The Buzz

A catastrophe in Mission Viejo has come to mean another bad decorating idea by city employee Keith Rattay. He not only was involved with the controversial “storytelling room” in the library (redecorating job costing taxpayers $500,000), he had a hand in painting the amateurish graphics. Why is a highly compensated city administrator painting scenery in the library?

***

For an evaluation of Rattay’s unique skill set, read a September 2012 post: “Tonight the Mission Viejo City Council will consider a new employment contract for Assistant City Manager Keith Rattay that would be the envy of most private sector workers. According to the terms of the proposed contract ( http://dms.cityofmissionviejo.org/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1755&doctype=AGENDA ), Mr. Rattay will get NINE MONTHS pay for doing NOTHING regardless of whether he quits or the City simply fails to renew his contract. As a mid-level manager, Mr. Rattay’s proposed contract will pay him a hefty $162,178 yearly salary, a $450/month car allowance, $7,500 extra “just cause” (technically “deferred compensation”) ON TOP OF the full PERS pension contribution that is worth $40,000-$80,000 per year depending on which actuary you talk to. Making matters even worse, the internally inconsistent proposed contract declares that Mr. Rattay is ‘at will’ on the one hand (meaning he can be terminated at any time for any reason) and then later limits the grounds for termination to stealing money from the City or being convicted of a felony. Doing a terrible job is evidently insufficient grounds for termination at the City of Mission Viejo.” http://thinkingrightblog.com/433/

***

Ranch Market in the retail center at Marguerite and Trabuco has closed. It was popular with Casta del Sol residents for its location, and it carried kosher meats as well as other kosher items. A sign on the door didn’t explain the departure of the business, which was a satellite of Mission Ranch Market on Los Alisos. Maybe this would be a good time to ask how the city-subsidized farmers market is doing since it switched from Friday morning to Saturday morning.

***

It’s a bear market in Mission Viejo, with city hall producing the bears. A city watchdog discovered an odd sight of large bear sculptures being decorated in a vacant store on the top floor of the Kaleidoscope retail center. According to a city publication, the bears are a city project: http://missionviejolife.org/2012/08/10/public-sought-to-help-create-bears-about-town/
Scroll to the bottom of the article to see who’s in charge – is anyone surprised it is Keith Rattay? If any taxpayer wonders why city hall has 270 people on the payroll, consider the wide range of make-work projects and a council majority that isn’t paying attention.

***

The city apparently cannot afford to refurbish barren slopes or resurface all the city’s deteriorating streets. Streets are slurried or repaved only once every seven years, despite the deterioration rate accelerating with age. In 2010, a group of residents surveyed all streets in the city and found a significant portion in poor condition. Astoundingly, the city produced its Pavement Management Report in 2012 stating 96 percent of Mission Viejo’s city-owned streets are in good or very good condition. Only 4 percent could be found in fair condition, and no street (even those with vegetation growing in wide cracks) was in poor condition. Compare that with reality: the overall condition of streets hasn’t changed since the residents’ report because 1) no additional funds are being spent on pavement, and 2) the city is still on a seven-year cycle. This blog and the Mission Viejo Dispatch reported pavement conditions in 2010, when residents found at least 25 percent of city streets needing significant repairs.

***

What goes into a city hall festival? According to the city’s claims, two full-time employees who were in charge of a Reader’s Festival spent an entire year planning it, and they didn’t do it by themselves. Custom-made banners go up on streets to announce the event, contractors set up tents, chairs, a stage and sound system. City staffers write press releases and create advertising and printed materials. Other employees arrange for onsite vendors and professional participants, including musicians and entertainers. Someone has to shake down all the city’s suppliers to arrange sponsorships, plus freebies for attendees. Contractors prepare the site and clean up after the crowd leaves. City employees hold countless meetings and conferences for weeks, months or a year in advance. How many people on the city payroll have no responsibilities other than party planning?