Oh-so Regional Trail

According to city administrators, Mission Viejo residents should foot the bill for serving outsiders. Director of Public Services Keith Rattay was quoted last month in the Register regarding Crown Valley Parkway when he talked about it being a “regional road.” In the Register’s April 7 article, Rattay says Oso Trail is in need of $324,000 for directional signs (and other strange additions) because “There are a lot of people who don’t live in Mission Viejo and use the trail.” According to police records during the past 20 years, how many people have been lost on Oso Trail?

Register readers responded online, saying trail-users – adults and kids alike – not only walk on the trail, they walk to the trail from their homes. The notion of hordes of non-residents using the trail is unsupported.

The following excerpt is from a Register reader’s post, emailed to this blog as well:

“Mission Viejo has way too many signs now! I used to walk this trail before it became a ‘road,’ and it was a very nice dirt path full of nature with very little evidence of human modifications. Then some city hall dope discovered the peaceful trail and has since continually added human elements like an asphalt road, fences, a metal bridge, plants not indigenous to the area, and now more signs. The ‘road’ is so short only an idiot would need a map or a guide. The city puts signs on everything. Next Ratty idea will be signs on every tree and plant, the birds will have to wear signs, the animals will have to wear signs and like the song says, ‘sign sign everywhere a sign.’”

Read the entire Register article and reader feedback at http://www.ocregister.com/articles/trail-city-center-2356973-council-mission

Oso Trail is among examples in which city hall administrators (none of whom live in Mission Viejo) are diverting city taxes for “regional” purposes. After Mission Viejo left the county library system, funding has largely come from city coffers, but more than half of the city library’s cardholders live elsewhere. Residents should conclude that more than half the cars clogging the parking lot belong to non-residents and more than half the computers, meeting rooms and other “free” provisions are used by non-residents.

Crown Valley, Oso and Alicia – three of Mission Viejo’s arterials – are no longer thoroughfares for residents but slow-moving freeways for cut-through traffic. Council members in other cities, e.g., San Juan Capistrano, make their own cities a priority and protect their residents from regional encroachment. Councilman Lance MacLean (currently a recall target) frequently speaks from the dais during council meetings about Mission Viejo’s wide range of “obligations” to the region, especially housing that adds more overcrowding and traffic congestion. Evidence has accumulated for six years that MacLean doesn’t understand who he’s supposed to represent as a city councilman.

The expenditure of $324,000 for Oso Trail elicited humorous comments to this blog, including the following:

From L.C.: “Maybe the signs can be placed so as to warn people to hold their breath when they approach the sewage-belching manholes scattered along the asphalt- paved Oh-So Stinky Trail.”

From J. J.: ‘Now that I am sort of retired, I should offer to walk the trail daily to give directions.”

Mission Viejo Group Organizes TEA Party

Press Release

Mission Viejo, CA, April 9, 2009 – Mission Viejo residents will participate in a Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party on Wed., April 15. The city’s taxpayers will join the national protest with a rally at the center of town on the corners of La Paz and Marguerite. The Mission Viejo TEA Party will begin at 4:00 p.m. and continue until at least 7:00 p.m.

Organizing the event are members of Saddleback Republican Assembly, a unit of California Republican Assembly. Dr. Michael Ferrall, president of SRA, said his group is responding to growing concern over such outrages as a $500-billion tax bill, trillions of borrowed dollars for future generations to repay, special-interest groups receiving billions of dollars in earmarks, redistribution of wealth, punishment for responsible behavior and rewards for irresponsible behavior.

Ferrall says the wildfire movement of nationwide TEA Parties is taxpayers’ response to out-of-control spending. He said, “Our message is simple, and we’re inviting all of Mission Viejo to join in this protest. SRA champions conservative principles, and bailing out irresponsible businesses and individuals is not the role of government. With all the new tax burdens and loss of our freedoms, we should ask how we’ll get our country back.”

Look for information and updates on MissionViejoDispatch.com, this weekend’s edition of MissionViejoCA.org and the county’s premier news blog, OrangeJuiceBlog.com.

Group updates Mission Viejo TEA Party information

Mission Viejo, CA, April 13, 2009 Organizers of the Mission Viejo Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party are adding live musical entertainment to the April 15 event. The TEA Party will be held near the civic center on the corners of La Paz and Marguerite on Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The local rally is part of the nationwide tax protest.

Diamond Tom Speiss will provide music for Mission Viejo’s rally. Known as a talented vocalist, Speiss is a Mission Viejo resident who performs frequently throughout South County. His selection of music for the TEA Party will include such stirring patriotic favorites as Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA. Speakers on the program include representatives from the offices of Assemblymen Chuck DeVore and Jeff Miller.

The program will be presented from a location near the intersection. Rally participants will be able to enjoy the music and hear the political addresses while holding signs and waving flags along the street. The music will continue from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., interspersed with brief remarks from representatives. 

Driven to Distraction
Letter to the editor

Is driving Crown Valley a pleasure or horror?

Last week, my husband and I had the opportunity to drive on Crown Valley Parkway from Marguerite Parkway to a new doctor’s office. Did we find it to be the lovely, completed road that Mayor Ury took credit for finishing in his bragging reelection campaign last year?

As we went over bumps and drove back and forth on only one lane between orange road cones, we started to choke on dirt and dust before we shut all windows and vents. Should we call this a pleasure? Does anyone enjoy driving when the car’s windshield is covered with blowing dirt and dust? Then there are palm trees all over the place. Please ask Mr. Keith Rattay (who took charge of planting numerous palm trees there) what we should do when a palm frond lands across our windshield as we’re driving on this road.

A drive on Crown Valley may a pleasure for Mr. Ury and Mr. Rattay, but to us it was a horror story!

Beverly Cruse
Mission Viejo

Good for Laughs, but Look Fast

An alert resident followed the link in an article promoting the nearly defunct Mission Viejo Community Foundation. OC Metro magazine evidently received a press release from city hall, spinning news of funds being wasted on Oso Creek Trail. The April 10 article states that $285,100 of the $324,000 designated for signage and kiosks along the trail will come from the federal government, and city taxpayers will pay the balance. Follow the link at the bottom of this article to open the OC Metro document. Then go to the next page and click on the highlighted words: Mission Viejo Community Foundation.

Incredibly, the link opens a page of this blog – a letter to the editor dated Dec. 17, 2005. From the foundation’s inception, residents asked for accountability. Letter writer James Woodin closed his letter with “Let us - the taxpayers - expect that a complete financial disclosure will be made in a timely manner in order to assess the need for the second grant by the city.”

In round figures, the city gave the foundation $200,000 as startup money in 2005. Following Woodin’s plea for assessment, the council threw in another $200,000 for the second year. The foundation not only failed to reach its goal of raising $1 million toward completion of the community center, it spent itself into oblivion by overpaying a director. Instead of full disclosure, the foundation’s chair insisted on operating out of public view as a private entity separate from the city. Furthermore, the chairman said the foundation wouldn’t tolerate criticism, and he threatened to throw in the towel if anyone complained. As the foundation failed, city administrators stepped in, breaching the wall between the city and the 501(c)(3) organization.

Here’s the link – look fast before the city discovers the error.

http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Mission_Viejo_nets_285100_in_federal_funds_for_city_pathway_4_10_09.aspx

Just for the record, this blog long ago recommended shutting down the foundation.

PALs Update
by Julie Collier

It has been a while since my last email, so there is much to review. You probably know most of the information. Just in case you missed it, here it is.

Supt. Carter was officially let go with unpaid leave based on allegations against him. The board made a list of allegations that were rebutted by Supt. Carter and then refuted by the board and their attorney. You can view the board's allegations in the OC Register article:  http://www.ocregister.com/articles/carter-report-district-2341049-school-board

Former Supt. Fleming's trial was delayed for the fith time. Apparently, Fleming's attorney since 2007 is stepping down due to "ethical and legal" conflicts. You can read more details in the following OC Register article:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fleming-trial-case-2356699-court-brower

Last year the CUSD Foundation raised funds for Class Size Reduction. This year CUSD Foundation is not going to fundraise for CSR. Instead, they are working to fundraise for the G.I.F.T. program. This program provides grants to CUSD teachers for laptops, new books, teaching items, etc. There will be a 3/5K run event at the district office on Sun.````, May 31. Look for upcoming information or visit www.cusdfoundation.org. Currently, there are no fundraising opportunities for saving CSR in CUSD.

This Monday is the general board meeting where the board will approve the $24-million budget cuts for 2009-2010. You can view the agenda at www.capousd.ca.schooloop.com There are several proposals of budget cuts. It is a bit confusing, but I've tried to break it into key items for you.. This is not a complete list. Please visit the district Website to verify the information on the agenda.

Plans A & B - District Office plans for cuts
*Cut salaries by 10 percent (must be negotiated with unions) 
*CSR
*Coach camps
*Counselor reduction
*Reduce bus inspections from every 30 days to every 45 days
*Block Music
*BTSA (Beginning teacher training)
*Staff development
*Reduce nine asst. principals
*Eliminate TLC
*AVID
*Increase 4-12 classes by 1
*GATE/AAA
*Principal coaching
*More information on the dist. Website

Plan C - Developed by a small group of moms from Barcelona Hills who took the extra step to help CUSD. Special THANKS to those moms taking time to make a difference!
(The agenda discusses how each item may or may not work.)
*Close administration building for 15 days (negotiated item with unions)
*5 Furlough days for all CUSD employees (negotiated item with unions)
*Eliminate Adult Ed
*Utilize Categorical Flexibility allowance and move funds from deferred maintenance to General Fund
*No new textbook adoptions
*Cut staff development
*Increase 4-12 by 1 student
*Reduce psychologists
*Cut K-5 asst. principals
*Cut BTSA
*Cut GATE/AAA at elementary level
*Reduce activity directors from 6 to 3
*Cut TLC
*Cut teacher credentialing block grant

Budget Subcommittee (Board members Palazzo, Bryso, and Brick) Recommendations
*Cut Handwriting without Tears (saves $100,000)
*Cut open positions
*Increase class size in 4-12 by .5
*Keep AVID
*Cut supplemental hourly programs and reduce summer school
*Have Connect Ed paid for at sites, not supported by district funds
*Reduce resident subs and classified subs
*5 furlough days for all CUMA members (Capistrano Unified Management Association-district admin)

Plan D - Developed by Trustee Winsten
*Reinstate CSR at 24:1
*CUMA salary rollback by 10 percent
*Cut Block Music
*Cut AVID
*Cut Adult Ed
*Cut Summer School
*Cut middle school asst. principals 

On a special note, the district's plan to consider cutting CSR will have a huge impact on all CUSD students. Some schools were built with smaller classrooms due to smaller class sizes. If the board votes on the district administration's recommendations to cut CSR, those schools will keep CSR at 25:1 (students:teacher) The rest of the elementary schools will have 31.5:1. Here is the list of schools. The numbers next to them are the numbers of classrooms that will have CSR

Ambuehl 2
Canyon Vista 9
Castille 6
Chaparral 9
Laguna Niguel 10
Las Flores 3
Moultion 13
Tijeras Creek 11
Wagon Wheel 4
This plan, developed by the district administration, is divisive among our district and within each of the listed schools. As you can see, most of these schools will have to determine which classes and teachers will have smaller class sizes. Let's hope the board will vote for a better plan that helps all the students in our district.

Speaking of CSR, it is certainly a main concern for teachers and parents. CSR has been proven to benefit young students as they learn the foundation of their education. Having larger class sizes places many students at risk of being left behind. This could end up costing the district more because they would have to provide extra resources. Providing extra resources is costly and would defeat the purpose of cutting the cost of CSR. While many parents and teachers are hopeful CSR will remain at CUSD, we are aware the budget issues might force the class sizes to 23:1 or 25:1.

I personally experienced the unfortunate effects of larger class sizes two years ago with my son. His 1st grade class had 28 students. He and seven other "average" students fell behind in this larger class. It took two years, SST meetings, private tutors, assurance he would be in classes with 20:1 through 3rd grade, and his wonderful teachers to help him make great steps forward. I do not want the same thing to happen to other children and their families. Based on my own child's situation, I am fully supportive of smaller classes for all grade levels.

Ron Lebs, Dept. Superintendent, took time to explain some of the budget issues to me this week. I asked him about the discussion re: the Adult Ed reserves. The Adult Ed has $2M in reserves and with the State's allowance of categorical flexibility, the district can move these reserves to the General Fund. Mr. Lebs explained the district is considering moving $40,000 per year for the next five years from the Adult Ed reserves to the General Fund. He also explained Adult Ed has been saving the reserves to purchase new facilities and improve some other facilities. Could Adult Ed use the empty part of the district office instead of buying new facilities?

I also asked Mr. Lebs about the sedans that district employees use to drive to the various schools. It seems that if they sold those cars, they would create revenue and save on the cost of insurance, maintenance, and full tanks of gas. He explained the district has not had time to fully analyze everything that has been suggested by the community. He did not know the number of these cars off hand. He knew some of them were at the district office. He believed there were three to five sedans at the district office. He explained those cars are used by the new Director of Construction and by the tech department to travel to various schools to fix computers.

Also on the agenda are postings of classified and certificated employees retiring, resigning, or getting raises (Items 23 and 24). Take some time to view the salaries/raises of these employees.

There is talk that in order to save CSR, teachers will have to take a 10 percent pay cut (must be negotiated by the union-CUEA). As we are all aware, the economy across the nation is forcing many people to take cuts in salaries and benefits. A 10 percent cut for teachers, however, could be devastating for their families. Many parents support our amazing teachers and hope we can save CSR without the devastating effect of a 10 percent decrease in the teachers' salaries. While many parents are hopeful CSR will remain at CUSD (for ALL students), they are aware the budget issues might force the class sizes to 23:1 or 25:1. Those of you who support keeping class sizes smaller, please wear green to the board meeting on Monday.

As parents, we have an opportunity to voice our opinions and expectations that cuts are kept far from the classrooms. Gone are the days of apathy and wishful thinking that decision makers will make the right choices for our children and the teachers who teach them. You do not have to attend the board meeting, but you can email district officials and the board with your concerns. Email addresses can be found on the district Website.

The board will vote on what is presented to them on Monday. As you can tell, they have many choices. If you would like to make your ideas heard by speaking at the board meeting, please keep your speeches down to one minute. The board sticks to the 20 minutes total time of public speakers per agenda item.

You can find more information in the following articles
Teachers underpaid or overpaid? Economists can't agree
Unions are targeted in teacher pay-cut debate 
Capistrano district proposes 10 percent employee pay cut 
The following article has great info that compares salaries of teachers in the OC. If you read any article, please read this one.
Should Orange County's teachers take a pay cut? | pay, teachers, school, cut, teacher - News - OCReg

http://www.parentsadvocateleague.org Parents helping parents and their children succeed.

Upcoming Street Painting Festival Marks 11th year of Entertaining and Giving

FunWithChalk marks 11 years of success and support of local art programs for public school children with its annual street painting and fine arts festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, 2009. The two-day festival features re-creations of the Old Masters and original works, all by noted artists and all created on asphalt.

Visitors may sign up for a free drawing for a $5,000.00 cash prize to be awarded by sponsors, Grand Pacific Resorts.

Hours: 10:00 AM to 5 PM., both days. Location: Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way (at La Paz), in Mission Viejo. The festival features live street painting, all-day entertainment, art workshops, and food. Admission and parking are free. See the website for further information and directions: www.funwithchalk.org

The Buzz

Recall update: proponents report the effort to recall Councilman Lance MacLean continues moving forward. During the past week, the number of signatures exceeded 25 percent of the 9,300 needed to qualify for the ballot. The deadline to turn in signatures is Aug. 25, and those working in the recall anticipate finishing the signature drive well ahead of time. Proponents are working at storefronts daily and circulating the petition at meetings and other events, but they haven’t yet announced a schedule of times and locations.

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One of the recall workers reported last week that a store manager received another harassing phone call from a MacLean supporter. The anonymous female caller told the manager that a woman asking for signatures had been rude. At the time of the call, there had been no woman gathering signatures anywhere near the store for several days, but the false claim is typical of MacLean’s few supporters. MacLean, who is on the city’s economic development committee, should admonish his supporters for making harassing calls to businesses.

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City Manager Dennis Wilberg asked a county blogger for documented proof of a statement first reported on this blog, and he’s getting it. This blog described the city's inadequate economic development program, stating a key component was to give businesses a certificate for surviving five years in Mission Viejo. Wilberg challenged the blogger to produce a document to verify the statement. Mr. Wilberg should watch the videotape of Councilwoman Trish Kelley’s State of the City Address that aired Dec. 5, 2005. She described the city’s “great new program” of economic development, giving a certificate to businesses that had managed to stay in business in Mission Viejo for five years. She gave no explanation of how the certificate relates to economic development. If Mr. Wilberg has other questions about what happened during council meetings, it’s good he’s asking bloggers instead of his subordinates who nod off during meetings.

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Residents watching council meetings continue to comment that MacLean’s demeanor has changed remarkably since he received notice on Feb. 2 that he’s being recalled. Upon receiving notice during a council meeting, he showed the recall papers to Councilman Frank Ury. They apparently thought it was quite funny, as both laughed as they looked through pages of signatures. Within 15 minutes of receiving notice, MacLean became somber, quietly rocking in his blue suede chair and not participating in the meeting. In subsequent meetings, MacLean has stopped attacking other council members. On April 6, he spent four minutes during the council meeting blatantly campaigning from the dais against the recall. Such use of city resources is illegal, and the city attorney said nothing.

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Has anyone calculated the amount charged by the city attorney during the past year? What’s his service worth when he sits silently while observing a council member break the law for four minutes?

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City hall sent word to eNewsletter subscribers that its TV productions recently won three awards. A great deal of money and time go into MVTV productions, and they’re generally unwatched and unwatchable. Among recent offerings are puff-piece coverage of the easel fiasco from a year ago and a video of the $400,000 Rose Parade float. The latter expense made residents so annoyed they’re signing MacLean’s recall papers. Winning awards usually involves a pricey fee to enter the contest. A city staff member – often a highly compensated one – fills out paperwork, essentially writing an essay on why the entry should win. Successful entries result in trophies and plaques, which require elegant display cases that fill up and disappear as soon as a new display case is needed. Residents are currently asking for a dog park, sound walls, maintained slopes, road repairs, etc., but the city staff instead engages in pursuing pointless awards.

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What’s the No. 1 question recall petitioners hear at storefronts? Residents want to know why all three MUK majority council members (MacLean, Ury and Kelley) aren’t being recalled. Of the three pro-developer, pro-special interest MUKsters, MacLean is the most strident about bringing in more housing. His anger issues put the city at risk as long as he’s on the council. While he’s unfit to serve for a variety of reasons, his assault and battery charges alone are grounds for his removal, and he assaulted a co-worker all by himself.

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Mission Viejo TEA Party update: organizers announced the addition of “Diamond Tom” Speiss to the program. He’ll provide stirring patriotic music from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. near the corners of La Paz and Marguerite on Wed., April 15. Residents participating in the rally should park in any of the public parking lots and walk to the corners. Consider bringing an American flag to wave or a sign protesting high taxes. Representatives from the offices of Assemblymen Chuck DeVore and Jeff Miller will speak during the rally. Please consider patronizing businesses before leaving the area, including the gas station, restaurants, grocery stores and shops.