Creek Remains Trashed

A Mission Viejo resident who walks city trails spotted debris from a tennis court demolition in Oso Creek last week. A city official indicated he’s known about the debris for years. Such abuse of ecologically sensitive public property – including illegal dumping by city contractors – isn’t new. An egregious case came to light nearly 10 years ago in Lower Curtis Park when a city official arranged grading of an area near sensitive habitat – allegedly to clean it – and fabricated excuses.

When city contractor Granich Construction ran out of things to do in 2003, city administrator Dennis Wilberg created a make-work project of unapproved grading. Granich fired up idle equipment and rearranged dirt in the open space below sports fields near La Paz and Olympiad. An activist, Bo Klein, discovered the project, which Wilberg eventually acknowledged during a Planning Commission meeting. Granich’s bill exceeded $200,000 by the time the project was stopped. Because the council had approved payments to Granich on the consent calendar, citizens had no recourse.

The same council promoted Wilberg to city manager after he got caught in the unapproved grading and gave explanations that made no sense. Staff members claimed the debris in Lower Curtis – likely dumped by city contractors – was a threat to water lines that ran through the area. The claims were countered with public statements (if not laughing out loud) by Santa Margarita Water District officials who said the debris posed no threat.

Wilberg responded to last week’s discovery of debris in Oso Creek by saying it had been there a long time. His position about the environment is consistent. Wilberg’s wish for “grant funding” to clean up Oso Creek reached city watchdog Joe Holtzman, who responded:

“So let us assume it has been there with his knowledge since incorporation – going on 24 years. In that period of time while he was searching for ‘grant funding’ either he or his staff have blown funds on Rose Parade floats, kiosks, obelisks, tile murals in a park, way-finder signs, trashed easels, electronic signs, ‘Words of the Month’ and various happy signs, oversized pots and ‘Outhouses in Medians.’ So much for the environment -- just leave the dumped debris in Oso Creek.”