City Bangs Gavel to Sell Bonds One More Time

SAN DIEGO-The San Diego City Council has re-approved all its agreements regarding the proposed downtown ballpark.

The vote was forced by allegations of conflict of interest. A member of the board that oversees the city’s redevelopment agency and the Padres, Harold “Gil” Johnson, bought Padres merchandise wholesale and resold it in his retail shops at Lindbergh Field and other locations.

Although Centre City Development Corp. lawyers advised Johnson repeatedly that he did not have a conflict of interest, independent attorneys evaluating the city’s bond transaction recommended Johnson sever the ties with the Padres and advised the agency and city council to re-approve the ballpark agreements.

The Centre City board re-ratified its ballpark contracts in a unanimous vote on Thursday, with Johnson abstaining. He will participate in future discussions and votes on the ballpark issue, however.

The deal calls for the city to sell $170 million in bonds to help finance its $206 million portion of the ballpark redevelopment.