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The Buzz Posted on the Voice of OC by Norberto Santana Jr.: Toll roads CEO Neil Peterson “has been placed on administrative leave following a series of controversies at Orange County’s main toll road agency. TCA Chief Engineer Mike Kraman will replace Peterson, who took the helm of the embattled agency last summer on an interim basis, said TCA spokeswoman Lisa Telles. She confirmed the personnel action against Peterson late Friday, saying it was authorized earlier this week during a closed session.” Read more at http://www.voiceofoc.org/county/article_14aab0a4-a0de-11e3-8ebc-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm *** The reference in last week’s Buzz to Councilwoman Rhonda Reardon’s meltdown during the Feb. 17 council meeting drew a lot of attention ( http://missionviejo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=12&clip_id=1296 , starting at 4:15 in the video). The reaction came after Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht asked for an assessment of the city’s gross overspending on a wheelchair tennis tournament that was supposed to be a privately funded operation with corporate sponsors. Reardon said that such questions about fiscal accountability “insult” the tennis players. Reardon also said, given a choice, she would take city employee Cheryl Dyas’ word over that of Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht regarding the city’s financial records *** Reardon has challenged Councilwoman Schlicht before, and it has come back to bite her. For example, on Aug. 20, 2012, Reardon said she believed City Attorney Bill Curley when he advised there would be no negative financial impact to residents if the council placed thousands of homes in “special” fire zones (high-risk fire hazard zones). Curley was wrong. Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht said home sellers would have to disclose if they were in a fire zone, and insurance rates could rise. Following the council majority’s decision to rezone, the legal counsel for the California Association of Realtors indicated that home sellers and their real estate agents are obligated to disclose that a home is in a high-risk zone (or “Special” zone – the terms are interchangeable). Two months ago, Councilman Dave Leckness revealed an insurance agent’s warning to homeowners: don’t let your insurance payments lapse if you live in a fire zone because your insurance can be canceled. http://www.missionviejoca.org/html/article2103.html *** Given what is known today – residents are indeed negatively impacted – view the video about the fire maps to hear Councilmembers Reardon, Kelley and Ury give wrong information: http://missionviejo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=12&clip_id=816 , starting at 4:34. The city attorney is blathering about fire maps and says the “special” fire zones and the high-risk fire zones are NOT interchangeable – he is wrong. He refers to Trish Kelley and Reardon’s brilliance of putting thousands of MV homes into the zones as a “miracle” – which is nonsense. During public comments, Stephen Wontrobski, a Mission Viejo attorney, disagreed with the city attorney’s statements and interpretations regarding the fire zones. Now – 19 months later – it is abundantly clear both Councilwoman Schlicht and Mr. Wontrobski were right. Another topic Wontrobski has been right about is that the city should go out for bids on a new city attorney. *** Councilwoman Reardon goes off during the Aug. 20, 2012, meeting, challenging Councilwoman Schlicht: http://missionviejo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=12&clip_id=816 starting at 4:57 on the video. Reardon continues – foot in mouth – at 5:04 and 5:13. *** At each meeting, Councilwoman Schlicht comes prepared, having researched the items instead of relying on staff reports and opinions from highly compensated advisors. The other four council members don’t do their homework. Residents are being severely short-changed on the performance of Reardon, Kelley, Leckness and Ury *** The Mission Viejo City Council will meet on Mon., March 3. The council agenda can be found at http://dms.cityofmissionviejo.org/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=2182&doctype=agenda Forwarded by a city watchdog: If you cannot attend the meeting but would like your comments to be part of the public record, then please consider expressing your point of view by sending an e-mail to the city clerk, asking for inclusion in the public record: KHamman@cityofmissionviejo.org Don’t forget to reference the Agenda Item Number on your correspondence It is a light agenda. |
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