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Frank Ury Exaggerates Success During the past month, I have commenced an audit of two 2012 Mission Viejo programs (Improve, Don’t Move) in which we reduced or totally eliminated Building Permit fees. I have approached this task by using the Public Record Request (PRR) process and applying the Ronald Reagan slogan of "Trust, But Verify." While the City Staff and Councilman Frank Ury boast of the programs’ success, my research reveals an entirely different outcome. Sadly, the city has thrown around bogus numbers yet cannot provide a report showing the valuations of the alleged improvements, forcing me to spend countless hours reviewing the 1,700 residential and commercial Permits issued during the program life. I spent over an hour in city hall yesterday looking at 24 selected commercial permits on a projection screen where we found the valuations not reflected in the printouts sent to me as requested in my PRR. On those 386 permits for commercial improvements, Mission Viejo gave away around $100,000 of taxpayer money without any justification. The top program participant was Nordstrom's at the Shops of MV. Their demolition Permit valuation was $300,000 and their two-story tenant improvements added $4 million for which they saved a total of $7,112 in Permit discounts. Nordstrom surely did not delay said improvements hoping that the city might create a fee discount program. The same surely applies to all of the others where time is money and if you have a product or service, in a competitive environment you don't sit around and watch the clock. After Nordstrom’s, the next 10 (highest valuation) Building Permits in the program were as follows:
These dozen commercial property permits list a combined valuation of $7.8 million where they saved $13,299. Are we to believe that they sat around waiting to see if Mission Viejo had any plans to discount building Permits, something that we had never done before? Several permits were issued for Amnesty to those who engaged in tenant improvements without first getting permits. If these programs were so successful, can someone explain how the number of combined building permits reported by the city increased by 10 percent in the year following the programs from 3103 in 2012 to 3400 in 2013? Source. City of Mission Viejo Annual Report booklets. |
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Community Common Sense Published last week, the March edition of Community Common Sense is being delivered to 20,000 homes, http://www.ccsense.com/ . The following four articles in this month’s edition are about Mission Viejo. Banner Blight? The Mission Viejo (MV) city council voted 5-0 to approve the concept of getting 60-plus new 8'x30" banner signs installed on light poles. The banners were moving forward until I raised more questions during a Community Services Commission meeting. I was told I couldn't disagree with what the council wanted; that I had to go with the majority, that answering my questions was just belaboring a point that had already been decided. I asked, “What is the point of a commission if your only option is to agree with what is passed? Why would the public come and offer their opinion? Why not just start a club? Why not just get up, put a sign on my chair with a YES vote and leave?” Read more at http://www.ccsense.com/2014/03/mission-viejo_210.html#more It’s Not the Event; It’s the Lack of Accountability In a long line of Mission Viejo’s missteps of overspending public funds comes year two of the International Tennis Federation (“ITF”) Wheelchair event. I reported on last year’s event in the February issue of CCS. Council members approved year two of this event during the Feb. 3, 2014, council meeting. We can only hope that the accounting and budgeting are tighter than the first event. Residents should not have to continually fund event and capital improvement cost overruns. Read more at http://www.ccsense.com/2014/03/mission-viejo_9300.html#more Improve, Don’t Move! In Part One of the Trust But Verify series, the focus was on Mission Viejo's "Improve, Don't Move" (IDM) permit fee waiver program that was in effect for six months in early 2012. The title of the program implies that homeowners were going to leave our city yet decided to stay and renovate because we were waiving their permit fees. Really. You don’t just pick up and move unless you already have plans to do so. You surely don't make a decision based on, of all things, a discount from the city. Read more at http://www.ccsense.com/2014/03/mission-viejo.html#more Letter to the Editor – Follow the Money When Wendy Bucknum lost her race for Mission Viejo City Council in 2012, many voters didn’t know her. The focus was her controversial support for jumbotron-type electronic billboards in the south part of Mission Viejo. On the November 2012 ballot, Bucknum identified herself as a “commissioner/businesswoman.” If she fully disclosed her occupation, would voters want a housing lobbyist on the council? During her 2012 campaign, all references touting Bucknum’s “award-winning” lobbyist skills disappeared from her employer’s website. The following is from a site that hasn’t been scrubbed. Read a “guest post from Wendy Bucknum” on the California Legislative Action Committee of the Community Associations Institute website. Bucknum describes her lobbyist expertise: “Wendy Bucknum rounded out the day along with special guest Shawna Rimke, District Director with U.S. Congressman Ken Calvert’s office sharing expertise on how to ‘Lobby Your Legislator.’ Which provided tips and tools for everyone as they headed out to visit their respective legislator offices. Chapter members visited the offices of Assemblymembers Solario, Miller, Norby, Wagner and Harkey. Martin Paine, District Director for Senator Mimi Walters‘ office came to the Chapter office to visit with everyone from CAI-OCRC. Day in the District 2011 wrapped up with a successful debriefing session on the visits. This was done in an effort to educate our attendees about the importance of advocating on behalf of our industry at the local, state and federal levels!” http://caiclac.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/cai-orange-county-day-in-the-district/ Bucknum’s description is an eye-opener for the public on lobbyists and elected officials teaching each other how to lobby. It’s no coincidence this “commissioner/businesswoman” knows all the elected officials and got their endorsements. Bucknum is running again for a Mission Viejo council seat in November 2014. |
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Wendy Bucknum Update Wendy Bucknum, a professional lobbyist in the housing industry, is running for a Mission Viejo council seat in November. Previous articles document Bucknum’s lobbying activities, the special interest financiers who are donating to her campaign, how she gets endorsements from elected officials and what elected officials get in return for supporting her. Bucknum posted a message on her 2014 campaign website, “Setting the Record Straight.” She writes, “You may notice, as the election season heats up, that negative print media, mail, blogs and social media efforts ramp up. Please be wary of negative articles that are opinions versus actual facts, written in a biased, one sided way. If you have questions always ask the person that is being attacked. It is very easy to search for a candidate’s website for information and send them a message asking them to clarify, and then share the clarification with people you know. Please visit my website to find past ‘Setting the Record Straight’ articles in prior e-newsletters. Thanks for taking the time to read my newsletter!” Why would Bucknum refer to information on her financiers and endorsements as “negative articles”? Are the names of donors on her Form 460 campaign finance report “biased” or “one-sided”? If Bucknum wants to talk about opinions, here’s one from people who are on the short end of her lobbying. They’re not bloggers or Mission Viejo residents who see Bucknum jumping up and down promoting herself at public meetings. They’re homeowners in Laguna Woods Village, a community managed by Bucknum’s employer, Professional Community Management. Bucknum’s agenda is consistent. She’s focused on enriching and empowering her employer, whether she’s on the job or making appearances at community events. A sample paragraph from the letter: “Professional Community Management, Inc. has been the Managing Agent of this community since Leisure World/Laguna Woods Village and PCM's inception in 1964. PCM employee Wendy Bucknum, Government and Public Relations Affairs Manager and Skip Daum, Community Association Institute's LAC work directly with the California State Assembly regarding the legislation of the bills which affect this Senior Citizens Homeowners Association and all Common Interest Developments in the State of California. In our opinion these two people are Lobbyist. Who are they representing Management Agents or Homeowners?” Read the rest of the letter, http://cotobuzz.blogspot.com/2012/02/disgraceful-golden-rain-foundation.html |
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Non-government Events Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise and non-profit groups.
St. Kilian’s Recycling Drive, Sat., Mar. 15, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, held on the third Saturday of each month. Organized by Knights of Columbus; acceptable items include aluminum, paper and plastic. No glass or cardboard. Lower parking lot, 26872 Estanciero Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 472-1249, http://www.stkilianchurch.org Cabrillo Playhouse, Sun., Mar. 16, 6:00 p.m., “Local Sunday Sessions,” every third Sunday, three local musical acts, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, (949) 492-0465, http://cabrilloplayhouse.org La Vida Drum Circle, Mar. 16, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., group meets on the evening of every full moon (Mar. 16, Apr. 15, May 14, etc.). Drummers should bring their drums. Firewood is appreciated for the bonfire, Aliso Beach, Aliso and Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 275-7544, http://www.lavidalaguna.com/things-we-dig/ St. Joseph’s Day, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Wed., Mar. 19, celebrate the Return of the Swallows with activities, entertainment and food, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1300, http://www.missionsjc.com/activities/signature_StJosephsDay.php Concordia University Concert, Sat., Mar. 22, 10:00 a.m., Lutheran Schools Handbell Festival. More than 150 ringers from Lutheran schools will perform; free admission, Concordia University Irvine, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, (949) 854-8002, http://www.cui.edu/AcademicPrograms/Undergraduate/Music/tabid/302/ctl/Details/Mid/2322/I temID/238/Default.aspx 56th Annual Swallows Day Parade, Sat., Mar. 22, starting at 11:00 a.m., presented by the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association, downtown San Juan Capistrano; Mercado runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., (949) 493-1976, http://www.swallowsparade.com/ “All the Great Books,” Laguna Playhouse comedy presented by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, through Mar. 30, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com First Thursday Art Walk, Laguna Beach, Thurs., Apr. 3, 6:00 p.m., member galleries throughout Laguna Beach, including the Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive at North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-8971, http://firstthursdaysartwalk.com/ Mount of Olives Church SHARE Food Drive on Sun., April 6, (first Sunday of each month) helps families in crisis, http://moochurch.org/share . Mount of Olives Church, 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://www.moochurch.org/ Mariachis at the Mission, Sat., Apr. 12, 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; second Saturday of each month, 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1300, http://missionsjc.com |
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Political and Government Events Calendar The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., Mar. 10. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Guest speaker will be David Whitley, author and conservative political activist. His topic will be “How Islam's Glorification in Our Textbooks Threatens Our Liberty: One Activist's Mission to Preserve Truth, Equality and Fairness in Our Classrooms.” The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m., at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting on Tues., Mar. 11, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100, http://ocgov.com/cals/?ViewBy=7&CalDate=1/15/2013&EventDateID=89649 Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Community Relations Advisory Committee on Wed., Mar. 12, 9:00 a.m.; Engineering and Operations on Mon., Mar. 17, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Finance and Information Technology on Wed., Mar. 19, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Mar. 20, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., MNWD Main Office, 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://mnwd.com/board-of-directors-2/ Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Wed., Mar. 12, following a special meeting at 5:00 p.m. at the district office, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. Agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1232963504734 OC Veterans Advisory Council, Wed., Mar. 12, 6:00 p.m. The council meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Veterans Service Office, Conference Room A/B, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, Santa Ana, https://cms.ocgov.com/gov/occr/occs/veterans/advisory/default.asp Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Engineering Committee on Fri., Mar. 14, 7:30 a.m.; Finance Committee on Fri., Mar. 21, 7:30 a.m.; 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com Nixon Library, Pat Nixon Birthday and Girl Scout 102nd Birthday Celebration on Sun., Mar. 16. Free concert on Sun., Mar. 23, concert Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and music begins at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org/ Capistrano Valley Republican Women Federated, Wed., Mar. 19, 9:00 a.m., at the Marbella Country Club, 30800 Golf Club Drive, San Juan Capistrano. CVRWF meets on third Wednesdays of most months. CVRWF meets on third Wednesdays of most months. Call (949) 240-6799 for reservations, http://cvrwf.org Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., Mar. 20, 7:00 p.m. SRA meets on third Thursdays (except in July, August and December) at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 769-1412. SOC912 will meet on Fri., Mar. 21, 7:00 p.m., at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/events/168775422/ Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Tues., Mar. 25, 6:30 p.m., “if necessary.” The next Regular Meeting will be on Tues., Apr. 8, starting with a Board Policy Workshop at 4:30 p.m., which is open to the public. The board meets in the district building, 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ Rush Limbaugh Club of Orange County will meet on Sat., April 12. Breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m., and the program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The group meets on second Saturdays of the month. Cost is $15 for breakfast or attend the program only for $5.00. The club pays for first-time attendees' breakfast or attendance fee. Casta del Sol Golf Clubhouse, 27601 Casta Del Sol Road, Mission Viejo, (714) 235-1430, http://rushlimbaughcluboc.com/ |
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The Buzz The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will meet on Mon., Mar. 10, at the Norm Murray Community Center in Mission Viejo. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. sharp. The program topic will be “How Islam's Glorification in Our Textbooks Threatens Our Liberty: an Activist's Mission to Preserve Truth, Equality and Fairness in Our Classrooms.” The guest speaker will be David Whitley, author and conservative political activist. *** The latest issue of Community Common Sense was published last week. The paper is delivered to 20,000 Mission Viejo doorsteps, and it can also be found around town in restaurants, shops and the Mission Viejo Library. The monthly watchdog newspaper began in San Juan Capistrano in 2009 and expanded into Mission Viejo last year. *** Residents who watch council meetings know something went wrong when the city staff organized the wheelchair tennis tournament (International Tennis Federation – ITF) last November. Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht has been asking for financial data on the event, which went so far out control no one had a handle on it. As an example of City Manager Dennis Wilberg’s attempt to keep residents in the dark, he’s been describing the “tremendous community support” for it. Follow this link, http://cityofmissionviejo.org/photos/itf *** The cost to taxpayers for grandstand rental for the ITF tournament was $6,000. How many seats were needed to accommodate the entire audience? From the photographs, fewer than 10 people were in the grandstands. The city staff could have saved most of the rental expense by setting up a few folding chairs. *** The OC Register has published articles about a great big party organized by the city staff in Costa Mesa http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-604268-documents-grp.html . As costs went out of control, the city continued writing checks until the amount reached $518,000. The case is remarkably similar to Mission Viejo’s tennis snafu – with one notable exception. The Costa Mesa council majority had the wisdom to call for an investigation, which is now in progress. When Mission Viejo Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht asked during the Feb. 17 council meeting for an investigation of city hall’s weeklong tennis party, other council members attacked her or said they didn’t need additional information http://www.missionviejoca.org/html/article1107.html *** Mission Viejo watchdogs who are compiling data say an investigation is warranted. When the council approved (on July 1, 2013) hosting the tournament, city staffers indicated it would cost taxpayers nothing. A “budgeted amount of $55,000” was an advance payment, to be reimbursed through sponsorships. The city staff is admitting that costs of the event were approximately a quarter-million dollars, but getting financial records from them is like pulling teeth. The staff has not disclosed how many city employees were working on the event or the number of hours involved. During a council meeting when Wilberg was bragging about support for the event, he said the city’s chief financial officer, Cheryl Dyas, “volunteered” by giving tennis guests rides to the Mission Viejo mall on shopping excursions. When Wilberg was later pressed to disclose financial records, he said Dyas was way too busy working on other things to hand over the information. City employees who “volunteer” for city parties are either paid if the activities take place during the workday or they receive comp time for after-hours “volunteering.” *** The wheelchair tennis tournament is an international operation – a for-profit organization with corporate sponsorships. Mission Viejo city employees seem to have been fooled by the organization into using taxpayer-owned facilities and tax dollars for the tournament. Wilberg touted Mission Viejo as the first city in the United States to “win the bid” for hosting the tournament. Is he delusional? No other city was stupid enough to fund the for-profit organization’s event. There was no competition except for being the most gullible city in the nation. *** The city’s check register sheds light on Wilberg’s claim he’s reducing the number of staff members. The latest release of the city’s check register shows payments for “pre-employment” medical exams for seven people. The number of employees is approximately 275. The city is old enough that employees are retiring. Retirement costs eventually will severely impact the amount of funds for essentials like streets, police services and maintenance of city facilities. *** Post from Kelly Hubbard about a Laguna Hills council member who has announced he’s running for governor: “His name is Andrew Blount and very little is known about him other than information gathered from his short two-year stint as Councilman/Mayor of Laguna Hills. In 2012, he barely beat out Tea Party candidate Bill Hunt and another candidate for city council. Blount started a software firm back in the nineties and has been a local entrepreneur and businessman ever since. Believe it or not, this guy's major claim to fame locally is an elaborate Christmas display he and his family put together at their home every year. It's been said to be a major tourist attraction in Laguna Hills during the holidays. The major theme of Blount’s campaign thus far appears to be reversing our state's burdensome regulatory climate and the boiler-plate message of bringing more jobs and companies back to California. “Nothing extraordinary jumps out about Blount, and I can't image he'll be a major threat to any of the top contenders, including Donnelly. Call me cynical, but I think it's entirely possible that the reason Blount is in this race is to make a smoother path for Kashkari and a bumpier one for Donnelly. The establishment has a history of putting well-financed Republican contenders in a primary race, who initially appear conservative, to distract from the true conservative in the race, which in this case is of course Tim Donnelly. I encourage folks to do their own homework about Blount. I wasn't able to gather much information about him, and I would be curious to hear what others have to say. Read and watch below.” http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2014/03/laguna-hills-mayor-joins-race-for-governor-hits-raceway.html |
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