The Buzz

City Manager Dennis Wilberg reported last week that the Rose Parade float went for a “test drive” and successfully completed a fire drill. Fire drill? With up to 74 tons of water on board, how about a tsunami drill? Wilberg commented that the float is taking shape, including its “20th Anniversary logo gate.” Thanks for the clarification. A blog reader mistook the cast-iron tree with fiery-looking background as portraying the gates of hell.

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Blog cartoonist Lisa De Paul-Snyder commented, “After reading Wilberg’s float report, I wondered how far they pulled the float and at what speed. How many times did they come to a stop and resume towing it? A ‘road test’ can cover a wide range of situations. Knowing the city administration's penchant for incomplete disclosure, if not outright fictional reporting, one can only guess at the actual facts of the ‘road test.’ That said, I really do hope they tried it out and that the float will not become yet another embarrassment put forth by MV tax dollars.”

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A blog reader asked another question about MV’s Rose Parade leviathan: “What’s the carbon footprint of this green machine?” Other questions are forthcoming: how will cost overruns be hidden? Are the test drive, fire drill, water to fill the pool, heating of the water, etc., included in the $360,000 tab or is the number still rising? Will Jamey Clark’s “park inspections and repairs” double for the months of October, November, December, January (February, and so on), as they did to cover Easelgate and the city staff’s yearlong 20th anniversary party?

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Read Larry Gilbert’s post about Mission Viejo on the county blog, http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/12/oc-register-hiring-freeze-pay-cuts-vs-city-of-mission-viejo-wage-increases/#more-15574 Larry writes about Mission Viejo’s council majority of big spenders: “Can someone please define a fiscal conservative Republican? I am embarrassed to report that many of us worked against huge odds to help these characters get elected in 2002 and again in 2004. Having discussed the above examples of fiscal insanity [the Rose Parade float, doubling of council members’ stipend and approving lifetime healthcare coverage for council members serving three terms] there are many voters in Mission Viejo who would replace Council Members Frank Ury, Lance MacLean and Trish Kelley tomorrow if given the chance.”

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Are city officials reluctant to reveal the facts about Mission Viejo’s economy? Days after the Nov. 4 election, residents learned that the city has only $5 million available for discretionary use. All the other “reserves” – regardless of what number is presented – are monies that are obligated or already spent. Last week a new number emerged, showing the amount available for discretionary use is only $3 million. With the city’s annual budget of approximately $80 million (spending an average of $1,538,461 a week), it puts $3 million into perspective.

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Impacting Mission Viejo’s financial future, the state could alleviate its budget crisis by tapping the funds of California cities. City accountants who rely on shell games might then need to explain why the inflated “reserve” figures printed in such fluff as city magazines and campaign claims of incumbent council members don’t match what’s in the bank.