Does Mission Viejo Have an Image Problem?
Staff editorial

At its April 7 meeting, the city council learned that Mission Viejo’s application to enter a float in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade has been accepted. The council first discussed the notion early in 2007 and approved $300,000 for the project. Given the city’s usual margin between budgeted and actual cost, the final price tag of the float could be $600,000 to $900,000.

Some residents questioned the idea when it was discussed in 2007, wondering why Mission Viejo would participate in the Rose Parade. City Manager Dennis Wilberg was quoted last week on another blog, saying the float would improve community spirit. The budgeted amount of $300,000 should buy a lot of community spirit, but has anyone complained about a lack of community spirit? Some Rose Parade floats are designed to enhance the sponsor’s image, but does Mission Viejo have an image problem?

Wilberg is a longtime participant in the Tournament of Roses. According to Wilberg, City Attorney Bill Curley has participated for years as a float decorator. Neither Wilberg nor Curley is a Mission Viejo resident, which brings up a question as to why city taxpayers are being tapped for a float in a Pasadena parade.

Float sponsors in the Rose Parade include corporations that presumably have huge advertising budgets. Corporate participants in the 2008 parade included such companies as Trader Joe’s, Honda and Kaiser Permanente. City-sponsored floats in 2008 included Anaheim and Burbank, which are clearly vying for tourist dollars.

These examples emphasize the question: if not to indulge the hobbies of those with influence in city hall, why is Mission Viejo participating?

When the item was discussed during the April 7 council meeting, Councilwoman Trish Kelley appointed herself and Councilman Lance MacLean to the parade ad hoc committee. This might shed light on why council members voted to approve $300,000 for a project that, thus far, makes no sense. Does Ms. Kelley think she’ll be riding atop the float, waving to the crowd like Miss America?

Mission Viejo doesn’t have rundown neighborhoods, cut-and-shoot zones or rampant graffiti. The real image problem in Mission Viejo is in city hall. The council is a laughingstock to other cities for miles around. The catfights are legendary between the two councilwomen, and assault and battery charges against McLean recently hit the news.

City hall staff members have shut out residents on deciding anything important. The design of the float, however, should be chosen by the citizens who are paying for it. The residents’ choice would be obvious: the two councilwomen standing at the top of the float, taking swings at each other for the entire length of the parade. Add the three councilmen slinging mud at each other, surrounded by key city staffers trying to look indifferent while getting splattered.

The price is high for a Rose Parade float, but if the entire world sees what Mission Viejo residents have to put up with, it might be worth it.

Is Sunrise Serious?
Letter to the editor

Apparently, Sunrise wants to build an assisted-living facility of 300 beds on the Casta del Sol golf course property. Is their P.R. representative Roger Faubel unaware of the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for Casta del Sol Golf Course? This document was signed by Mission Viejo Company and Haseko (California) Inc. representatives on Sept. 27, 1990.

How can anyone possibly consider building anything on this property when on page 5 of this document it states, “No buildings, structures, residential dwellings or facilities shall be constructed upon the Covered Property … .”? How about on page 22, where it states that the restrictions in the document are to be enforced for a term of sixty (60) years from the date the document was recorded, Sept. 22, 1990? Are all the residents of Mission Viejo and especially the three homeowners associations adjacent to the golf course aware of this document? Shouldn’t everyone in Mission Viejo have access to a copy of this Declaration of Covenants?

This same document states the only change to the 18-hole golf course would be to enlarge the 18-hole course. With the existence of this document, why is the Mission Viejo council even listening to Roger Faubel and Sunrise Senior Living, who want to build on this property and even shorten the 18-hole golf course?

Beverly Cruse
Mission Viejo

Governor Rally Review
by Parents Advocate League

Dear PALs,

The rally Thursday was a great success! Thanks to all of you who were able to make it. I know there were many of you who wanted to go but could not, due to vacations, and you were there in spirit. I met many wonderful parents, teachers and students from CUSD and Saddleback.

It was a huge disappointment when we found out the governor canceled his appearance at St. Margaret's, but we continued to rally. It was confirmed by a history teacher at St. Margaret's that the governor planned to be there to congratulate St. Margaret's football team for a victorious season and canceled his appearance due to the rally so it would not take away from the wonderful season they had.  

Some parents from St. Margaret's were not happy with the rally and yelled at protesters that they ruined it for their children. Protesters were also yelled at by other parents and students telling us to go home, in addition to the occasional obscenities. It is unfortunate that some parents did not understand we were not there to protest their school. We were there to protest the budget cuts to public education. I'm hopeful that once they understand that, they will direct their dissatisfaction toward the governor for not keeping a promise to appear at their school. I am truly impressed with all the people who stayed there despite the governor's no-show.

As the rally went on, it was confirmed that the governor would be at El Adobe restaurant for a Republican fundraiser. Most of the protesters walked from St. Margaret's to the restaurant. We lined the sidewalks with signs and chanted, "Save our schools!" The teacher's unions from CUSD and Saddleback were there as well. Other protesters regarding Tressels were in front of the restaurant, too. Once the governor got there with his SUV motorcade, there was no way for him to miss the hundreds of protesters. Our point was made on behalf of the students and teachers of California!

The rally will be on KDOC's Daybreak OC from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Thank you for all your continued support for our students and teachers.

Julie Collier

www.parentsadvocateleague.org

Golf Course Reality Check
Editorial staff

Here’s a summary of what Mission Viejo residents should and shouldn’t believe about a developer’s proposal to build housing on the Casta del Sol golf course. False statements have come from Sunrise and/or city council members, and most of them defy logic.

True: Sunrise intends to build a 300-unit assisted-living project where the Casta del Sol golf course clubhouse now stands.
False: The 18-hole golf course will be preserved, although maybe “somewhat shortened,” after Sunrise gets the parcel rezoned for high-density housing.

True: The city council passed a sham moratorium to delay a formal discussion of Sunrise’s proposal until after the election.
False: The council extended a moratorium to 10 1/2 months to protect the golf course from being dismantled by a developer.

True: If Sunrise buys the Casta del Sol golf course, it will very likely keep only the area where the clubhouse now stands and sell the rest to another developer of housing projects.
False: The remaining acres (minus the housing development) will be purchased from Sunrise and preserved as a golf course, which will be paid for by Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy, or Sunrise will give the property away.

True: Casta del Sol golf course changed hands in 2003, and the purchase price was $7.8 million for 73.341 acres. That’s $100,000/acre without subtracting the value of the clubhouse. Sunrise hasn’t disclosed the price they’ve offered to pay, but the value has likely gone up since 2003.
False: Sunrise can’t figure out how to make money by buying recreational space valued at approximately $100,000/acre in 2003, having it rezoned, keeping a relatively small portion for an assisted-care project, and selling the rest at the going rate of $1 million/acre for residential property (rounding the number for the sake of comparison). Sunrise can’t do the math, and they don’t know they could make a fortune by selling the remaining acres. They just have deep concern for Mission Viejo residents and want to make everyone happy.

CUSD Update
Editorial staff

An activist who participated in the recall effort of 2005 informed the blog: “In case anyone is not already aware, some of the parents who were gathering signatures on the recall decided to file suit against CUSD because their names were on the ‘Enemies Lists.’ I decided to file a claim, and there are quite a few others filing. My attorney hasn’t been able to serve former Supt. Fleming with papers because no one knows where he is.”

Interested parties might look for Fleming on his next day in court, April 18. Former CUSD administrators Fleming and Susan McGill are facing felony charges for misuse of public and school funds. Depending on the outcome of the April 18 appearance, a jury trial could begin April 28.

Congratulations to parents who have been successful in getting the D.A. and other agencies to investigate and prosecute wrongdoing at CUSD. Some of the reform-minded constituents are the best and brightest who should be on the school board.

The Registrar of Voters has announced the names of those running in the June 24 recall election. Voters will have the opportunity to recall Trustee Marlene Draper as the Area 2 board member and Trustee Sheila Benecke in Area 5. In CUSD, a candidate must live within a specific geographic area to run for that seat. Sue Palazzo is the only challenger running against Draper in Area 2. Three challengers are running against Benecke in Area 5: Ken Maddox, Gary V. Miller and Makam Subbarao. A second challenger in Area 2 decided not to run after he said a group threatened him with a smear campaign if he entered the race.

The winners will serve the remaining four months prior to the General Election in November. Residents might be disappointed that so few challengers are willing to run for school board. Those who closely follow CUSD issues know the district is in the middle of a management, leadership and financial crisis. Since Fleming’s retirement, the district has tried four new (including interim) superintendents and three new trustees. The recall challengers as well as those who ran in 2006 are to be commended for their willingness to serve.

Numerous constituents are asking why well-known reform leaders aren’t candidates in the June 24 recall election. For example, Kevin Murphy initiated the 2005 recall effort, and Dr. Ron Lackey is a dedicated reform advocate. Neither Murphy nor Lackey lives in Area 2 or Area 5.

In the news regarding rallies for support of education, parents mobilized on April 10 to ask Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger not to go through with $4 billion in education cuts. A group of parents organized a protest at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, moving on to El Adobe when officials cancelled the event at St. Margaret’s because of the protest. Schwarzenegger had been expected at both locations. More than 4,000 people attended the rally for education funding that was held last week at Mission Viejo High School.

Upcoming meetings at CUSD include a Facilities Subcommittee meeting on April 17, during which the controversial stadium construction project at the new high school in San Juan Capistrano will be discussed. The turmoil over whether or not the old-guard trustees are trying to build facilities on land the district doesn’t own is described on the agenda as a “lot line adjustment.” The CUSD board of trustees is meeting again on April 21 to consider more cuts.

Scofflaws at Kaleidoscope
by Dale Tyler

Once again, the Kaleidoscope is ignoring the Mission Viejo Sign Code. The latest example was when the Kaleidoscope Gallery put up large signs in the city-owned median of Crown Valley Parkway near I-5 sometime on April 6 or early April 7, 2008. Not only were the signs illegal, but they were not even on Kaleidoscope property. City staff was notified early in the morning, but the signs were still up at 4:00 p.m. The signs were finally removed after a citizen insisted that they be removed immediately.

When the city was contacted about the illegal signs, it was difficult to find out if there had been a permit issued to allow the signs to be posted. Finally, someone at the city took the initiative to remove the blight imposed on the residents of Mission Viejo by the Kaleidoscope Gallery.

We have written before about the numerous violations of the very strict sign ordinances that exist at Howie's Game Shack. The types of signs displayed in the windows surrounding the store are oversized, ugly and specifically prohibited by law in Mission Viejo. However, perhaps due to generous contributions to several council members, city code enforcement officials have been told to not enforce our sign codes for the Kaleidoscope.

One has to wonder why there are two sign codes in the city, one for friends of certain members of the City Council (Kelly, MacLean, Ury) and one for the rest of the law-abiding businesses in Mission Viejo. Why do we as citizens allow pay-for-play politics in Mission Viejo?

The Buzz column

During the public comments segment of the April 7 council meeting, a new service became evident for members of the public. A resident approached the microphone to make remarks, and he looked over at the big screen. Moments later, a photo magically appeared as he spoke. His comments were with regard to the city staff’s activities surrounding the community center expansion. Who knew this service was available – having photos (and presumably other graphics) displayed on the big screen to enhance public comments? This should open a whole new world for show and tell.

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Five council members still claim to be fiscal conservatives after approving nearly every change order with a unanimous vote until the community center expansion cost three times the amount budgeted. During the April 7 meeting, the council approved more than $5 million in expenses as part of the consent calendar with no questions asked. The fact no one is watching the store explains how the community center expansion and almost every other project run over budget.

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The city has updated its Website, and Councilman Frank Ury has deleted any mention of his former employer. He has yet to mention what he does for a living, and constituents continue to ask about a conflict of interest.

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The blog’s editor-in-chief suggested several months ago that blog contributors should do a better job of covering important city meetings. Planning Commission meetings have gone unnoticed, and no current blog contributor can stand to attend city council meetings. A blogger said, “The current council has become a rubberstamp agency that approves everything the city staff wants. Most of the city’s business is transacted with 5-0 votes. City employees have five representatives on the council, residents have zero.”

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A photography enthusiast reacted to the city’s display of photos that were allegedly taken by residents for Mission Viejo’s 20th anniversary: “I think the plan didn’t work to give away cameras and expect residents would bring them back filled with pictures. The photos I’ve seen contain few people, and most of the shots are attempts at something artsy. It looks as if the same person took most of them. Of course, I’m wondering what this cost with hundreds of custom-made easels and hundreds of laminated oversize photos that were ruined by sunlight in a matter of days.”