The Buzz column, Aug. 25

Hey! Who stole the wheels off my house? Earlier this month, San Juan Capistrano residents who live in a mobile home park urged their city council not to bring affordable housing near their neighborhood. The parcel being discussed, Lower Rosan Ranch, will likely be used for RV and boat storage for the near term and mixed-use in the future. City councils shouldn’t be surprised that no one wants an affordable housing project next door.

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The Mission Viejo council on Aug. 20 approved zone changes for three parcels following an affordable housing debate that went on for years. The rezoned parcels are 1) near Mission Foothill Marketplace on east Los Alisos, 2) on Oso near to the country club and 3) next to the animal shelter. At the Aug. 20 meeting, a staff member made reference to the state’s demands or mandates. That’s the short version. The city had years to address the state’s affordable housing goal before it became a demand. Instead, all five members of the current council did nothing until the state stepped in and demanded that the city rezone property.

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A staff member also announced at the Aug. 20 meeting that the city’s housing element is now in compliance, as required by state law. The housing element would never have been out of compliance if council members had acted responsibly years ago. Creating an additional problem, Council Members Frank Ury, Lance MacLean and Trish Kelley voted in 2005 to throw away the city’s affordable housing plan when the state required only a plan – not a requirement to build anything. Statements by a few confused residents at the public microphone during the rezoning discussions several months ago indicate the council has been somewhat effective in diverting blame from its own botching of the matter. A subsequent lawsuit over affordable housing cost the city more than $1 million.

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The city attorney, Bill Curley, asked the council at the end of the last meeting if he could be of service by providing a brief report on any issues of public interest at future meetings. Well, no, particularly when the public is paying for it. Public sentiment about Mr. Curley is that his rambling makes no sense, and he is incapable of being brief.

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The United States Postal Service has decided against building a processing center on 75 acres in northwest San Juan. Residents who live near the proposed site, along with the cities of SJC, Mission Viejo, Dana Point and Laguna Niguel, mounted opposition upon hearing of the plans. By the time SJC officials learned about the proposed project, the USPS reportedly had the property in escrow, with a projected completion date of April 2008 for the facility. The USPS owns a 25-acre parcel in Aliso Viejo, at 50 Liberty Road, which is now under consideration for the processing center.

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A parent in the Capo school district remarked about the appearance of Newhart Middle School, saying, “Take a tour of the school and you’ll see what a mess it is.” Blog staffers would like to know if the new modular building will be complete prior to the beginning of school and if additional portables can be found to replace the ones that fell apart last week when workers tried to move them. The district has had the school’s summer vacation to work on Newhart, and it seems odd to wait until the last minute to get started. The parent responded, “That’s the way this district does things.”

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The fall 2007 issue of “The City Outlook” newsletter arrived in mailboxes over the weekend. Don’t forget that Councilman Frank Ury said the new electronic sign to be built at La Paz and Marguerite could replace this 32-page collection of drivel. As expected, this quarter’s issue includes a story about the Mission Viejo Community Foundation’s latest “fundraising” effort. The state gave the city a $285,000 grant and for unknown reasons ran it through the foundation. When public tax dollars pay for it, it’s not fundraising. The state’s $285,000 in tax dollars will go to educational signage for the Oso Creek Trail. Can no one think of a better use for $285,000? Are these signs going to include the names of council members like the ones on roads and slopes? Meanwhile, the council approved $140,019 during Monday’s meeting – yet another construction price “adjustment” for the community center expansion. The expansion was the stated purpose of the foundation’s fund-raising focus.

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A Mission Viejo resident reported some unusual signature-gathering in front of Trader Joe’s on Aug. 24. “Some kids had a table set up, and they were asking shoppers to sign their papers. I thought it was probably for an initiative. Then, one of them asked me, ‘Would you sign the petition to recall Dick Cheney?’ I said, ‘Are you Crazy??!!’” Perhaps the exuberance for recalls has trickled down to those who don’t yet have the knowledge of how things work.