Convention Center Spent $162,510 on Festivities

When the San Diego Convention Center’s purchasing director retired, then-General Manager Tom Liegler approved a $542 going-away party for 110 people.

When Liegler wanted to thank employment agency volunteers who helped hire hundreds of workers for the center, he authorized $13,482 for an “appreciation dinner� for 460 people.

When top officials wanted to show their appreciation for 400 staff members and their spouses for getting the center opened, they approved a dinner worth $15,194.

Records released Thursday at the request of the San Diego media show that $162,510 was spent on those events and dozens of others in the name of marketing and promotions between the center’s November, 1989, opening and March.

Most of the events were for seemingly legitimate reasons--opening-day celebrations for politicians and civic leaders, tours for out-of-town tourism officials, luncheons for building contractors--but others appear questionable, such as center-paid going-away parties for its employees, catered staff budget meetings and a luncheon for an employee recreation team.

In other cases, most of which involve Liegler, there was insufficient documentation to show why a certain event was held, such as for a “tenant sales meeting� and a “boat show presentation,� both held last November.

The center’s Board of Directors is investigating every in-house event approved by Liegler since operations began.

Liegler, the center’s top executive since 1985, resigned from his $117,000-a-year job two weeks ago following allegations that he held six parties that included his family and friends. Board members declared two of the parties legitimate center expenses because they involved marketing and promotional activities.

Liegler paid for two others--one of which included only members of his family and another that included his golfing club. The board has asked Liegler to reimburse the center for two others for which they still have little information but which they labeled “questionable.�

On Wednesday, the board adopted a new set of guidelines preventing employees from using the Convention Center for personal benefit, issued strict new spending procedures, and announced a nationwide search for Liegler’s successor.

In a point-by-point response to the events held so far, center spokeswoman Donna Alm defended the parties held for staff members, including $4,060 spent on a Thanksgiving Day dinner in 1989 for workers who were busily trying to get the center open and operating.

“I’m not sorry to say that we do a lot for our employees,� she said. “A lot of the events are training in nature. We consider the success of the center based on their understanding our philosophy of service. What looks like a party to you is training to us.�

Some of the expenses included $5,529 for a buffet reception to introduce an estimated 400 cab drivers to the center, $13,827 for a San Diego Press Club dinner and a $236 luncheon for the staff of City Councilman John Hartley.

The corporation that runs the center paid $814 for a five-year anniversary celebration for 150 staff members. A center-paid picnic for 500 employees cost $3,577. Two days of “think tank� meetings for administrators totaled $884.

Even meetings with the fire marshal, security guards or law enforcement officials cost money for food and drink.

“If people are here all day, it’s like they’re a guest in our house,� Alm said. “We would offer a guest in our house something to eat or drink.�

Most of the revenues collected by the Convention Center, which is owned by the San Diego Unified Port District, come from trade and consumer shows and from a transient occupancy tax the center collects from the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina.