The Buzz

In February 2009, the council voted to extend a phony moratorium to “protect” the Casta del Sol Golf Course from housing development. The moratorium, which was extended for 12 months, will end days prior to the recall election. Mission Viejo residents who want to preserve the 73-acre parcel should note that only three council votes are needed to replace the golf course with housing. The sham moratorium contains a loophole benefiting developers, and it could have been lifted at any time with three council votes. The primary factor currently protecting the golf course is a depressed housing market. With the moratorium ending soon, what new trick will the MUK majority (Councilmembers Lance MacLean, Frank Ury and Trish Kelley) offer to give an appearance of saving the golf course? Voters have the power to remove the biggest threat to the golf course by recalling MacLean in the Feb. 2 Special Election.

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The city staff has pressured Mission Viejo business owners into paying for unwanted features on their property. One example is a $10,000 toy car in front of the Sonic drive-in at Los Alisos and Jeronimo. The property owner added the rust-covered sculpture at the urging of the city, not because of a free-will decision to absorb the expense of city-directed decoration. At stake was the city’s approval of the owner’s building plans. At least two property owners (one in the Pavilions center and another in Gateway) wanted to make tenant improvements but walked away from the process after encounters with city staff members. Residents who shop at the centers could enjoy more upgraded and refurbished stores if the process weren’t compromised by city government.

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An alert resident sent an email report about another example of city staff interference in the business community. The resident is aware of a property owner who wanted to repair damages after a truck wiped out two large steel poles filled with concrete near La Paz and Marguerite. The accident left the poles at 45-degree angles. When the property owner tried to proceed with repairs, the city intervened by refusing permits. The resident alleges that the city insisted on the installation of expensive wheelchair lifts next to ramps on the property. The ramps were already ADA compliant. The resident said the property owner decided the poles would remain at a jaunty angle instead of bowing to the city staff’s demands.

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The Superior Court of Orange County is seeking applicants for the 2010-2011 Grand Jury. The deadline to apply is Jan. 8, 2010, for the term July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011. For information, call the Grand Jury Hotline at (714) 834-6747, including instruction for downloading application papers. Applications are also available at the Jury Commissioner’s Office located in the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West in Santa Ana during regular business hours.

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Support Fun With Chalk on Tues., Dec. 29, by enjoying a meal at Elephant Bar Restaurant. The location is 24155 Laguna Hills Mall, Suite 1055, Laguna Hills, and the offer is good for lunch or dinner. The restaurant will donate 20 percent of the tab to Fun With Chalk when customers present the flyer coupon to servers. To print the flyer, (click here). Elephant Bar’s phone number is (949) 454-9530.