The Buzz column, Feb. 15

Incredibly, the council on Feb. 18 will discuss adding another $375,000 for the expansion of the community center. The project – an addition of 13,500 square feet, plus repairs, parking and two soccer fields – was approved in 2005 with an original estimate of $5,526,000. The total will now exceed $15 million, and the reopening of the center is being postponed from month to month. This may set a record for change orders and running behind schedule, even for the city of Mission Viejo.

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An activist with a background in the building industry says change orders are how architects and contractors turn a low-bid project into a career. Contractors especially enjoy public works projects where decision makers don’t know anything about design and construction and governing bodies rubberstamp whatever is brought before them.

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Reader comment: “I heard that the city council members are paid $500 a month. From the comments some of them have made about attending everyone’s birthday party, baptism and free lunch that they weren’t invited to, it sounds as if they think the pay is not appropriate for their service. I agree. The amount of $500 a month is way, way too much.”

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Are city hall administrators trying to brand shopping centers with the dreaded Mark of the Iron Tree? Owners of the Gateway Center could be held hostage on their remodel until they agree to accept the city’s clip-art tree logo. Owners of Vons Pavilions walked away from city hall bureaucrats who made demands about how the store should look. Pavilions planned upgrades and new exterior paint, but the city refused to grant permits until its demands were met. Does anyone think city hall is qualified to tell owners of private property how to remodel their stores?

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Mission Viejo residents who spend their dollars in Mission Viejo appreciate store owners who go to the expense of remodeling. City hall administrators who neither live in Mission Viejo nor support its businesses should butt out. By the way, whatever happened to the business consultant the city hired to bring new businesses into town? With tax dollars being spent to pay for this service, can residents get a progress report in the City Outlook?

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Kudos to Interim Sheriff Jack Anderson for proposing the county jails should be staffed with correctional officers instead of deputies. With an estimated savings of up to $80 million per year, the county could save enough money to build some badly needed jails. Correctional officers are already being used to staff jails in Riverside and San Diego counties.