Mission Viejo Buzz - 03/05/11

The Buzz

The Moulton Niguel Water District will meet Wed., March 9, at 9 a.m. to continue discussing proposed rate changes. The meeting location is 27500 La Paz Road in Laguna Niguel. At a recent public hearing about the proposed change, customers demanded answers about the district’s new tiered-rate system. Read more at http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-03-03/news/28651693_1_water-budgets-rate-structure-mnwd

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South Orange County Republican Assembly will meet on Thurs., March 10, 7 p.m., in San Juan Capistrano. The location is Sarducci’s Capistrano Depot, 26701 Verdugo Street (right at the railroad station). From the announcement by SOCRA President Craig Alexander: “For those who wish to attend the dinner portion of the meeting, arrive anytime between 5:30 and 6:15 p.m. Those who attend the dinner will receive a 10-percent off discount for your entree. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m.  As usual, you do not need to attend the dinner to attend the meeting at 7:00 p.m.  Our guest speaker will be OCGOP 1st Vice Chairman Deborah Pauly. RSVP to SOCRA's membership secretary Denise Hickey at mdcthick@cox.net  or at (949) 395-1049.”

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Reminder from Chapter Leader Bruce Mayall, The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America will hold its general meeting on March 14. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., with orientation for first-time attendees beginning at 7:10. The meeting will begin at 7:30 and end at 9:30. The featured speaker will be Dr. Georgy Gournev, educator, consultant and author. His topic will be defeating the worldwide jihad. The group will meet at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.

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The next Capo USD school board meeting will be Tues., March 8, 7:00 p.m., at the district headquarters, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. View the agenda and supporting documents at https://capousd-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1293638734307

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Did the Capo school district violate open meeting laws on Dec. 7 when it reinstated two furlough days and partially reversed teachers’ pay cuts? According to a March 5 OC Register article, “Peter Scheer, executive director of the San Rafael-based First Amendment Coalition, said the error did not appear intentional or malicious, but trustees should correct the mistake by scheduling a hearing to retroactively solicit the public's input and take another vote.” CUSD Supt. Joe Farley disagreed, saying “the board did not err, because trustees needed the flexibility to discuss and vote on the salary issue behind closed doors.” http://www.ocregister.com/news/-110707-ocprint--.html

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Didn’t newly elected CUSD board members John Alpay, Lynn Hatton and Gary Pritchard indicate during their campaign that they’d improve on the district’s record of abiding by open meeting laws? CUSD constituents Jim Reardon and Wayne Tate have filed a legal complaint against the board for restoring pay, saying the district misinterpreted the teachers’ contract and unlawfully restored pay for other CUSD employees when it restored teachers’ pay.

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Gov. Jerry Brown has set March 10 as the deadline to schedule a special election in June, in which voters would decide whether or not to extend taxes. From the March 6 Sacramento Bee, “California Republican leaders are urging their lawmakers to stand firm against Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal for a June tax election in the name of rebuilding their party. … Brown needs agreement from at least two Republicans in each house to ask voters to extend 2009 increases to sales, income and vehicle taxes.” Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/06/3453194/browns-countdown-day-56-california.html#mi_rss=State%20Politics

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From OC Supervisor Bill Campbell’s March 4 newsletter, “The Board unanimously supported the CEO recommendation to return with a proposed Ordinance on March 15, 2011, to separate the office of Public Guardian from the office of the Public Administrator. To read the recommendations approved for the proposed March 15th Ordinance, click http://cams.ocgov.com/Web_Publisher/Agenda03_01_2011_files/images/A11-000172.HTM

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Tea Party Patriot Lawrene writes, “ObamaPhone – this is no joke! Welfare recipients are now eligible to receive (1) a FREE new cell phone, and (2) approximately 100 - 250 FREE minutes of air time every month. Safe Link Wireless is a government-supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime each month for income-eligible customers. Your tax dollars are being distributed to a wireless phone provider to give welfare recipients free cell phones and airtime. We are $14 trillion in debt, Congress is balking at continuing unemployment payments to those who want to work, and Congress is increasing the dole-out to those on welfare. The Ship of State is sinking fast. Follow this link and see for yourself: https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/Home.aspx

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Read an article about a developer lobbying for annexation to Mission Viejo and participate in a poll at http://missionviejodispatch.com/city-aestheics/developer-lobbies-for-annexation-to-mv/#comments. The Mission Viejo City Council will hear about Standard Pacific’s 38.4-acre future housing tract north of the city during the March 7 council meeting.