Mission Viejo Buzz - 08/17/13

The Buzz

The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America announced a memorial service with military funeral honors for one of its leaders, Al Rowley, who passed away last month. The Mission Viejo Chapter invites members and friends to join Al’s family for a memorial service at noon on Mon., Sept. 9, at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, Carillo Memorial Drive, San Diego. From I-5 South or I-8 West, exit at Rosecrans Street, turn right on Canon Street, and turn left on Catalina Blvd. The gathering area is at the Ft. Rosecrans Cabrillo Memorial Drive office (on the left past the stop light). Plan to meet half an hour before the noon service and walk or drive from the office. Seating is limited, and the weather might be cool and windy.

              ***

From a city watchdog’s post: The city council’s next meeting is Aug. 19. The agenda is available at http://dms.cityofmissionviejo.org/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=2082&doctype=agenda. Anyone who wants to add a comment to the public record via email can send it to KHamman@cityofmissionviejo. Be sure to reference the agenda item number in your correspondence and ask for inclusion in the public record. Following are items that may be of particular interest or concern:

  • The Consent Calendar carries numerous treasurer reports and check registers. 
    Agenda items No. 18 and No. 19 – is this trolling for dollars and then creating unnecessary or frivolous programs?
  • Under Public Hearings, Item No. 25 is a lengthy document updating the city’s General Plan.
  • Under New Business, Item No. 27 is a Resolution establishing Astroturf guidelines.

Three items are under Council Comments:

  • Item No. 36, placed by Councilman Dave Leckness, is a review of a street sweeping report.
  • Item No. 37 was agendized by Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht. Current Police Chief Lt. Wilson has been promoted to captain and will be leaving the city. The City Manager is responsible for hiring a new police chief, and Councilwoman Schlicht is requesting that the council be consulted. Turnover has been high, as this is the city’s sixth police chief since the year 2000.
  • Item No. 38 is from Councilwoman Trish Kelley. In 2008, the council rejected this ordinance presented by then-Police Chief Bernardi. As with the Social Host Ordinance, this proposal raises constitutional concerns about due process and probable cause protections.
     

              • ***

A San Clemente park has a new $150,000 playground. Its “universal access” allows disabled children to play alongside other children. From the Aug. 17 OC Register: The park’s 88-year-old namesake, Max Berg, “set down his walking cane for a moment and – with a little help from Mayor Bob Baker – settled into the big kids’ twisty slide. He made it to the bottom in one piece, wearing an ear-to-ear grin.” Taxpayers should compare San Clemente’s cost of $150,000 with the same concept in Mission Viejo -- $1.3 million for playground equipment at Pavion Park. As another aspect, the Mission Viejo council majority chose to fund one park project instead of building restrooms in any of Mission Viejo’s parks currently without such facilities. Some of those parks have heavily used sports fields, and neighbors attest that the parks’ only restroom facilities are the bushes.

              ***

Here’s an update from a previous Buzz item about school crossing guards. During the July 1 council meeting, All City Management expected the council to renew its longtime contract to provide crossing guards for the city’s two school districts. From the July 5 blog, “some of the guards had attended several council meetings to protest the new contract’s reduction of their hours. The council hadn’t negatively reacted until two ACMS managers spoke from the public microphone to announce diminished service for the cuts in hours and pay. (Item No. 30, view the video: http://missionviejo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=12&clip_id=1000 ) The crossing guards in the audience at first applauded their managers’ remarks but then changed their mind when the council said ACMS would not get the contract.” The council subsequently awarded the contract to American Guard Services. Many of the guards who worked for ACMS have been hired by the new contractor. A resident reported to this blog that crossing guards not only had their hours reduced, they are required to pay for their own equipment with the new company (e.g., stop signs and vests), at a cost of approximately $200.

              ***

UFO visits Mission Viejo? Sighted on July 13, by a resident near Lake Mission Viejo.
http://www.ufoevidence.org/sightings/report.asp?ID=13779  Sightings of lights to the east are generally flares set off by troops at Camp Pendleton – but maybe not on July 13.

              ***

"No Nation can remain both ignorant and free, it has never happened and never will." – President Thomas Jefferson