New enhancements at City park and recreational facilities approved, discussed on Tuesday
The City Council on Tuesday approved enhancements at Marty Russo Youth Athletic Park; the Marguerite Aquatics Complex and received an update on the Core Area Vision Plan, among other business.
Council Members gave the green light for the installation of new poles and LED light fixtures at Marty Russo Youth Athletic Park on Olympiad Road. The City worked extensively with the sports leagues and surrounding neighbors on the plans for new lighting at the sports fields.
Along with the energy-efficient lighting to enhance the safety of the sports park, minor maintenance and repairs to the dive tower at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex – caused from continual use by divers from Mission Viejo and across the globe – was approved.
Assistant City Manager Keith Rattay provided an update on these and other park projects, which includes the City’s Core Area Vision Plan. The City launched a new website (https://envisionmv.com) about the Core Area Vision Plan to keep the community apprised of exciting plans to improve the connectivity for residents to the many wonderful amenities owned by the City of Mission Viejo.
The FY 22/23 operating and capital improvement budget for another City-owned amenity – Oso Creek Golf Course – was also passed by the Council. Since the City purchased the course, revenues have increased, and golfers are now playing roughly 80,000 rounds of golf at the picturesque course each year.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the month of July was proclaimed as Parks and Recreation Month, and representatives from Moulton Niguel Water District and Santa Margarita Water District spoke about California’s severe drought and the districts’ response.
In other Council news, City Attorney William Curley touched on legal actions regarding November’s election that the Orange County Superior Court pondered on Tuesday and was scheduled to consider in the coming days. During the Council’s next meeting on July 12, the City Council will receive updated information about the court’s actions and the general election in November. The filing period to run for office is July 18 to August 12 in Orange County.
The Council meets at 6 pm on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 200 Civic Center. 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
This is another censored …
This is another censored "Happy Talk" communication to the residents.
This press release fails to mention the status of the SEIU influence into the animal shelter. After the staff report for Item #19, the Mayor asked if the council had any questions. Hearing none, the Mayor asked for a motion. There were no questions and no discussion. Afterall, that had all occurred in Closed Session.
Another poke in the eye is the lack of public discussion on the City's move to increase the terms of office to six years.
This is directly from the closing argument of the City's opposition to an TRO:
"Respectfully, the City asks that, to promote orderly implementation of district-based elections (of which all five districts will be on the November ballot), to further election opportunities for lower income candidates, to allow City to remain consistent with his Municipal Code and State law, and to provide an element of fairness for those Districts whose time on Council was shortened to two years, this Court allow the City to place Districts 2 and 4 on the ballot for one six-year term, and thereafter all districts would be elected For staggered four-year terms."
Let me add two comments made by the city attorney in response to the June 28 public comments:
"When we come next meeting with the calling of the election, it will be clear; it could be three, it could be five."
and he closed with this comment:
"If somebody is thinking of running, you may have a chance. Go ahead and pull your papers and in in a few months, it may be pulled out from under you. That is the truth. So, all of the how I wanted it to be stories are nothing but stories."
So the City is going to wait again to the last minute to propose to add a controversial 6-year term to the next election "to provide an element of fairness" to the council members whose "term was shortened to two years".
This is not about fairness to the Council but what is right and proper for the voters who elected the council to two year terms and then the council extended their own terms to four years.
If the Council approved this six year term in their closed session discussion, it is imperative that you attend the July 12 meeting and let your voice be heard.
