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Prompting Council Members My question for today's readers: Is it legal to have TelePrompTers in city council meetings? Technology is a double-edged sword. Case in point are local city council meetings where, in some cases, cities have issued iPads to city council members where these small lightweight devices replace the large cumbersome 3-ring binders containing the current Agenda and backup material for each meeting. While innocent enough, these same iPads can also be used almost like TelePrompTers where other council members can signal their colleagues how to vote or to respond to tough questioning by applicants and those opposing specific agenda issues. Those inputs can come from two feet away to the council chambers or anywhere in the world while the average person sitting in the council chambers or watching at home is clueless that this could and may actually be occurring. In a five-member city council it is not a violation of the Brown Act for two members to discuss specific city business. However, to have the technology that enables them to look smart while getting prompted by the use of an iPad is troubling if not illegal. This reminds me of the movie “Broadcast News” with Bill Hurt, Albert Brooks and Holly Hunter where the news anchor is getting input to his earpiece from the show producer. These mini TelePrompTers should not be permitted inside the chambers. Each council member should be capable of standing on his or her own without the crutch of outside support. They can have the iPad at home but should use the 3-ring binders in open session meetings to avoid the perception of clouds overhead impacting their ultimate decision making. |
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Smart Meters and Agenda 21 The 405/605 Tea Party Patriots are presenting a seminar, “Are Smart Meters Part of U.N.’s Agenda 21?” When: Sat., Mar. 2, 10:00 a.m. (Lunch will be provided.) The speakers will inform attendees on
United Nation's Agenda 21 is a program developed by interests outside the United States that seek to establish influences and controls of our homes and government at every level. These interests will affect community planning, property rights, utility services including water and sewer, energy production use, and trade. Some controls have already been adopted by various governments. At first, the agenda's goals seem reasonable and altruistic. The agenda keeps changing but has never decreased in its scope. This continual growth raises alarm about the advancement of the agenda, which has avoided proper debate and ratification in the Senate. All citizens should be aware of this agenda. After all, what should anyone expect from a group that had placed Libya on its Human Rights Commission? For additional information, visit www.StopOCSmartMeters.com |
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ACT! for America The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., Mar. 11. Bring a friend. This is a great opportunity to share your concerns with others! Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. America Under Siege! A Constitutional Attorney Reveals the Myriad Domestic & Foreign Forces Threatening Our Security, Our Liberties and Our Values By Brad Dacus, Founder and President of the Pacific Justice Institute Does it ever seem as if our Constitutional rights and Judeo/Christian values are under attack on every front? Well, they are. We're experiencing an unprecedented level of activism to undermine the very bedrock foundations of our nation. From our schools to our justice department, judicial system, Congress and the White House, our nation is being infiltrated and influenced by powerful groups that want to destroy the values and rights that made America great. In this presentation you will learn why these times are so trying for freedom-loving Americans. Global geo-political forces and internal organizations are making great headway in their quest for power and control. Islamists, progressives, Greens, gays, and others are well organized, well-funded and making progress towards their goal of overthrowing the rule of law. Brad will discuss:
Brad Dacus is an attorney and the founder and president of the Pacific Justice Institute, a conservative public interest law firm that defends Constitutional liberties and parental rights. It is the antidote to the ACLU, an organization whose president Brad has debated twice. With its network of approximately 1,000 volunteer affiliate attorneys, the Pacific Justice Institute accepts more cases on the West Coast than any other organization of its kind. Brad hosts a popular radio show, The Pacific Justice Report, Saturday mornings on KWVE. He is a rising star in conservative, Judeo/Christian and patriotic communities and is a powerful advocate for freedom, equal rights, national security and the Constitution. Brad will speak for about 50 minutes and then we will have about 20 minutes for questions. A $5 donation is appreciated to help cover our meeting costs. The meeting location is the Norman P. Murray Community Center 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA (Sycamore B room). Sign up for our ACT! for America chapter announcements at www.act4oc.org |
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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. La Vida Drum Circle, Mon., Feb. 25, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., group meets on the evening of every full moon (Mar. 27, April 25, May 24, etc.). Drummers are welcome to bring their own drums or use an extra the group has. Firewood is appreciated for the bonfire, Aliso Beach, Aliso and Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 275-7544, http://www.lavidalaguna.com/full-moon-drum-circle 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. Concerts at Soka: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields on Sun, Mar. 3, 3:00 p.m.; Apollo’s Fire baroque band on Sun. Mar. 10, 7:00 p.m. Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu “Having it All,” new musical by John Kavanaugh, Mar. 5 through March 31, Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach , (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com First Thursday Art Walk, Laguna Beach, Thurs., March 7, 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/ San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association events: El Presidente Ball at the El Adobe Restaurant on Sat., Mar. 16, 6:30 p.m.,; 54th Annual Swallows’ Day Parade and Mercado on Sat., Mar. 23, parade begins at 11:00 a.m. and Mercado from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. http://www.swallowsparade.com/taste.html Recycling Drive at St. Kilian’s Church, held on one Saturday each month. March date to be announced. Organized by Knights of Columbus; acceptable items include aluminum, paper and plastic. No longer accepting glass or cardboard. Lower parking lot, 26872 Estanciero Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 472-1249, http://www.stkilianchurch.org |
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Political and Government Events Calendar Tea Party Sentinels of Laguna Woods Village will meet on Mon., Feb. 25, doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. Guest speaker Ben Shapiro of Breitbart.com will discuss the Constitution, gun rights and freedom, Laguna Woods Clubhouse 7, 24113 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Woods. No security pass is needed at this gate. Organizer is Dick Palmer, http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/events/104227462/ Orange County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tues., Feb. 26, 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 Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will hold a meeting on Tues., Feb. 26, at 6:30 p.m. “if necessary.” The next regular board meeting will be Tues., Mar. 12, 6:30 p.m., 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ 2013 Orange County DUI Summit, Wed., Feb. 27, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., information on DUI and solutions, Concordia University, DeNault Auditorium, 1530 Concordia, Irvine, http://media.ocgov.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=23426 Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors will meet on Wed., Feb. 27, at 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Wed., Feb. 27, 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/ California Republican Party Spring Convention, March 1-3, Hyatt Regency Sacramento, Sacramento Convention Center, http://cagop.org/crpconvention.asp Rush Limbaugh Club, Sat., Mar. 9. Breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m., meeting 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Casta Del Sol Golf Course Clubhouse, 27601 Casta Del Sol Road, Mission Viejo, make reservations by emailing reservations@rushlimbaughclubocv.com, http://www.rushlimbaughcluboc.com Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., Mar. 11. 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. Celebrate former First Lady Pat Nixon’s Birthday at the Nixon Library on Sun., Mar. 17, 11:00 a.m. The library will observe the 101st anniversary of the birth of Mrs. Nixon with free admission all day, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., Mar. 21, 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. |
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The Buzz Blog reader response: “How about accounting for all of Mission Viejo when discussing slopes? The south half of the city has areas that are just as bad as the north half. Drive south, especially on Felipe, and then report on the whole city.” *** Council members are being directed to ask questions of city staff ahead of time instead of in front of the public during council meetings. Is it to give employees time to create another dog and phony slideshow like Keith Rattay’s during the Feb. 4 meeting? It is far more revealing to watch city staffers react to spontaneous questions. For openers, they either know the answers or should know. If city administrators with annual pay of six figures cannot be held accountable to know their own departments, why are they attending council meetings? After Rattay’s attempt to confuse everyone on Feb. 4, another city administrator tried a different approach during the Feb. 18 meeting: Cheryl Dyas, the city’s chief financial officer, didn’t respond to a spontaneous question about the city’s quarterly financial report. Will she answer at the next council meeting on Mar. 4? *** Wendy Bucknum lost her bid for a council seat in November 2012, but she’s still campaigning. Those attending events at any time of day say “she’s everywhere.” Is she taking time off from work to attend? No, it’s her job as a lobbyist for Professional Community Management, and her employer pays her to attend meetings. Bucknum has lied to other attendees, either presenting herself as a volunteer or falsely saying she works for Laguna Woods. When community members discover Bucknum is a professional lobbyist, they get away from her. *** Post from Mission Viejo watchdog Larry Gilbert: Sent: Tue, Feb. 19. Subject: Mission Viejo Investment Advisory Commission meeting. Late this afternoon the Mission Advisory Commission held its quarterly meeting beginning with each of the former and newest members taking the Oath of office. Unanimously selected to serve as Chairman was Scott Whelchel representing council member Dave Leckness. Dave was present at the meeting. This was followed by the unanimous selection of Kyle Kamrooz to serve as Vice Chair. Kyle was appointed by council member Frank Ury. The other three members were Ellen Addonizio representing council member Cathy Schlicht (who was present), David Mansdoefer, who was appointed by council member Trish Kelley, and Ed Sachs who was appointed by Mayor Rhonda Reardon. During Agenda Item #4, the chairman asked Treasurer Cheryl Dyas to explain our revenue declining $10 million. Cheryl explained that part of this decline was due to the $4.8 million we recently sent to the County as required by the Department of Finance because of RDA activity after the termination of our redevelopment agency. Scott did not press her further as to the balance. A lengthy discussion of Agenda item #10 led to this meeting lasting 90 minutes. The topic was the Broker/Dealer selection process. Citizen Steven Wontrobski requested to address the Commission and read allegations as to U.B.S. failing to be a "trustworthy" source. He shared an article from the Times in which UBS settled one case after paying a settlement of $22.7 billion dollars. In addition to U.B.S. Steve also requested that B of A be removed from our approved list of bidders. There was discussion of expanding our list of participants to include secondary brokers. Josie Julian commented that due to the closure of our redevelopment agency we are down to having only one trade per month. You can never know what information citizens can pick up by attending these official city meetings. Case in point is the Lennar housing project at Jeronimo and Los Alisos. We were told that there are still 14 affordable units in that complex where we will eventually be obligated to provide around $70,000 each in affordable housing offset to the developer. Before departing Dave suggested moving this commission meeting from the Saddleback Room into the council chambers. Cathy pointed out that as she arrived late the door was locked and the meeting was not noticed on the city meeting board as required. |
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