Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

7 hours ago

Trump Vowed to Dismantle MS-13. His Deal With Bukele Threatens That Effort.

11 hours ago

Ukraine Voices Concern as US Halts Some Missile Shipments

11 hours ago

Poll: Most Americans Say National Divide, Political Violence Threaten Democracy

12 hours ago

Paramount Settles With Trump Over ‘60 Minutes’ Interview for $16 Million

12 hours ago

Republicans Tee up House Vote on Trump Bill, Outcome Uncertain

12 hours ago

What’s Next for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs After His Sex Trafficking Trial?

12 hours ago

Dalai Lama Says He Will Be Reincarnated, Trust Will Identify Successor

12 hours ago
Audit Shows Fresno Lost $250,000 in Parking Revenue
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
February 27, 2019

Share

A city of Fresno internal audit has revealed that a “lack of standard monitoring procedures” led to a potential loss of nearly $250,000 in parking revenue.
The audit, dated Feb. 15 and received by GV Wire via a source with access to the report, listed five areas in which the city lacks proper oversight of its parking program.

“Parking Services does not have effective procedures for monitoring parking usage in City owned facilities.” — internal audit
“Parking Services does not have effective procedures for monitoring parking usage in City owned facilities. As a result, Parking Services cannot ensure that entities which contract with the City for parking are only using the spaces for which they pay,” wrote auditor Kriti Agrawal.
The city’s parking unit is part of the development department —called DARM — under director Jennifer Clark. Her superior is city manager Wilma Quan-Schecter.
Quan-Schecter ordered the audit believing it would be a valuable tool for the city’s new parking services manager, Thomas Gaffery. He started last June after serving as parking director for Fresno State and CSU San Bernardino.
“Our new Parking Services Manager has already identified and implemented improvements in internal controls and is applying the audit recommendations to maximize our ability to operate more efficiently and monitor and collect parking revenues due to the City,” Quan-Schecter said.

City Misses Parking Revenues from County, Others

The audit said the city should have collected an additional $74,775 from the county and $98,025 from Club One Casino from its various parking agreements to use city lots during the 21-month period of July 2016 through March 2018.
A county spokesman said Wednesday that a corrected invoice has been sought from the city, but that the county believes it only owes about $28,000 more.
“We are currently working with the City to reconcile parking costs. Per our agreement with the City, the $45 rate per space remained in place through January 31, 2018,” said Jordan Scott, the public information officer for Fresno County. “A discrepancy was noted and of course the County is prepared to pay what is owed based on the agreed upon rate, which is estimated at just over $28,000.”
The city’s contract with the county allows for use of a maximum of 600 parking spaces. The audit determined the county had 757 outstanding permits.

Wilma Quan-Schecter is Fresno's first female city manager.
“Our new Parking Services Manager has already identified and implemented improvements in internal controls and is applying the audit recommendations to maximize our ability to operate more efficiently and monitor and collect parking revenues due to the City.” — City Manager Wilma Quan-Schecter
The audit stated that neither SP Plus, the vendor that operates the city-owned parking lots, nor the city regularly reviewed reports determining the county’s usage.
For a 17-month period (July 2016-Dec. 2017), the county did not pay the city for spaces at the Convention Center as the two entities were in negotiations for a parking deal.
The county eventually paid the $185,325 owed, but the auditor was unable to “determine how Fresno County calculated the one-time payment amount and could not locate supporting documentation for the calculation.”
The county responded that it paid at a rate of $45 per space, even though the listed fee was $60 per space — a difference of $65,025.
The audit also found that the county subtracted an additional $9,750 after the city sold a lot it used (the Box Car Lot). The auditor said that payment still should have been made.

Club One Usage Exceeds Contract

Additionally, Club One Casino pays $6,000 a month for 100 parking spaces and $1 a space per day beyond that. The audit determined over the 21-month period it exceeded that amount by 98,025 spaces.

We have expressed our willingness to work with the city to review the methodology and resolve any outstanding amount due.  We’ve also told them we’re available to work with SP+ and the Parking Division to ensure accuracy and compliance in the parking reports going forward.” — Club One President Kyle Kirkland
“Parking Services did not charge Club One Casino for the additional validations, nor has it requested the daily validation reports from SP Plus to ensure that no more than 100 validations are being collected,” the auditor wrote.
Club One President Kyle Kirkland said Wednesday that casino management had yet to review the audit in details.
“But,” said Kirkland, “we have expressed our willingness to work with the city to review the methodology and resolve any outstanding amount due.  We’ve also told them we’re available to work with SP+ and the Parking Division to ensure accuracy and compliance in the parking reports going forward.”
The city also lost $67,350 by undercharging the SBA Project according to the report.
In response to the audit, an entity identified as “management” responded that it agreed with the auditor’s assessment and recommendations. It will establish internal controls by the end of March, the response said.
[tnc-pdf-viewer-iframe file=”https://gvwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2019-01-Transitional-Review-of-Parking-Services.pdf” width=”800″ height=”700″ download=”true” print=”true” fullscreen=”true” share=”true” zoom=”true” open=”true” pagenav=”true” logo=”true” find=”true” current_view=”true” rotate=”true” handtool=”true” doc_prop=”true” toggle_menu=”true” language=”en-US” page=”” default_zoom=”auto” pagemode=””]

Lack of Oversight

The auditor also noted that the parking department did not follow standard accounting practices leading to lack of proper financial oversight.

The audit also recommended that parking services have defined rules for dismissing parking citations.
The report said that the city did not properly enter payments received from SP Plus into its internal computer system, which led to accounting problems. The audit found nine instances “in which the supporting documentation did not include sufficient detail to identify the source of the payments.”
The internal audit said that the collection of coins from meters, $1.37 million in the 2018 fiscal year, was “exposed to an unacceptable level of risk.”

Other Findings

The audit also recommended that parking services have defined rules for dismissing parking citations. The review showed that parking employees “used their discretion to determine if there was sufficient evidence for dismissal. However, the division did not have documented policies or procedures to follow when making a determination.”
The audit recommended that such decisions should at least be signed off by a parking manager or director.
The report also said that collection of coins from meters, $1.37 million in the 2018 fiscal year, was “exposed to an unacceptable level of risk.”
That is based on the manner of collection methods and the counting of the money. The audit did not suggest any money was lost or stolen by employees.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

House Republicans Say They Expect to Vote Tonight on Trump’s Tax-Cut Bill

DON'T MISS

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to 8,300 Acres, Prompts Evacuations

DON'T MISS

SLO Deputies Fatally Shoot Man in Los Osos Weeks After US Marshal Impersonation Arrest

DON'T MISS

Madera County Deputy Injured, Wanted Felon Arrested After Violent Struggle

DON'T MISS

San Luis Obispo County Wildfire Burns More Than 3,000 Acres. No Containment Yet

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: Why Is State Lawmaker Taking Aim at Rooftop Solar?

DON'T MISS

Two Visalia Men Sentenced in 2021 Motel Killing

DON'T MISS

Ex-Jan. 6 Defendant Gets Life in Prison for Plot to Kill FBI Agents

DON'T MISS

Del Monte Files for Bankruptcy. Gets Nearly $1B to Keep Producing Through Process

DON'T MISS

Who is Running for Fresno Area Offices in 2026? An Updated Look

UP NEXT

SLO Deputies Fatally Shoot Man in Los Osos Weeks After US Marshal Impersonation Arrest

UP NEXT

Madera County Deputy Injured, Wanted Felon Arrested After Violent Struggle

UP NEXT

Two Visalia Men Sentenced in 2021 Motel Killing

UP NEXT

Del Monte Files for Bankruptcy. Gets Nearly $1B to Keep Producing Through Process

UP NEXT

Who is Running for Fresno Area Offices in 2026? An Updated Look

UP NEXT

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

UP NEXT

Check Out Newest Downtown Mural. It’s a Spectacular Tribute to Fresno Artisans

UP NEXT

Valley Children’s Goes Into News Business to Highlight Stories at the Hospital

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Logan Ryan Martin

UP NEXT

Poll: Most Americans Say National Divide, Political Violence Threaten Democracy

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Madera County Deputy Injured, Wanted Felon Arrested After Violent Struggle

5 hours ago

San Luis Obispo County Wildfire Burns More Than 3,000 Acres. No Containment Yet

5 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: Why Is State Lawmaker Taking Aim at Rooftop Solar?

6 hours ago

Two Visalia Men Sentenced in 2021 Motel Killing

6 hours ago

Ex-Jan. 6 Defendant Gets Life in Prison for Plot to Kill FBI Agents

6 hours ago

Del Monte Files for Bankruptcy. Gets Nearly $1B to Keep Producing Through Process

7 hours ago

Who is Running for Fresno Area Offices in 2026? An Updated Look

7 hours ago

CIA Review Finds Flaws but Does Not Dispute Finding Putin Sought to Sway 2016 Vote to Trump

7 hours ago

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

7 hours ago

Check Out Newest Downtown Mural. It’s a Spectacular Tribute to Fresno Artisans

8 hours ago

House Republicans Say They Expect to Vote Tonight on Trump’s Tax-Cut Bill

WASHINGTON – Republicans in the House of Representatives on Wednesday struggled to pass President Donald Trump’s massive tax-cut...

4 hours ago

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks to the press, as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 2, 2025. (Reuters/Annabelle Gordon)
4 hours ago

House Republicans Say They Expect to Vote Tonight on Trump’s Tax-Cut Bill

The Madre Fire in San Luis Obispo County has rapidly expanded to 8,396 acres with no containment, prompting evacuation orders and warnings near New Cuyama. (CalFire)
5 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to 8,300 Acres, Prompts Evacuations

Andrew Biscay, 40, was arrested Friday, June 20, 2025, after deputies found him with a fake U.S. Marshal’s badge, homemade firearm, and law enforcement-style gear during a warrant arrest. (Madera County SO)
5 hours ago

SLO Deputies Fatally Shoot Man in Los Osos Weeks After US Marshal Impersonation Arrest

On Tuesday, July 1, 2025, a Madera County sheriff’s deputy was injured while trying to arrest a wanted felon, Felix Adrian Nucamendi Carrasco, 40, who later fled and was captured near Raymond Road. (Madera County SO)
5 hours ago

Madera County Deputy Injured, Wanted Felon Arrested After Violent Struggle

A wildfire dubbed the Madre Fire has burned over 3,300 acres near New Cuyama with 0% containment, officials said Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (CalFire)
5 hours ago

San Luis Obispo County Wildfire Burns More Than 3,000 Acres. No Containment Yet

6 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: Why Is State Lawmaker Taking Aim at Rooftop Solar?

Jose Luna (left), 33, and Ralph Grajeda, 45, both of Visalia, have been sentenced for their roles in the 2020 shotgun killing of Robert Soto at a local motel. (Tulare County DA)
6 hours ago

Two Visalia Men Sentenced in 2021 Motel Killing

A U.S. Justice Department logo or seal showing Justice Department headquarters, known as "Main Justice," is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters File)
6 hours ago

Ex-Jan. 6 Defendant Gets Life in Prison for Plot to Kill FBI Agents

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend