Single Page Text Only




	Fire Hazard Zones Letter to the Editor Let’s place a perspective on the issue at hand [regarding proposed fire zone changes in Mission Viejo by Cal Fire, the state fire protection agency]: First and foremost, both the individual and the community have obligations to safeguard our homes and community. Government should ONLY provide information and suggested guidelines to help with this effort. But mandates without transparency, funding and our input are NOT going to work. Cal Fire will not make their models and the algorithms that drive the model available, hiding behind the excuse of “proprietary.” These models are suspect at best. One also has to wonder about an unhealthy relationship between Cal Fire and the BIA (Builders Industry Association) with the large contributions by the BIA to Councilman Frank Ury. The maps are flawed, as demonstrated by many speakers [during the hearing at he Mar. 5 Mission Viejo City Council meeting]. Community input should be from the community and NOT left for city administrators to determine. As structured now, the Council should not endorse the various proposals as submitted by the Orange County Fire Authority, particularly the encapsulation of all three fire zones. The City of Mission Viejo is by far the biggest offender concerning vegetation management. Examples are many—just start by driving down Jeronimo from Marguerite Parkway to Olympiad and look at the Pampas Grass (listed as a plant to remove by the OCFA), lack of tree maintenance—liming up, and the dead non-native plants and grasses. In addition, drive down Camelote Street in Mission Viejo that has city open lands across from residential houses. This area is an abomination and a super fire hazard—owned by the City of Mission Viejo. I would add that all of the Wilderness Glenn Area comes into the same classification of city neglect. As I stated during my public comments at the Mar. 5 meeting, it is time to stop building monuments, kiosks and obelisks in our parks and start maintaining our trees and slopes. The areas east of Olympiad and Felipe are another example of city and county neglect with wide swaths of untended and non-maintained areas waiting for a fire to start. Once again, this is a city issue that should be addressed. It is time for us to stop spending money on special interest feel-good projects like the Tennis Center, Dog Park, Electronic Signs, celebration flags, words of the month, freebie movies, and potted medians and pay attention to the safety of our community as a whole. Joe Holtzman Mission Viejo

	SRA Meets on Mar. 15 Saddleback Republican Assembly will meet on Thurs., Mar. 15, 7:00 p.m., at the Mission Viejo Community Center. The topic of the program will be the Republican Primary race for the 45th Congressional District seat. Guest speakers will be John Webb, who is running as a challenger, and Lou Penrose will represent Congressman John Campbell at the meeting. Campbell is running for reelection, and Penrose serves as his district director. The newly drawn 45th Congressional District includes all of Mission Viejo, which formerly was in the 42nd District, represented by Congressman Gary Miller. SRA meets on the third Thursday of most months. Meetings are free of charge and open to the public. SRA provides awareness of government issues and an opportunity to meet officials from federal, state and local government, as well as leaders of private-sector organizations. The group meets at the Norm Murray Community Center, Jacaranda Room-B, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. For additional information, call Dale Tyler, (949) 360-1717, or Don Covel, (949) 855-6581.

	CUSD Update Capistrano Unified School District’s financial outlook is getting bleaker by the day. It seems that every agenda contains an item that discusses additional compensation to the staff. With 90 percent (or 92 percent according to Supt. Farley) of the CUSD budget funding salaries and benefits, every dollar that is given to the staff has to be cut from the students. According to the Feb. 13, 2012, agenda the district was anticipating a $30-million shortfall, with an additional shortfall of $18 million if the tax initiative fails, and another $2 million if the proposed cuts to transportation funding are replaced by a revenue-limit reduction for a total of $50 million. Less than 30 days later, per the March 12 agenda, the district is now citing a potential shortfall of $33.5 million, or a shortfall of $51 million if the tax initiative does not pass. Whether or not the district remains financially solvent appears to be entirely up to the CUSD unions. Agenda item #4 is a Memorandum of Understanding with CUEA (the Teachers Union). Per the MOU, "the October 2011 tentative agreement between the CUEA and the District included a provision that the parties would continue to meet until an equitable resolution was reached regarding the kindergarten instructional minutes." The agreement reached: We need to fairly compensate the kindergarten teachers for the additional 12 minutes they are teaching – 12 minutes! The Cost? $179,000. While taxpayers think about the last time their boss paid them for 12 extra minutes of work, consider some of the following information currently listed on the CUEA website under "Contract Close-Up." K-5 teachers are required to be "on the job 7 hours per day including 35 minutes for duty-free lunch." Everyone should take some time to read the entire CUEA contract to fully understand why there is no money left in CUSD. Classroom teachers are to be present at their respective assignments and to remain on duty to the District a minimum of time as follows: In elementary schools, grades K-5 and Special Day Class/ Infant/pre K Programs: Seven hours per day, inclusive of a minimum 35-minute duty-free lunch. In middle schools, grades 6-7-8: Fifteen minutes prior to the commencement of the first period of the day, excluding zero period, to 15 minutes after the dismissal of the school day. In high schools, grades 9-12: Fifteen minutes prior to commencement of the first period of the day, excluding zero period. Seven hours per day, exclusive of the 35-minute duty-free lunch period and inclusive of passing time. Class Size and Release Time Depending on your specific situation and your current class size, you may be eligible to receive additional planning time. (What does this mean? Extra days off with pay.) Personal Necessity Days – There Are 7 One of the major contract changes effective in 2011-12 is the addition of 4 more "PN" days. Three "No-Tell" Personal Necessity Days New contract language was adopted last spring allowing for three (3) "No Tell" days. Refer to Article 10.3.3 in the CUEA/CUSD Contract now online at the CUEA website. There is no restriction as to when those days may be taken. Keep in mind that these 3 days are part of the 7 PN days allowed per year as enumerated in Article 10.3. Class Size Release (time off if class size goes beyond the negotiated size) Due to shrinking resources, the demand to release teachers for either on-site or off-site conferences has significantly decreased over the last year. This has increased the availability of substitutes. Teachers should not experience substitute shortages to utilize maximum class size release day(s) due to them. Elementary Class Size Maximum Kindergarten: 33 or more 4th/5th Grade: 34 students or more Middle and High School Class Size Maximum English, science, math, history, and foreign language teachers: 36 or more High School: 37 or more CUSD pays the full-time salary of the CUEA Union President from the general fund. This position offers NOTHING to the students, so why isn't the union reimbursing the district for this cost?

	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. 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/ Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in concert, Fri., Mar. 16, 8:00 p.m., Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 556-2787, http://www.scfta.org In San Juan Capistrano: El Presidente Ball at El Adobe Restaurant on Sat., Mar. 17, 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; St. Joseph’s Day at the Mission on Mon., Mar. 19; Fiesta Grande at Swallows Inn on Wed., Mar. 21, 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Hoosegow Day on the streets of SJC on Fri., Mar. 23, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Swallows’ Day Parade on Sat., Mar. 24, 11:00 a.m.; Mercado on Sat., Mar. 24, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., San Juan Capistrano, http://www.swallowsparade.com/ Dove Dash and Pancake Breakfast, Sun., Mar. 18, 8:00 a.m., 11th annual 5K and Kids Fun Run, benefit for Ryan’s Reach and High Hopes Neurological Recovery Group, 32001 Dove Canyon Drive, Dove Canyon, (949) 733-0046, http://www.ryansreach.com/ Concerts at Soka University: Emanuel Ax solo piano recital on Sun., Mar. 18, 7:00 p.m., Jazz Monsters on Fri., Mar. 23, 7:00 p.m., 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu/news_events/events/default.aspx “Greatest Hits: France,” concert at Crossline Church, Fri., Mar. 23, 7:30 p.m., South Coast Symphony performs Debussy, Ravel and Paul Dukas, 23331 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills, (714) 731-8079, http://southcoastsymphony.org/tickets/ Quarter Mania fundraiser to benefit A Way of Life retreat for women who have had cancer, Sat., April 7, auction from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. Doors open at 10:45 a.m., lunch at 11:30 a.m., $20 cost includes lunch. OLN Conference Center, 1938 Avenida del Oro, Oceanside. RSVP by March 23, Sue LaVoie, 6516 California Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90805. For more information, call Sue LaVoie, (562) 480-4163, or Melissa Maki, (619) 840-0970. Tanaka Farms Strawberry Tours, weekends through June 24, educational activities for children and adults. Tours begin every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tanaka Farms, 5380 University Dr., Irvine, (949) 653-2100, ext. 204, http://www.tanakafarms.com/ “California Gold” exhibit, through Sept. 30, open Tues. through Sun., 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 567-3600, http://www.bowers.org/index.php/art/exhibitions_listing/current Movies, Edwards Kaleidoscope Stadium 10 in Mission Viejo, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, (949) 582-4020, get show times, watch movie trailers, see what's coming soon at http://www.moviefone.com/theater/edwards-kaleidoscope-stadium-10/32/showtimes Michaels, ongoing and new classes throughout March: sewing, Wilton Decorating, painting and crafts, 25310 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo, (949) 770-5001 http://locations.michaels.com/CA/MISSION-VIEJO/8513/index.html Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, ongoing and new classes this week: how to sew, decorate cakes, quilt, knit, crochet and more, 26672 Portola Parkway, Foothill Ranch, (949) 588-7420, http://Joann.com

	Political and Government Events Calendar Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Engineering and Operations on Mon., Mar. 12, 9:00 a.m., Finance and I.T. on Wed., Mar. 14, 9:00 a.m., Board of Directors on Thurs., Mar. 15, 5:30 p.m., 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://www.mnwd.com/board-of-directors/agenda.aspx Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees, regular meeting on Mon., Mar. 12, 7:00 p.m., 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/ ACT for America, Mon., Mar. 12; the meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be Steven Martel. The meeting will be held at the Norman Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet Tues., Mar. 13. The board workshop on board policies will begin at 4:30 p.m., open to the public. The regular board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the district office, 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us Saddleback Republican Assembly meets on Thurs., Mar. 15, 7:00 p.m.; guest speakers will be Lou Penrose (District Director for Cong. John Campbell) and John Webb, who is challenging Campbell in the June Primary. SRA meets on third Thursdays at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Jacaranda Room-B, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 360-1717. Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Engineering Committee on Fri., Mar. 16, 7:30 a.m., Finance Committee on Fri., Mar. 23, 7:30 a.m.; Board of Directors on Wed., Mar. 28, 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com/about-us/meeting-agendas.html Celebrate Pat Nixon’s Centennial Birthday, Fri., Mar. 16, free admission to the Nixon Library. Julie Nixon Eisenhower opens the new Pat Nixon Centennial Exhibit, “People Were Her Project.” Activities, featured guests and programs, Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://events.nixonfoundation.org Concert at the Nixon Library: Sun., Mar. 18, Judith Leny, pianist. Doors open at 1:15 p.m., and concerts begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Concerts are free and open to the public. Schedule is subject to change. Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 464-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org El Toro Water District meetings: Engineering, Finance, Insurance Committee on Tues., Mar. 20, 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Mar. 22, 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, Tuesday, Mar. 20, 9:30 a.m. The other meeting this month is on Mar. 27; no meeting on Mar. 13. Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://www.ocgov.com/ocgov/Government/Board%20of%20Supervisors Capistrano Valley Republican Women Federated, Wed., Mar. 21, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., guest speaker will be Pulitzer Prize winner editorial cartoonist Michael Ramirez, Marbella Country Club, 30800 Golf Club Drive, San Juan Capistrano, RSVP to Sue Schultz, (949) 240-6799, esue39@cox.net Aliso Viejo Republican Women Federated, Thurs., Mar. 22, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., guest speaker will be Hon. Scott Baugh, Chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County, Aliso Viejo Conference Center, 31 Santa Barbara Drive, Aliso Viejo, RSVP to (949) 859-2818. South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, Mon., Mar. 26. Meeting times unless otherwise posted: open session convenes at 5 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 Live Broadcast of the Hugh Hewitt Show, Thurs., April 12, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., featuring Del Wilber, author of “Rawhide Down: the Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan,” Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 464-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org Rush Limbaugh Club of OC, Sat., April 14, breakfast meeting 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Casta Del Sol Golf Club, 27601 Casta Del Sol Road, Mission Viejo. RSVP to Bruce Brown, (949) 487-5288 or limbaughcluboc@aol.com . http://www.rushlimbaughcluboc.com Celebration of Justice, save the date, Sat., May 12, 5:00 p.m., Pacific Justice Institute fundraiser, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, Anaheim.

	The Buzz On Mar. 5, the council considered an ordinance identifying very high severity fire zones and then delayed making a decision. When Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht asked the city attorney if all property owners are responsible for reducing fire hazards, he said yes. Residents pointed to the city’s failure to remove trees and other vegetation creating significant fire hazards. City staff members – particularly Keith Rattay – have touted Mission Viejo as a “tree city with a million trees.” The numbers reached that level partly through the city’s negligence – refusal to remove trees and other vegetation from city property – creating tinderboxes adjacent to homes. * When Mission Viejo escaped devastating damage in recent years, the saving grace came largely through acts of nature and strokes of luck. During the 2007 wildfires, the fire line reached Mission Viejo’s border, and then the wind shifted. Severe windstorms this season battered neighboring areas, but not Mission Viejo. Residents now are being asked to carry the burden of risk, having their property rezoned to accommodate government negligence. * Absent from the dais during the Mar. 5 fire map discussions were Councilmen Frank Ury and Dave Leckness. They recused themselves, saying their homes are “close” to the areas being discussed. What’s really too close for comfort, especially for Ury, is the risk of going up against the firefighter’s union. Remaining on the dais, Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht, Rhonda Reardon and Trish Kelley asked the Orange County Fire Authority and city staff to come up with options, to be taken up again at a future meeting. * The city staff’s glossy and pointless “Outlook” magazine arrived in mailboxes last week. It contains happy talk but no substance – no data about the city’s diminishing funds and certainly no mention of wildfire issues. However, taxpayers can enjoy reading about the city’s next party. Incredibly, participants are invited to join in an Earth Day Festival and Volunteer Planting. This is the annual event in which thousands of trees and shrubs are supposedly “donated” by vendors (who are already billing the taxpayers, so no one knows what is donated or purchased). When volunteers don’t materialize, the city pays for contract workers to plant all that remains, which is practically the entire delivery. The event is then pronounced a huge success. * Another publication controlled by the city staff, Saddleback Valley News, published photos in its Mar. 9 issue of City Hall’s “Up, up and away” fiasco. A two-paragraph story says “hundreds” attended. The photographer apparently had trouble finding any attendee who wasn’t a city staffer or a resident of another city. With 150-plus city employees, plus such event performers as “stilt walkers” and vendors in booths, “hundreds” of people are well accounted for. * As for the above mention of SVN being under the thumb of the city staff, activists several years ago uncovered an exchange of emails between City Manager Dennis Wilberg and SVN employees. Wilberg not only directed what they should publish, he gave them a list of people to call or interview about city “news.” Since that time, SVN has published virtually no letters to the editor except reprints from the OC Register – usually about national or global topics. So-called news briefs generated by city employees, formerly attributed to SVN “staff,” now have no attribution at all. * The Planning and Transportation Commission meets on Mon., Mar. 12, 6:30 p.m. Agenda Item No. 3 is the first public meeting on the proposed land swap with the county, making way for the city’s proposed $1-million-plus dog park. Agenda Item No. 4 is UDR’s request to remove the affordable housing component from its very high density apartment project on the former K-mart site. * Christian-basher James Corbett is challenging Assemblywoman Diane Harkey in the 73rd A.D. Twenty-three people have filed to become candidates for six seats in the Republican Central Committee’s 73rd Assembly District. As with the GOP Central Committee race of 2010, some of the “Republican” candidates had to change their voter registrations to Republican in order to run. Fortunately, none of the pseudo-Republicans won in this A.D. in 2010 (Mission Viejo was in the 71st prior to redistricting). Here’s a link to the list of June Primary 2012 candidates, comprising 101 pages of the stampede for office: http://ocvote.com/election/pri2012/candlog.pdf * The lamestream media reported last month that Obama’s popularity was surging. According to the most recent Rasmussen Daily Tracking (3-11-12), he’s in the tank with a -19 index. Twenty-five percent of the nation’s voters strongly approve and 44 percent strongly disapprove of the way he is performing his role as president. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_his tory * ACT for America Chapter Leader Bruce Mayall sent out a reminder of the group’s meeting on Mon., Mar. 12. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. The guest speaker will be Steven Martel, author, futurist, philosopher and passionate advocate for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. His topic will be “Shariah, Islamic Law: a grave threat to America’s existence?” The meeting location is the Norman P. Murray Community Center, Sycamore B room, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Sign up for chapter announcements at www.act4oc.org * Atlas PAC is supporting several events this month. On Wed., Mar. 14, attend a reception and dinner with Speaker John Boehner at The Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. Attending will be Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher, Ed Royce, John Campbell and Ken Calvert. RSVP to Stacy Davis at (949) 474-6930 or stacy@stacydavis.com . On Sun., Mar. 25, join Congressman Dana Rohrabacher’s annual Irish pub event from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Skosh Monahan’s Pub, 2000 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, RSVP to Irish2012@gmail.com or (714) 655-9420. Attend Robert Hammond’s State Assembly Reception on Sat., Mar. 17, 5:00 p.m., at 1075 Castlerock Ln., Santa Ana, call Dawn at (714) 263-5122 for information. Jon Dumitru is running for Mayor of Orange and holding a fundraiser on Wed., Mar. 28, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., The District Lounge, 223 W. Chapman, Orange, RSVP to Danielle at (949) 230-9609 or dumitruformayor@gmail.com . Special rates for Atlas PAC members on some of the above.

	To Comment on any of our articles this week please email us by clicking on this link. All emails will be held in the strictest confidence. If you want you comment considered for publication, please put “Publish” in the subject.