The Buzz

Blog reader response: “How about accounting for all of Mission Viejo when discussing slopes? The south half of the city has areas that are just as bad as the north half. Drive south, especially on Felipe, and then report on the whole city.”

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Council members are being directed to ask questions of city staff ahead of time instead of in front of the public during council meetings. Is it to give employees time to create another dog and phony slideshow like Keith Rattay’s during the Feb. 4 meeting? It is far more revealing to watch city staffers react to spontaneous questions. For openers, they either know the answers or should know. If city administrators with annual pay of six figures cannot be held accountable to know their own departments, why are they attending council meetings? After Rattay’s attempt to confuse everyone on Feb. 4, another city administrator tried a different approach during the Feb. 18 meeting: Cheryl Dyas, the city’s chief financial officer, didn’t respond to a spontaneous question about the city’s quarterly financial report. Will she answer at the next council meeting on Mar. 4?

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Wendy Bucknum lost her bid for a council seat in November 2012, but she’s still campaigning. Those attending events at any time of day say “she’s everywhere.” Is she taking time off from work to attend? No, it’s her job as a lobbyist for Professional Community Management, and her employer pays her to attend meetings. Bucknum has lied to other attendees, either presenting herself as a volunteer or falsely saying she works for Laguna Woods. When community members discover Bucknum is a professional lobbyist, they get away from her.

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Post from Mission Viejo watchdog Larry Gilbert: Sent: Tue, Feb. 19. Subject: Mission Viejo Investment Advisory Commission meeting.

Late this afternoon the Mission Advisory Commission held its quarterly meeting beginning with each of the former and newest members taking the Oath of office. Unanimously selected to serve as Chairman was Scott Whelchel representing council member Dave Leckness. Dave was present at the meeting. This was followed by the unanimous selection of Kyle Kamrooz to serve as Vice Chair. Kyle was appointed by council member Frank Ury. The other three members were Ellen Addonizio representing council member Cathy Schlicht (who was present), David Mansdoefer, who was appointed by council member Trish Kelley, and Ed Sachs who was appointed by Mayor Rhonda Reardon.

During Agenda Item #4, the chairman asked Treasurer Cheryl Dyas to explain our revenue declining $10 million. Cheryl explained that part of this decline was due to the $4.8 million we recently sent to the County as required by the Department of Finance because of RDA activity after the termination of our redevelopment agency. Scott did not press her further as to the balance.

A lengthy discussion of Agenda item #10 led to this meeting lasting 90 minutes. The topic was the Broker/Dealer selection process. Citizen Steven Wontrobski requested to address the Commission and read allegations as to U.B.S. failing to be a "trustworthy" source. He shared an article from the Times in which UBS settled one case after paying a settlement of $22.7 billion dollars. In addition to U.B.S. Steve also requested that B of A be removed from our approved list of bidders. There was discussion of expanding our list of participants to include secondary brokers. Josie Julian commented that due to the closure of our redevelopment agency we are down to having only one trade per month.

You can never know what information citizens can pick up by attending these official city meetings. Case in point is the Lennar housing project at Jeronimo and Los Alisos. We were told that there are still 14 affordable units in that complex where we will eventually be obligated to provide around $70,000 each in affordable housing offset to the developer.

Before departing Dave suggested moving this commission meeting from the Saddleback Room into the council chambers. Cathy pointed out that as she arrived late the door was locked and the meeting was not noticed on the city meeting board as required.