City May Seek Refund on $100,000 Donation

The City Council tonight will consider asking the Orange County Marine Institute to return $100,000 that the city gave four years ago to the public institution, which has since become private.

Four years ago, the council joined six other entities in a joint powers agreement, with each party donating $100,000 in exchange for a seat on the institute’s board of directors.

In October, officials at the institute announced plans to go private to help raise funds for a $30-million expansion. In doing so, they sought and won the city’s approval to terminate the agreement.

But two council members, William L. Ossenmacher and Toni Gallagher, voted against the institute’s request and now are challenging the action.

“I do not believe that it is in the best interest of our residents to allow the City Council majority . . . to give up all claim to the $100,000 of taxpayers’ money, which will allow OCMI to go private with public funds,” said Gallagher, who requested the issue be revisited at tonight’s session.