Welcome | Orange County Fair Preservation Society

The Orange County Fairgrounds Preservation Society is dedicated to the transparent process that combines community commitments with public interest and local government oversight. The Orange County Fairgrounds are the heart of our very community and the historical heritage of who we are as a society is embedded in that land.

Supporting the efforts of OCFPS, citizens, businesses, elected officials and local organizations join together to work toward the better good of the Fairgrounds and community activities while balancing the historical and agricultural heritage.

Can't Get Any Worse: Fairgrounds Deal with Facilities Management West   

 The MOU allowing Facilities Management West to manage the Orange County Fairgrounds firmly delivers the property into the hands of Facilities Management West, who are contributors to Allan Mansoor's Assembly campaign, while cutting out the public and oversight.   The MOU is available here.   Download

 Revised_Discussion_Topics_for_MOU_clean_Adopted   (This is the copy of the MOU obtained from Costa Mesa's website - if this is not the most current copy, please let me know.  There have been so many backroom and Skosh Monahan deals going on it can be hard to keep things straight.)   

Bottom line: There is no local control and no public oversight of what will go on at the Fairgrounds under this agreement with Facilities Management West.  This deal needs to be rejected, plain and simple.   

One of the mistakes beginners make when negotiating a contract is they are fixated on price - how much they will pay or be paid.  Money is just one of many negotiating points - often the more important points are in the terms and conditions.  Beginning negotiators often neglect the terms and conditions, and as a result, get a very bad deal overall even though they got the price they wanted. 

Read the full article

Do Conflicts of Interest Matter in Costa Mesa? Apparently Not!   

That is a question that needs to be seriously considered by anyone watching the deal going down for the Orange County Fairgrounds - can you take money for your campaign and then give the money back and vote for the item helping out your donor? 

As things sit now, Facilities Management West is getting a very sweet deal that gives them near total control over the Fairgrounds for 55 years with no real voice for the public or management from Costa Mesa.  Mayor Allan Mansoor  took money for his Assembly campaign from members of Facilities Management West and Richard Kapko, who was appointed to the committee to choose between American Fairs and Festivals and Facilities Management West.  Mansoor, under pressure after his deed was disclosed, gave the money back. But, the money was given back after Facilities Management West was allowed to bid for the contract to operate the Fairgrounds.   

Article Continued here.