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Too Many ‘Innocent Mistakes’ Here we find city residents having to deal with those who believe themselves to be beyond clever. Once again, we find ourselves having to roll our eyes in disbelief, as the city tells us that, oops, we forgot to consider irrigation for the Dog Park. A Dog Park that requires grass was found not to need water in the initial scoping of the project. The Dog Park that, after years of debate, was only passed just after the last council election. The Dog Park that started as some $800,000 of expense to the city and its residents. The Dog Park that then upon passing comes at a cost of $1.1M to residents in Phase 1. And does it not beg the question that if you have a Phase 1, it would follow that you would have a Phase 2, or 3, or more? And now, a Change Order asking Mission Viejo residents for an additional $190,600 is presented for approval. The reason staff and council are asked for more residents’ money is that somebody once again neglected to include irrigation in the initial specs of the city project. There is a familiar ring to this, as I believe it was Change Order #6 for the Marguerite Tennis Center that called for Council rushing to include irrigation that was discovered missing at the very last minute. A Change Order that Councilman Ury manipulated UDR to prepay $500,000 in park fees in order to cover the cost of that Change Order. Ultimately, a project that ballooned to over $5M if memory serves. This City Council majority is earning a reputation as being incapable of properly managing a project on behalf of the city. There is a serious lack somewhere that takes into consideration what it would actually cost to bring a project to full completion. Is this because either the council or city staff is incompetent, irresponsible, incapable or deceitful? After all the many projects necessitating Change Orders in this City, residents should no longer conclude that this is just an oversight or an innocent mistake. I have no idea if these tactics are coming from City Council members themselves, or City Staff suggestions, or both. We may never know in reality. However, to believe that this tactic is anything but a dereliction of due diligence by council members on behalf of the city would necessitate a disbelief in laws of probability. Any council, or staff member, that is party to this deceit should be ashamed of himself or herself. |
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Taxpayer Alert How many of us wake up in the morning and think to ourselves, "gee I can't wait to go to work this morning and pay for a someone else’s mortgage while they go on an all-expenses paid vacation to Bali." That’s basically what happened when Councilmembers Dave Leckness (up for re-election) and Frank Ury voted to grant a waiver to a “low-income” applicant for a taxpayer-subsidized unit. The unit in question is part of a development subsidized by the taxpayers of Mission Viejo (“MV”), called “The Ridge.” This development is comprised of 144 units with 17 Very Low-Income and 5 Low-Income, costing MV taxpayers over $3.5 million dollars. So how does a vacation to Bali figure into this? The applicant in question applied for a low-income unit within The Ridge. Lennar, the developer, told the applicant to pay off her car loan, which she did with "gift money" from her Dad. This pushed her over the Annual Gross Income limit and the applicant was declined. But three MV City Council members – Dave Leckness, Frank Ury and Rhonda Reardon – passed three actions to change the Mission Viejo Housing Authority (“MVHA”) policy which enabled the applicant to qualify (Cathy Schlicht voted no and Trish Kelly was absent). (Read the rest of the story: http://www.ccsense.com/2013/10/mission-viejo_3707.html#more ) |
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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. 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. La Vida Drum Circle, Fri., Oct. 18, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., group meets on the evening of every full moon (Oct. 18, Nov. 17, Dec. 17, 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/ Lake Eerie at Lake Mission Viejo, Fri.-Sat., Oct. 18-19, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Halloween activities, food and entertainment, balloon artist and Star Wars Light Saber Show. Lake members and their guests, (949) 770-1313, http://www.lakemissionviejo.org/ St. Kilian’s Recycling Drive, Sat., Oct. 19, 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 Soka University concerts, Pacific Symphony on Sun., Oct. 20, 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Italian Opera Festival, Fri.-Sun., Oct. 25-27, includes “A Night in Venice,” “Viva Verdi,” and “Baroque Passion.” Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu The Laguna Playhouse presents Noel Coward’s “Fallen Angels,” through Nov. 3, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://purchase.lagunaplayhouse.com/single/psDetail.aspx?psn=3576 Mount of Olives Church, Sun., Nov. 3, (first Sunday of each month) bring food for the SHARE Food Drive, http://moochurch.org/share . Mount of Olives Church, 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://www.moochurch.org/ Concordia University’s Studio Theatre presents “Falling,” Fri.-Sat., Nov. 8-9, 7:30 p.m., drama about a family raising an autistic teenager, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, (949) 854-8002, http://www.cui.edu/AcademicPrograms/Undergraduate/Music/tabid/302/ctl/Details/Mid/2322/I temID/161/Default.aspx |
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Political and Government Events Calendar Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Engineering and Operations on Mon., Oct. 14, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Finance and Information Technology on Wed., Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Oct. 17, 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/ Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., Oct. 14. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. 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. The organization meets on the second Monday of the month. Capistrano Valley Republican Women Federated, Wed., Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m., at the Marbella Country Club, 30800 Golf Club Drive, San Juan Capistrano. CVRWF meets on third Wednesdays. Call (949) 496-2525 for reservations, http://cvrwf.org Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., Oct. 17, 7:00 p.m. The program will be a roundtable discussion of problems and solutions. SRA meets on third Thursdays (except in July, August and September) at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Jacaranda Room-B, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 769-1412. Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Finance Committee on Fri., Oct. 18, 7:30 a.m.; Board of Directors on Wed., Oct. 23, at 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com SOC912, Fri., Oct. 18, 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., Norm Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Program will include viewing the video “Fracknation – the Truth about Fracking.” A $5 donation at the door will help pay for costs; free to first-time visitors and young people through age 24. http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/events/143785502/ Nixon Library concert on Sun., Oct. 20, classical and pop pianist Rush Robinson. Doors open at 1:30 and the concert begins at 2:00 p.m. On Mon., Nov. 4, 7:00 p.m., “Meet Ann Coulter,” Distinguished Speakers Series Lecture and Book Signing, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting on Tues., Oct. 22, 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 will meet “if necessary” on Tues., Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m. The next regular board meeting is Tues., Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m., 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Wed., Oct. 23, 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/ OC Veterans Advisory Council, Wed., Nov. 11, 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 |
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The Buzz The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., Oct. 14. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., and the meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. The speaker will be Nonie Darwish, author and human rights activist. Her topic will be “Understanding the Turmoil in Syria and Egypt: an Egyptian-American’s perspective on the Arab Winter.” The organization meets on second Tuesdays of the month at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Sycamore B Room, Mission Viejo. *** Saddleback Republican Assembly will host a roundtable discussion on government problems and solutions on Thurs., Oct. 17. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Call (949) 769-1412 for additional information. *** On Fri., Oct. 18, 7:00 p.m., SOC912 members and guests will view the documentary “Fracknation.” From SOC912’s announcement about the video, “It is a journalist's search for fracking truth and a direct rebuttal to the leftist production of the documentary ‘Gasland!’” SOC912 meets at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Visit SOC912’s website, http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/events/143785502/ *** According to an attendee of Ury’s big-bang campaign kickoff on Sept. 25, it bombed. Ury’s opening event to run for OC Board of Supervisors was held in Laguna Hills. The attendee said 35-40 people were there, and half of them were “comped.” If Frank were to gather all his friends in one place, they could meet in his car. *** As examples of Ury’s campaign misfires in Mission Viejo, he had no ground game during his 2008 or 2012 council races. On the one occasion when he tried having a street-corner rally, a single person was holding a Ury sign at La Paz and Marguerite. When engaged in a conversation with a city watchdog, the sign-holder said he didn’t know Ury. He didn’t say he was paid to stand there, but those who do know Ury certainly weren’t holding his signs. Last fall before the city election, two Ury guys were observed placing his signs around Trabuco Hills High School on Back-To-School Night. In the crowd of parents and volunteers from other campaigns in casual dress, Ury’s backers emerged from their black luxury car in three-piece suits to place signs on school property. An observer said, “I haven’t seen anyone dressed like that for Back-To-School. They looked like hired guns.” Less than three minutes after Ury’s shills got back into their fancy car, school administrators came out and removed Ury’s signs from school property. *** Mission Viejo’s perpetual council candidate Wendy Bucknum is having another fundraiser on Nov. 6. While it’s unusual for a city council challenger to have a fundraiser a year ahead of the election, Bucknum has never stopped campaigning following her November 2012 loss. Her current money problems stem from an $8,000 debt, the amount she loaned her campaign shortly before the November election. She had run out of Other People’s Money, so she kicked in $8,000 of her own. She held a fundraiser on Feb. 26 and she netted only a few hundred dollars. At that rate, she’d need 10 to 20 such parties just to pay herself back. If Bucknum can’t raise enough money to pay off her 2012 debt, perhaps she’ll have second thoughts about launching another losing campaign for 2014. *** Observers of the 2012 city election noted Bucknum’s extensive lineup of endorsements. At city events, Bucknum presents herself as a community member and mom. However, a non-incumbent house frau wouldn’t be able to amass such endorsements. For a fact, Bucknum is a professional lobbyist who is employed in the housing industry, and her endorsements are her lobbying “customers.” With that knowledge, voters should be disgusted with the names on her list – elected officials who sell their votes to special interest. In the 2012 election, Assemblywoman Diane Harkey and State Senator Mimi Walters were doing back-flips to get Bucknum on Mission Viejo’s city council. Harkey is now running for state Board of Equalization, and Walters is a candidate for John Campbell’s Congressional seat. *** During the Oct. 7 council meeting, Ury left in a huff as soon as the meeting ended. His anger stemmed from an exchange with Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht. She stated that voters should get money back from the city if there were truly a “budget surplus.” Ury said residents don’t want their money back. Instead of becoming distracted with Ury’s ridiculous remark, everyone should question whether there’s really any money to give back. The city has been running a deficit for several years, with another deficit likely for the current fiscal year. A phony “budget surplus” results from city staff’s underestimate of revenue. Their annual error is then compounded by a misnomer when they call the miscalculation a surplus. Councilwoman Schlicht suggested returning any surplus to taxpayers instead of allowing city employees to “piddle it away” on such wasteful projects as a million-dollar-plus dog park. *** Questions regarding a city charge card were posted on this blog last week, http://www.missionviejoca.org/html/buzz88.html . In the last fiscal year, more than $250,000 was charged to the card, which is in City Manager Dennis Wilberg’s name. Use of the card was approved by the council several years ago when Wilberg said he wanted to simplify the process of making reservations to attend conferences. The council moved during the Oct. 7 meeting to audit expenses on the card. Consider the questions of where money is coming from or if it is being used for such things as propping up city hall’s failed Farmer’s Market. As another question, how did a July 13 dog park “fundraiser” in front of city hall report $20,000 in “proceeds” without disclosing expenses of ads, printing, promotion and who paid for “free” tickets? According to council direction, the audit will be internal with a city staffer accounting for Wilberg’s $250,000 slush fund. *** The Orange County Fire Authority received a slap on the wrist during the OC Board of Supervisors’ Oct. 8 meeting. Supv. Todd Spitzer’s agendized item addressed an email solicitation issued by OCFA, inviting current ambulance vendors to a private meeting on bids the fire agency will consider. The email appeared to give current providers preferential treatment. The document can be read at *** The Oct. 11 Saddleback Valley News reported “the city” paid a private security company $1,920 to guard a contractor’s equipment on public property. It shouldn’t have and, by the way, the article makes no sense. A contractor’s equipment is covered by its insurance. SVN’s article looked like a press release from city hall with a newspaper reporter’s name on it. During the Oct. 7 council meeting, Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht questioned the expenditure, which may have precipitated city hall writing a press release about it. During the council meeting, the amount reported to the public was only $620. |
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