Hearing on Smart Meters

Mission Viejo activist Bruce forwarded the letter below, adding “If you opted out of Southern California Edison’s Smart Meter program, I encourage you to attend the California Public Utilities Commission meeting this coming Tuesday evening if at all possible and state your objection(s) to Smart Meters and the fees imposed for opting out. (Current cost to opt out: $70 initially + $10 per month.) If you did not opt out, you can expect time-of-day metering (i.e., higher rate for hours of heavy use) followed by government intrusion into your electricity usage. I have chosen to opt out and I feel the cost to do so is not justified, so I will be among those objecting.”

Dear Friends Against Smart Meters,

It has been less than a year, and So. Cal. Edison (SCE) is already requesting to increase the opt-out fees.....REALLY! Is this just the first of many increases, until it is so expensive, we are forced to get a Smart Meter. Opt-out increases are just one of the issues (see Phase II issues below) the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is considering during the 2nd Phase for evaluating the future of Smart Meters.

The CPUC is having five Public Hearings to give people the rare opportunity to voice their Smart Meter concerns. The hearing that Stop OC Smart Meters is focusing on will be held Tues., Dec. 18.

The meeting details are:
Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 6:00 p.m.
San Clemente Comminity Center - Ole Hanson Fireside Room
100 North Calle Seville
San Clemente, CA 92672

It is outrageous that they have planned these hearings so close to the holiday. They know people are busy or traveling this time of year, so is this their strategy to ensure that not many folks show up? Let's show them we are willing to fight for what is right, even during the holidays!

IMPORTANT: If we do not have a large number of people at this hearing, it will further empower SCE to continue to steamroll out anything they want, now and in the future.

Two important questions:

1. Can we count on you to be at the hearing?
2. Can you help us in this effort?

Examples:

Speak at the hearing - 2 minute limit
Just show up at the hearing.....Large numbers make a statement
Email the CPUC with complaints and concerns this week
Post on Facebook
Twitter
Call the press in your community

Please forward this email to others who oppose Smart Meters. Please let us know if you can help....we really need you!!

Thank you,
Cindy and Maureen
Stop OC Smart Meters

PHASE 2 ISSUES INCLUDE:

1. Should more than one opt-out option be offered to customers who do not wish to have a wireless Smart Meter? Should different fees be assessed based on the type of opt-out meter selected by the customer and, if so, what is an appropriate level for such fees?
2. Should all costs associated with the opt-out option be paid by only those customers electing the option, or should some portion of these costs be allocated to all ratepayers and/or to utility shareholders?
3. What fees should be assessed on customers who elect the opt-out option and should the fees be assessed on per meter of per location basis?
4. Should there be an "exit fee" imposed on customers who elect the opt-out option and later return to a wireless Smart Meter?
5. Should the opt-out option be extended to local governments and communities?

Bill Hunt Wins Lawsuit

On Dec. 7, Judge David McEachen ruled that former Sheriff’s Department employee Bill Hunt shall be reinstated to his former rank and pay after he was demoted following the 2006 election. McEachen, an OC Superior Court judge, ruled that then-Sheriff Mike Carona used intimidation and retaliation against Hunt for running against him as Sheriff in 2006. Carona demoted Hunt from San Clemente chief to patrol duty in Stanton. Hunt retired rather than take the demotion.

The ruling gives Hunt full back wages and benefits at $280,619, raises for two years, a $50,000 award in penalties, plus attorney fees.

Is this matter finished? An OC watchdog replied to this blog: “The OC Supervisors are now considering their options. They need to accept the judge’s decision and call it a day. Orange County taxpayers have already paid more than $2 million with the Board of Supervisors trying to defend Carona’s actions. What Carona did was wrong, and he got away with it for years because the Board of Supervisors allowed it.”

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.

Holly Jolly Christmas at Chick-fil-A, Mon., Dec. 17, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., music, cookie decoration and photos with Santa Cow, 24011 El Toro Rd., Laguna Hills, (949) 458-3544.

Holiday Organ Spectacular, Tues., Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m., Orange County’s Pacific Symphony, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 755-5799, http://www.PacificSymphony.org

Vintage Flea Market, Sun., Dec. 23, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., every fourth Sunday, 474 El Camino Real, Tustin, (714) 573-1025, http://www.VintageWhimzy.com

 “Plaid Tidings” through Sun., Dec. 23, The Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com

Encore Dinner Theatre, “A Song for Christmas,” through Dec. 30, 690 El Camino Real, Tustin (657) 210-3200, http://www.EncoreDinnerTheatre.com

Holiday Ice Rink in Spectrum. Outdoor rink is open daily, skating lessons are available. Check the website for schedule. Giant Wheel Court, Irvine Spectrum Center, (949) 748-8280, http://www.skatespectrum.com

Concert at Soka, The Takacs Quartet featuring pianist Joyce Yang on Wed., Jan. 16, 8:00 p.m., Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu

Daily Guided Tours at the Mission during the week, Monday through Friday, 11:15 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. No advance reservation required, but a minimum group size is needed to proceed, Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1300, http://www.missionsjc.com/

Political and Government Events Calendar

Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: and Operations on Mon., Dec. 17, 9:00 a.m.; Finance and I.T. on Wed., Dec. 19, 9:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Dec. 20, 5:30 p.m., 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://www.mnwd.com/board-of-directors/agenda.aspx

South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, Mon., Dec. 17. Meeting times unless otherwise posted: open session convenes at 5:00 p.m., followed by adjournment to closed session, open session reconvenes at 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m., adjournment by 9:00 p.m. Ronald Reagan Board of Trustees Room, Room 145, Health Sciences/District Offices Building, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (949) 582-4999, https://www.socccd.edu

El Toro Water District meetings: Engineering, Finance, Insurance Committee on Tues., Dec. 18, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Dec. 20, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ETWD, 24251 Los Alisos Blvd., Lake Forest, (949) 837-0660, http://www.etwd.com/

Orange County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tues., Dec. 18, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Government/Board%20of%20Supervisors/Meeting%20Schedule

Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors meeting on Wed., Dec. 19 at 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com

Concert at the Nixon Library, Sun., Dec. 23, Music of the Magi. Doors open at 1:15 pm, and concerts begin at 2:00 pm unless otherwise noted. Schedule is subject to change. Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1161, http://nixonfoundation.org/concerts/

Trees, Trains and Traditions exhibit at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, open now through Dec. 31, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://www.nixonfoundation.org

Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Mon., Jan 7, 7:00 p.m., 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/

Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees Workshop on School Choice and Transfers (open to public) on Tues., Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m., and Regular Board Meeting (third Tuesday due to winter recess through Jan. 4), 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/

The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., Jan. 14. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m, Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.

Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., Jan. 17, 7:00 p.m. No general meeting in December. SRA meets on third Thursdays (except in December, July and August) at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Jacaranda Room-B, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 360-1717.

Meet Larry Elder, live KABC radio broadcast from the Nixon Library, Thurs., Jan. 31, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org

The Buzz

Last week, Ed Sachs posted a comment on the Dispatch summarizing Mission Viejo’s unfunded liabilities. Excerpts from his post: “The biggest concerns of our cities has to do with CALPERS and the unbridled hold they have on the amount of pension funding paid out of California cities’ operating budgets. Cities similar in size to Mission Viejo have seen these budgets hit hard by the State’s ongoing pension crisis. Cities in the State are seeing increases of 15-17% annually to Calpers and increases in police and fire services of around 10% to cover costs of pension funding. … While Mission Viejo is a contract city for these services, we still are on the hook for these escalating costs growing at geometric proportions. Mission Viejo needs to begin putting away funds for these costs and start to understand the fiscal impact with every new capital project they begin, or additional change orders the city is asked to fund.” http://missionviejodispatch.com/budget/letter-city-pensions-paying-the-piper/#comments

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Councilman Frank Ury, when campaigning several months ago at a Casta del Sol meeting, said he had “taken care of unfunded pension liabilities by creating a program that was reducing these pension dollars.” To the contrary, the numbers are rising dramatically. In the most recent report, unfunded pension liabilities on June 30, 2011, are $10,557,395 and the retiree insurance program (RIP) healthcare plan’s unfunded liabilities are $4,557,000. In the previous year, unfunded pension liabilities were $9,499,573, and RIP healthcare unfunded liabilities were $4,277,000.

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Former city finance chief Irwin Bornstein left his post in June 2011, “retiring” but immediately taking a position in Laguna Niguel. Throughout his Mission Viejo tenure, Bornstein was known for truthful answers to direct questions, at times conflicting with City Hall’s happy talk. Reserves are down significantly, particularly with the city’s latest boondoggle of adding one court to a tennis resort. Despite all the attempts to hide expenses, the tennis resort remodel cost at least $6 million (still rising). The city’s next scheduled money pit is a dog park, likely to exceed $2 million. More than 150 city employees are kept busy – benefiting from such waste, including spin writers who provide text to gullible reporters.

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With the OC Register’s new leadership, Saddleback Valley News is larger in size, but that’s about it. OCR employee Chris Boucly, who failed to do any investigative reporting while assigned to Mission Viejo, was promoted to “team leader.” Instead of covering city news, new cub reporters ask inane questions. Last week, one of them wrote as a city scan, “With the new year approaching, what is your resolution for Mission Viejo?” Prior to that, they asked what’s good about Mission Viejo. Apparently no reader responded, as Trish Kelley’s name appeared on THE answer, probably written by a city staffer. OCR’s declining readership is not entirely due to technology and the Internet.

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A message from Tea Party Patriot Terry Raposa about Cal Fire charging property owners an illegal fire tax, “For all my friends who live in the county (not incorporated cities), note the wording of "Their action will impose a MINIMUM of $150.00 on homeowners" then the question is, what’s the maximum? This is an illegal tax, and every one of you and your neighbors and relatives who live outside of incorporated cities should be hollering at the governor. Assemblyman Nielsen is correct, appointees were not elected by anyone and, therefore, have no authority to tax! The appointees are inferring that homeowners don't have the common sense to vote on something affecting their safety! Taxes are to be raised by a vote of the people. Call Gov. Brown (916) 445-2841 and protest this illegal tax if you are in an affected area. This tax is also a tentacle of Agenda 21. Don't know what this is? Listen to our We the People radio show on KCNR 1460 am 8-10am. All programs are archived and can be listened to at your convenience.” http://www.teapartymedia.net

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On Oct. 4, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association filed suit to end the annual state fire fee imposed on California’s rural residents. The complaint states the fee is a tax that was illegally approved without the necessary two-thirds majority of lawmakers. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/10/anti-tax-group-sues-to-end-california-state-fire-fee-wants-refunds.html#storylink=cpy

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