Blame Sacramento

Are residents aware Mission Viejo is a “Million Tree City”? That’s amazing – trying to create an urban forest in a dry climate (average yearly rainfall 14 inches). Alongside the urban forest, many of the city’s slopes consist of dirt and weeds.

Major portions of the city are maintained by Homeowner Associations, not city taxpayers. For those unfamiliar with what belongs to whom, if a slope is barren, it is likely owned by the city. Drive through any neighborhood in the largest HOA in town, Mission Viejo Environmental Association, which has well-maintained slopes and cost-effective management.

Along with noting the barren city-owned slopes, residents frequently complain the city tears out entire areas of established vegetation. The city then says existing plants are being replaced with drought-tolerant ones. The excuse is perpetual regardless of how many times the same areas are replanted. Given Southern California’s climate and the cost of water, why has the city ever planted vegetation that is not drought tolerant?

The city employee who has been promoted to director of public services is Keith Rattay ($166,000 in annual salary alone), and he’s a plant guy with training in landscape architecture. Rattay’s trademark is pricey junk, including brown pots, banners and outhouse-style pillars. If he’s not the one driving the city’s million-tree obsession, where did it come from?

For anyone who has tried to make sense of the city’s contracts with landscaping contractors, good luck. Change orders become a significant part of overruns when no one is watching the store. As an example, the city claimed for years that many plants were “donated” for Tierra Nativa. What a coincidence that a slew of change orders followed “donations.” Tens of thousands of plants that supposedly would be planted by volunteers sat in pots along roadsides and trails for weeks until city contractors could plant all of them.

The waste continues, and council majority members don’t grasp that money cannot be spent and still remain on the books. To reconcile losses, reserves are down significantly from three years ago. The city’s contingency funds have been spent, and unfunded liabilities are growing. Last month, the state demanded $4.8 million in redevelopment funds that the council majority tried to hide, and that was on top of another state claw-back when the city misappropriated more than $2 million of the state’s money for the Oso widening.

In Councilman Frank Ury’s Dec. 28 guest column in Saddleback Valley News, he blames Sacramento for Mission Viejo’s financial woes. Sacramento has its own shortcomings, and so does City Hall.

Petrilla Announces Candidacy

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA - Thursday, January 3, 2013 - Rancho Santa Margarita City Council Member Jesse Petrilla announced Thursday his plans to run for the California State Assembly in the 73rd District.

Petrilla, who recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan with the California Army National Guard, says he would be honored to be given the privilege to fight for Californians in the state legislature.

“California is where I was born and raised, and I want to do my small part to help ensure our future is the best possible for all our families,” said Petrilla. “I look forward to meeting with the voters of South Orange County between now and the election, and would be humbled to have their support.”

Petrilla says his top issues are fighting for lower taxes, pension reform, and bringing jobs back to California.

Jesse Petrilla was elected to a four-year term in November 2010 as the top vote-getter to the Rancho Santa Margarita City Council. He is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton. Jesse was married to his wife Vesna in 2009.

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.

Neil Simon’s “Chapter Two,” Jan. 8 through Feb. 3, Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com

Open Casting Call, Pageant of the Masters, Thurs., Jan. 10, volunteers of all ages, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-3663, http://www.foapom.com/contact/volunteer/

International Playwriting Festival, Camino Real Playhouse, through Jan. 12. Seven short plays – very short – will premiere with the audience voting on awards, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 489-8082, http://www.caminorealplayhouse.org

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

“Footloose,” Concordia University Theatre, Jan. 24-26 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Jan. 27 at 2:00 p.m., 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, (949) 854-8002, http://www.cui.edu/

Big Bucks Bingo, Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m. early bird and 6:45 p.m. regular games, Mission Viejo Elks Lodge, Marguerite and La Paz, Mission Viejo, (949) 830-3557. 
http://www.mvelks.com/

Car (CARe) Show and Poker Run, San Juan Capistrano, Sat., Feb. 2, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 for general admission. Family-friendly event, view more than 400 vehicles, proceeds benefit SJC Rotary projects. San Juan Capistrano Community Center and Sports Park, 25920 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, http://sjcrotary.org/carshow

Tet Festival, Feb. 8-10, organized by the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California, annual lunar new year event, live entertainment, food, fireworks, Garden Grove Park, 9301 Westminster Blvd., Garden Grove, (714) 890-1418, http://www.yelp.com/biz/tet-festival-garden-grove

Holiday Ice Rink in Spectrum. Outdoor rink is open through Feb. 18. Skating lessons are available. Check the website for schedule. Giant Wheel Court, Irvine Spectrum Center, (949) 748-8280, http://www.skatespectrum.com

Political and Government Events Calendar

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/

Orange County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tues., Jan. 8, 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 meetings: Engineering Committee on Fri., Jan. 11, 7:30 a.m.; Finance Committee on Fri., Jan. 18, 7:30 a.m.; Board of Directors meeting on Wed., Jan. 23 at 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com

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 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/

Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., Jan. 17, 7:00 p.m. 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

Bumper sticker: “Diebold – making machines that vote so you don’t have to.”

***

Mission Viejo residents celebrated a victory 10 years ago when Orange County voters passed Measure W, rejecting a commercial airport at El Toro. It wasn’t the final word, but it was the last of four initiatives to stop the airport. Watching the Great Park become the great pork is annoying, but nothing compared to an airport.

***

Save the date – ACT for America will hold a chapter meeting on Mon., Jan. 14. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. Jesse Petrilla of Rancho Santa Margarita will present “The Afghanistan Diaries,” revealing what’s really going on in the war with the Taliban. Jesse serves on the Rancho city council, and he recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan as a member of the California Army National Guard. ACT for America meets at the Norm Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.

***

Petrilla’s announcement last week he’s running for State Assembly was not a surprise. Assemblywoman Diane Harkey is terming out in 2014, and she indicates she is running for the California Board of Equalization. MV Councilman Frank Ury supposedly is interested in running for her Assembly seat, as is Capo School District Anna Bryson. Laguna Niguel Mayor Robert Ming frequently is mentioned among those who might run for higher office – no word on which one.

***

In April, Harkey filed paperwork to run for the Board of Equalization, putting $100,000 into forming a campaign for the seat currently held by Michelle Steel. Another potential candidate for that office is Sen. Mark Wyland of Solana Beach, who is terming out as a state senator.

***

Great performances are often overlooked at Saddleback College. On Sat., Jan. 12 at 7:00 p.m., the Professional Guest Artist Series presents “An Evening of Comedy & Magic” with a cast of award-winning magicians. Future shows include “The Women of Lockerbie” starting in March and “Legally Blonde” in April.