Month: April 2023

After the second marathon session in a week on the topic, a divided and bleary-eyed City Council voted 3-2 at midnight on February 21st to endorse a 14,000-seat amphitheater for the Great Park and continue negotiations with Live Nation Entertainment to operate the venue.

Councilmembers Larry Agran and Kathleen Treseder voted NO.

Councilmember Kim began the meeting by saying that her job is “protecting citizens” from undue noise and traffic and that the residents of Irvine clearly want a smaller amphitheater. “It’s what I believe is right for the residents,” she said.

The audit report by the State Auditor’s Office concluded that:

OCPA’s deceptive marketing and public relations and lack of transparency caused a loss of public confidence in the agency.

OCPA’s contracting was not competitive and violated its own policies as well as State rules.
 

OCPA does not have sufficient qualified staff to properly oversee its operations, especially its multi-million-dollar contracting for electricity.