Council appoints new Assistant City Manager and approves revised budget
The City Council on Tuesday appointed a new Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Services; approved the City’s budget; and recognized some outstanding Marines.
By a unanimous vote of the Council, Public Services Director Jerry Hill, a 26-year valued Mission Viejo employee, was hired as Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Services. Jerry will take the reins from retiring Assistant City Manager Keith Rattay, who has etched an indelible mark on Mission Viejo after nearly three decades of exceptional service. (Stay tuned for more on Keith.) In his new role, Jerry will oversee projects like the “Go Forward” development of LOS OSOS and improvements to the Oso Creek Trail as well as the City’s numerous parks and Oso Creek Golf Course.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the Council adopted a Revised Budget to the City’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 City Operating and Capital Improvement Program.
For their outstanding, individual contributions to the City’s adopted Headquarters Battalion of the First Marine Division, Corporal Vanessa Esquivel was recognized as "Marine of the Quarter" and Corporal Jake R. Danieli as "Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter."
The City Council regularly 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
Once again, the City is very…
Once again, the City is very selective in what information it releases for public awareness.
On the agenda for this June 25th Council meeting was the Closed Session advancement for the purchase of the CVS building for a theater.
Two years ago, at the June 16, 2022 Special Council meeting, the public strongly opposed the purchase of this CVS building.
Consequently, in 2022, the Council voted 4-1 to NOT to pursue the CVS purchase.
The only NO vote on this motion to not purchase the CVS building was Brian Goodell.
It is two years later and the CVS building still does not have a buyer. If the Council is so confident for public support, there would be more public engagement, but there is not.
Also being kept off of the public radar is the fact that Council Members are going on a taxpayer funded trip to the Paris Summer Olympics for a signing ceremony with the Netherlands Olympic Committee for an MOU that has never been discussed or publicly disclosed. Wendy Bucknum has described this as a great accomplishment and yet there has not been a press release, nor an itinerary or budget or any details on the promised deal that will be economically viable for our City.
Also, what efforts have been made to invite the United States Olympic Committee to use our facilities? Does the MOU with the Netherlands lock out our US Olympic teams?