The Buzz

On June 9, OCSD Sheriff Sandra Hutchens pitched her department’s services to Mission Viejo during a special meeting at city hall. A curious part was the PR video presented to “a handful” of people who attended. If OCSD wanted to improve its image (at no cost at all), it should see how many consecutive days it could go without breaking news of an OCSD scandal, embarrassment, lawsuit or in-fighting.

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Mission Viejo’s cost to renew its OCSD contract for the coming fiscal year is more than $15 million. That’s nearly $42,000 a day in a city of mostly peace-loving and law-abiding citizens. City watchdogs and other interested residents have suggested the city should consider alternatives, including the formation of a multi-city police department. Irvine is frequently cited as a safe city with its own police department. As usual, the council majority of Lance MacLean, Frank Ury and Trish Kelley appear to have no interest in saving money or changing the status quo. Renewal of OCSD’s contract is up for a council vote during the June 15 meeting.

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The petition to recall Councilman Lance MacLean isn’t the only one being circulated. Several Capo district residents recently initiated an effort to change some aspects of the election of CUSD trustees. Currently, trustees each live in a specific section of the district, but they are elected at large. Some constituents say campaigning is too expensive when they have to cover all of the district’s seven cities (195 square miles). Three of the advocates for change are Erin Kutnick (who ran unsuccessfully in the 2008 CUSD election), Marilyn Amato and Kevin Kerwin. They can get the measure on the ballot by presenting 750 signatures of CUSD registered voters to the Orange County Dept. of Education for approval. If the committee rejects the petition, its proponents have the option of gathering 22,000 signatures of CUSD registered voters to qualify for the ballot.

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In response to the economic downturn, some public agencies are cutting back. The OC Board of Supervisors and their department heads took a 5 percent pay cut. The county’s Social Services Agency executives had already taken 8 percent to 10 percent pay cuts through furloughs, and some deferred their 2 percent salary increases. School boards are looking at deep cuts, layoffs and ending popular programs. Mission Viejo City Manager Dennis Wilberg has a different approach. He wants temporary employees to get a RAISE of up to 25 percent, going from a cap of $75/hour to $100/hour.

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In response to the pay increase, Mission Viejo watchdog Larry Gilbert posted an article on a county blog, http://orangejuiceblog.com/2009/06/oc-sups-cut-wages-5-while-mission-viejo-offering-a-max-25-wage-increase/#more-23303 City hall’s rationale for the increase: “Given inflation since 2002, it is anticipated that the current $75 hourly maximum may not be sufficient to attract individuals with the level of experience and knowledge that is needed.” Gilbert’s post reveals that the positions include “assistant planner, assistant city clerk, community services coordinator, animal services volunteer coordinator, accounting clerk A & B, H.R. analyst, library clerks A & B, library assistants A & B, etc.” By the way, didn’t city hall recently make a big production of its so-called hiring freeze?