Residents in Brea are demanding more transparency from city officials regarding a controversial plan to bring a Costco store and gas station to the eastern part of the city.
On Monday, the resident group Brea4All, represented by a law firm, sent a demand letter to the city, claiming that the public records provided about the Costco deal are “materially incomplete.” The group insists that additional records must be released for public review.
The city has already produced over 15,000 pages of documents in response to Brea4All’s requests. However, the group claims that crucial records, including text messages between Assistant City Manager Jason Killebrew and developer Dwight Manley, are missing or incomplete. These messages reportedly discuss the Costco proposal and tax-sharing agreement.
The agreement, approved in December, allows Manley to receive a significant portion of the sales tax revenue for decades, a deal some residents criticize as overly favorable to the developer. The city would not receive discretionary sales tax revenue for the first two years after Costco opens, with the city’s share gradually increasing over time.
Killebrew stated that the city is preparing a response to the demand letter, with a deadline set for September 7. The city council is scheduled to meet next on September 15. Killebrew and Manley deny any wrongdoing, asserting that their communications were standard for city development projects.
The controversy has led to accusations of violating California’s Brown Act, which requires public access to meetings and decisions. Brea4All’s legal representatives previously sent a cease-and-desist letter, alleging that the tax-sharing agreement was negotiated privately. City officials have denied these allegations, maintaining that they have adhered to the Brown Act.
As the Costco project moves forward, it must undergo an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) review.