The Mission Viejo City Council added an item to our future Capitol Improvement Listing (CIP) at the request of Vice Mayor Lance MacLean. In my CIP archives, which are extensive, a joint use gymnasium was NEVER under consideration but that's old news today.

In promoting this project, citizens were told that the Capistrano School District and the City would each apply for state Grants for a joint use gymnasium to be located at the Newhart Middle School. To fund this proposed $3 million dollar project we each applied for a Grant. Although Capo's application was approved, our request for $1.5 million in matching money was denied.

Residents of our city expect the Mission Viejo city council to act responsibly as it relates to the prioritizing and spending of our revenue.

This project will be discussed at the Oct 17th council meeting. In spite of the denial of the Grant application my sense is that one of several proposals will be floated to promote the joint use Agreement.

1. We have established a Foundation which can raise sums for the expansion of the Norman P. Murray Center. As the Foundation can also raise money for this project we should proceed. (For those who were not around at the time or may have forgotten let me share another tale.  The flagpole monument to honor our service personnel.  Rather than waiting for donations to arrive we proceeded. Guess what. Once the project was finished donations were not forthcoming. I can understand the logic. If the city had the money then you do not require donations from the public.) The same can occur with this gymnasium.
2. Another scenario is to take the money out of our General Fund (or the Redevelopment Account which I believe would be illegal).

I have another suggestion. At the Oct 7th Saddleback Valley YMCA Community Leader's Breakfast, I met with three members of their Board to suggest a new PARTNERSHIP with the city. My request was to have joint use of their 3/4 size basketball gymnasium. Although it may not be regulation size it surely can meet the needs for any practice or pick up games and is already in existence. We have been looking for a way to have a more user friendly citizen access to the Y facilities. I plan to make this suggestion at the Oct 17th city council meeting. Perhaps the state was sending us a message. We need to act responsibly. There is a major difference between needs and wants. This project should never have moved to the front of the line.

Take note: The 2006 General Election is now on the horizon. Let us be vigilant on the actions taken by this council, whose majority is up for reelection next November.

Larry Gilbert, 28302 San Marcos, MV 92692