interest presented by Mayor Al Pinheiro’s dueling dual roles as a member of both City Council and the Bonfante Gardens board of directors is clearly demonstrated by the rent-increase negotiations under way for the CDF fire station on Hecker Pass.
As a member of the Bonfante board, Pinheiro has been negotiating to raise the rent on the fire station located on Bonfante land.
A rent increase could lead to the closure of the Hecker Pass station. A move to a new station would undoubtedly affect the fire services that Gilroy residents receive, as well as affect fire insurance rates for homeowners near the station, including residents in Eagle Ridge. It would also affect county residents as taxpayers who fund the fire station.
“We’re not priced out yet, but it is a fiscal impact,” CDF Battalion Chief Derek Witmer said of the current rent increase negotiations. “We’ll definitely have to evaluate it in the future.”
One could make an argument that as a horticultural park with many assets that are exquisitely vulnerable to fire, pricing a fire station off the property is a penny-wise but pound-foolish decision.
But there’s no argument that the city relies on the CDF station for fire protection to help west end coverage. There’s no argument that raising the rent for the CDF station goes against the city’s best interest.
It’s crystal clear that this situation is another in which Pinheiro’s dueling dual roles present a clear conflict of interest.
But still, Pinheiro – who had not notified his fellow city council members of the rent increase negotiations when the story broke last week – doesn’t see it that way.
“City council has nothing to do with this. This is a private nonprofit facility that has this land that they’re renting out to the county. There would no reason for city council to be involved,” Pinheiro said last week.
Given that providing fire services is one the city’s most important duties, and given that this fire station is an important part of those services, there is every reason for city council to be notified.
When you add in the fact that the City of Gilroy seat on the Bonfante board was demanded by the city so that it could stay informed on the goings-on at the park after the city sponsored a bond, Pinheiro’s failure to notify his colleagues becomes mind boggling. This is a huge blind spot for an otherwise level-headed mayor.
Two things must now happen: First, City Council must draft a policy to prevent this kind of situation from ever happening again, one that requires that the Bonfante Gardens board seat be filled by a non-elected city appointee.
Two, Mayor Pinheiro must resign either from the Bonfante Gardens Board of Directors or from City Council. What’s good for Bonfante Gardens is not necessarily good for the city. No elected official can serve two masters. It is long past time for Pinheiro to pick his master, the people of Gilroy or the bondholders of Bonfante Gardens.
