Mission Viejo Buzz - 02/16/13

The Buzz

Saddleback Valley USD schools will be back in session on Tuesday. From the website: “Due to an unpaid furlough day and District February Recess Days, the District Office and Schools will be closed from Thursday (2/14) through Monday (2/18). The District Office and Schools will reopen on Tuesday, February 19.”

              ***

City Manager Dennis Wilberg indicated in his newsletter that traffic backups on Olympiad have improved with the addition of a right-turn lane going east on Alicia. According to what data was there a backup? The change was made on the basis of a request, allegedly initiated by a resident of Stoneridge who is a neighbor of Councilman Frank Ury. Ury’s wife works at a school in Rancho Santa Margarita – was that the “backup” at the intersection? Residents who live nearby say all traffic on Olympiad was getting through in one light, and there was no backup. Restriping was done after bypassing the Planning and Transportation Commission. Ignoring commissions comprised of residents is a common practice when city hall wants to push its agenda or keep it out of public view. The primary observation about traffic at the intersection is that vehicles are now running the red light to turn right (eastbound) on Alicia.

              ***

As an example of a backup, look at south Mission Viejo. Traffic on Marguerite Parkway moves slowly for blocks, especially northbound between the Post Office and Crown Valley. City hall alternately says lights ARE coordinated or lights CANNOT BE coordinated. Drivers can attest that the lights ARE NOT coordinated.

              ***

Posted by Anne Marie Panoringan on OC Weekly, Garman’s Irish Pub is coming to Mission Viejo. Panoringan writes, “Serving traditional fare in addition to lots o' Guinness, we can't locate an opening date as of late. However, let's hope it pulls it off before St. Paddy's Day. … With the mantra ‘It's your place, we just work here’ and general management listed as Ryan Garman, we're banking on a Cheers-like atmosphere in which everyone not only knows your name--but your business and beer preference as well. While a Facebook page is active, the website link is not. Hey, guys, throw an extra boxty on the griddle and call us sometime. We're starving!” Garman’s location will be 27567 Puerta Real, across from The Shops.

              ***

From Voice of OC on Feb. 15, Nick Gerda writes, “Southern California Edison has spent the last year telling nuclear regulators and the public that major problems with its generators at San Onofre that leaked radiation last year were a complete surprise. But later today, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is expected to release a report that may radically change that picture.” Continue reading at http://www.voiceofoc.org/oc_coast/san_clemente/article_c9f6cc24-7752-11e2-b0a1-001a4bcf887a.html

              ***

Email from city watchdog Joe Holtzman: “[On Feb. 4] I outlined to our Mission Viejo city council the latest potential raid on your pocketbook by Southern California Edison.

Check your most recent SCE or SDGE bill. Mine contains several inserts regarding:

1. Notice of upcoming public participation hearing regarding CPUC OII

2. Proposed change in electric rates to recover the costs associated with the San Onofre decommissioning trust fund. It is a 101% increase in public contribution request to CPUC

3. Notification of application filing of demand response programs, to CPUC

4. General insert about "Advancing toward a brighter more sustainable energy future"

Question: Should the public support the 101% increase in decommissioning fund contribution, or demand that the money to be spent on new steam generators instead be spent on decommissioning? Edison is going to invest their portion of the fund in higher risk investments and the CPUC said OK.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/01/tp-higher-fees-risks-okd-for-nuke-trust/

‘In a ruling published Wednesday, the California Public Utilities Commission approved the use of derivative instruments, junk bonds and more extensive stock market and foreign equity investments.’

This needs to be brought to the attention of the public. Edison is risking the ability to decommission the facility.”

              ***

"One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results." - Milton Friedman (1912-2006)