Results of Performing Arts Facility discussed and outstanding schools, administrator honored Tuesday
The City Council on Tuesday considered the results of a Performing Arts Facility Feasibility Study and honored three Mission Viejo schools and an administrator for outstanding achievements.
As part of the Performing Arts Theater Feasibility Study, residents were asked last year to provide input about what types of events they would want to see in Mission Viejo and how a new space could serve the community's preferences for live entertainment. The results of that study revealed strong support for performing arts in Mission Viejo, and the Council authorized City staff to take the next steps to determine whether there is fundraising capacity in the community to support a potential theater and provide that additional data to the Council to inform future decisions.
During the presentation portion of the meeting, Carl Hankey Middle School, La Paz Intermediate School and Mission Viejo High School were honored for each being named by the California Department of Education as a 2024 California Distinguished School for academic excellence and outstanding student achievement. The Council also recognized Bathgate Elementary School Principal Natalie Odebunmi for being selected as Elementary School Administrator of the Year by the Capistrano Unified School District.
In other Council news, Public Works Director Mark Chagnon presented a brief report about the progress of the La Paz bridge and roadway widening project, and Chief of Police Services Captain Chris McDonald spoke about the department's recent Neighborhood Watch Town Hall, crime trends and safety tips for residents.
The City Council normally meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Council meetings are streamed live on the City's website and air on Cox Channel 30 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99. Residents are encouraged to sign up for the City's eNewsletter and follow the City's official social media sites for the most accurate, up-to-date information.
Comments
Is it a coincidence that…
Is it a coincidence that this council meeting vote occurred during spring vacation? Is this another example of agenda management?
These are some of my comments and questions that I presented at the council meeting:
Where is the promised Priority Spending List?
What is the status of the $15 million parking garage?
How will the outcome of the CC&R lawsuit effect the use of the property in the Village Center?
Will the consultant, TheatreDNA, have a continuing role when the City moves forward?
I am dumbfounded by the site evaluation method - using baseball fields to float the Village Center up to the top invalidates much of the report.
Will the public be surveyed again now that the $114 million price tag has been revealed?
The public is always at a disadvantage when completing surveys because their responses are not an informed response. I have said this before, my "most funnest" job was working for a polling company and the creativity of using data.
$500,000 decrease in sales tax revenue and you want to buy the CVS building and end its sales tax revenue?
Not sure about the Spring…
Not sure about the Spring Vacation reference in the comments? Both Capo and SVUSD are April 1-5, and Saddleback College was the 3rd week of March.
Doesn’t seem like a conflict?
When the City of Mission…
When the City of Mission Viejo Administration, City Council, the respective Commissions, the respective commercial property owners and a clearly defined adjacent affected residential property owners(s) can come together and agree to a long term course of action regarding the land area surrounding the intersection of Marguerite Parkway and La Paz Road, I believe the advancement of the arts should be an essential part of the long range goals for this area (it should have been a part of the long range goals for all the City ages ago).
The current City Administration, City Council and Commissions have failed and continue to fail to find common ground with the existing commercial and affected adjacent residential property owners. Until you have resolved these differences, maintain a ‘concept only’ approach to future solutions. It is important to imagine or ‘Vision’ future possibilities. Until you have successfully made it over the first hurdle stop fixing the ‘Vision’ in stone.