Guadalupe council member accuses Royal Theater project manager of misrepresenting costs

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A status report on Guadalupe’s initiative to restore its shuttered Royal Theater teed up an argument between the project’s lead and the elected official who serves on its capital campaign committee.

During the Guadalupe City Council’s May 13 meeting, Councilmember Whitney Furness said there’s not enough city oversight when it comes to finances tied to the renovation effort under Project Manager Tom Brandeberry.

“I don’t feel confident in the numbers you sent,” Furness told Brandeberry, whose report included estimated construction costs as well as info on available city funds and potential funds that have yet to be secured.

Furness specifically called out Brandeberry’s summary of estimated soft costs, which totals more than $2.9 million. She asked staff for a breakdown of the individual expenses Brandeberry used to calculate that number.

Brandeberry pointed to a staff report attachment, where he listed 15 individual soft costs, ranging from city inspector fees ($85,000) to legal services ($100,000). However, these generalized estimates don’t add up to the projected $2.9 million. As listed, the 15 estimates total a little less than $2.2 million.

“This is not a full accounting. This is a generalized number,” Furness said. “I think that the project needs to be audited from top to bottom.”

In response, Brandeberry said he was not told to provide those specific individual amounts in advance, other than the generalized estimates he listed, but would have if he’d been asked. Staff also responded to Furness’ comments.

“I apologize. We weren’t really planning on doing what you were expecting [today],” City Attorney Philip Sinco told Furness. “That wasn’t our understanding of what this was about, but you can count on us providing you with what you want. … We were planning on just updating the council on where we’re at. … It wasn’t intended to be in the weeds.”

Sinco said that staff can put together “accounting from the city side, and we can compare it to what Tom’s provided.” 

Furness called Brandeberry’s report “unacceptable.”

“This is the worst information I’ve received on a project, and I have worked on projects—big projects, big facility projects,” Furness said. “I just don’t see how there’s no oversight.”

In January, the City Council appointed Furness to serve on the Royal Theater project’s capital campaign committee. At the council’s May 13 meeting, Furness said it’s been difficult to enlist Guadalupe residents to join the committee as volunteers “because nobody trusts this project is going to happen” due to a lack of information.

Brandeberry told the council that Furness has “an unwillingness to work with me.”

“I’m telling you that this project can’t work if you’re going to be that person you are right now,” Brandeberry told Furness. “I would appreciate—for this project to work, for this project to finish—for you and I to sit down and do a face-to-face to work through [things], which I’ve asked you in an email before. … I just don’t see a project working with the degree of distrust you have for me.”

Both Sinco and City Administrator Todd Bodem periodically interjected during Brandeberry and Furness’ comments to one another. At one point when the two spoke over each other, Bodem said: “This is not productive.”

“It kills me to have to interfere or insert myself in this, but I’ve been sort of on this project from the beginning and I’ve seen ups and downs,” Sinco said. “Tom has been a valuable part of this project. … This project wouldn’t be even as far along if it wasn’t for Tom.”

“That’s fine. But that doesn’t make me trust him,” Furness replied.

Before Mayor Ariston Julian insisted that the council move on and directed staff to compile the exact estimates Furness requested, Sinco asked Furness to let staff “try to regain your trust by providing you with the information that you asked for.”

“I know we’re all committed to seeing this project move forward,” Sinco said. “This presentation was just supposed to be an update to show you where we are, and I’m sorry that we weren’t able to answer all of your questions.” 

This article appears in May 22 – Jun 1, 2025.