Community Common Sense - August 2014 by Community Common Sense

August 2014 – VOL 4, 8

YOUR COMMUNITY WATCHDOG

Community Common Sense

In this Issue... San Juan Capistrano Tapped Out: Despite Warnings, City Overpumped Basin Page 1 Down the Rabbit Hole in San Juan-derland Page 3 Whose Park is it Anyway? Page 4

San Juan Capistrano

Despite Warnings, City Over-pumped Basin When the City decided to fund and build the $43 million Ground Water Recovery Plant (GWRP), the City Council justified the enormous cost by telling the residents, “we have to diversify our water supply to add reliability so that the City will have water in case of an extreme drought or earthquake that might interrupt the flow of water from the Metropolitan Water District” (MWD).

2012 Voting Record of SJC Councilmen Kramer, Well, we now have an exReeve and Taylor treme drought and guess Page 5 what? The GWRP is not drought proof. In fact the Letters to the Editor San Juan Basin from which Page 6 the GWRP pumps its water is Laguna Woods Village Time for an Independent Audit Page 1 Letters to the Editor Page 8

Tapped Out: By John Perry

in danger of drying up because of over pumping by San Juan Basin Authority members. The Northern portion of the San Juan Basin controlled by the Rancho Mission Viejo Company is going dry because of overuse. Water is now being trucked in to portions of the upper basin because

the wells are not producing due to water levels which have dropped to dangerously low levels below the well intakes. The middle and lower basins also face the same prospect. Wells around the GWRP are now pumping at or below sea level because the water

Time for an Independent Audit?

A review of the charges however, indicates lavish spending with homeowners’ HOA dues money. Examples of some of the charges include meals at expensive Story continued on page 7...

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Beware of a Lobbyist in Volunteer’s Clothing

By Kim Lefner upscale restaurants and visits to pricey entertainment venues, PCM then-General Manager Milt Johns claimed the credit cards were for “Emergency use only”.

The San Juan Basin Authority pumps water from the basin under a State Department of Water Resources permit that requires the Basin Authority to monitor water levels and

Mission Viejo

Laguna Woods Village

Calls for an independent, Laguna Woods Village forensic audit Election Dates of operational Page 8 expenses date back a number of years. Mission Viejo In 2010, a residents’ group Beware of a Lobbyist “Residents Voice” reviewed in Volunteer’s Clothing and questioned expenses Page 1 charged to homeowners by PCM employees. PCM Letters to the Editor and Golden Rain FoundaPage 9 tion (GRF) Board members claimed at the time that the Voting Record of Councilwoman Rhonda expenses were work-related. Reardon When pressed about credit Page 10 card charges for meals at

level has dropped by 35 feet in the past several years. Compounding the problem is the lack of replenishment from rainfall, according to a report prepared by Wildermuth Environmental Engineering. The consulting firm is concerned about sea water intrusion into the basin that would contaminate the water in the basin, making it unusable.

By Joe Holtzman Wendy Bucknum is a professional housing lobbyist running for a Mission Viejo council seat this November. She ran unsuccessfully in 2012, primarily funded by special interest money, while promoting jumbotron-style billboards along Crown Valley Parkway. Her endorsement list – politicians endorsing a lobbyist – is her list of clients who may

Community Common Sense

have benefitted from the housing lobby largesse. Bucknum presents herself to the public as a volunteer – attending community events during work or after hours while campaigning for office. She makes announcements at nearly every council meeting as if she’s the spokesperson for a dozen groups. Story continued on page 10...

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San Juan Capistrano

Guest Column

Down the Rabbit Hole into San Juan-derland By Thomas Perrin Things in San Juan Capistrano (SJC) just get “curiouser and curiouser.” I now suspect that the “Mad Hatter” is in charge of city San Juan resident planning, as Thomas Perrin the city’s perspective seems wildly distorted. While many large cities try to restore and enhance their “old town” areas in order to attract more tourists, SJC seems to want to modernize and blur our town’s distinctive heritage. The rationale offered for some of the actions taken by the city include rejecting “In-n-Out” restaurant’s downtown application because it might add to the traffic congestion; forcing the “unpainting” of the red door of the “The Woman’s Club of San Juan Capistrano” because the city felt the color was inappropriate, and the eviction of the dinosaur from “Zoomars Petting Zoo,” because, according to SJC city staff, it didn’t fit with the area’s historical character. Yet now, the SJC Planning Commission apparently wants to create an “urban village - complete with restaurants and retail space,” by building 33 townhomes and a 136 room hotel directly in the center of town. How does this fit into the area’s historical character? To me, it looks like these proposed projects are a far greater threat to SJC than the dinosaur evicted from Zoomars, and it raises a more important question; how will this development impact the existing traffic congestion? I for one do not think that enlarging the freeway on and off ramps is really going to improve the traffic in town by all that much. If you consider the additional traffic in the downtown

areas that would be produced by the estimated 136 automobiles belonging to the hotel guests, and the potential 66 cars belonging to residents of the 33 townhomes, the city would be introducing approximately 200 more cars into this traffic morass. Even if the hotel owners built a two-story, subterranean parking structure with 139 parking spaces as suggested, I suspect it would barely accommodate the hotel guests and employees, and would do nothing to alleviate the overall parking problems within our town. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to live right in the middle of a town which at times is almost impossible to get into, or out of, and I am sure the additional traffic congestion would not please the rest of the residents of our community. Further exacerbating the situation is the proposal for a “retail plaza,” basically a strip mall, right across the street from the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano. What kind of shops are planned that would differ so much from those already offered in San Juan or neighboring cities? I would think that establishments that lure people to our town without adding to the traffic would be more logical choices for our town than a hotel, townhomes and a strip mall. How about enhancing some of the unique historic character of our town and showing some support for our live theatre - the Camino Real Playhouse, which provides quality entertainment and attracts visitors not only from SJC, but also from surrounding communities? Surely much more can be done to increase the appeal of our town than to morph it into just another dense Southern California city. Do we really want to be Irvine, or Santa Ana?

Letters and Articles for consideration must meet submission guidelines, are subject to editorial adjustment and may be sent to:

Editor: Kim Lefner Mission Viejo Contributing Editor: Steve Magdziak

Email - eboard@ccsense.com 30240 Rancho Viejo Rd., Suite A, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

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About the Community Common Sense The CCS is a non-partisan community watchdog publication, distributed monthly to homes and businesses in our local communities.

We believe knowledge is power, and are committed to reporting facts not offered in other publications. Aided by Public Records Act requests for information and extensive We were established in 2009 by a research, we print fact-based group of residents who recognize information about fiscal and that tax dollars are often spent quality of life issues which in ways that enrich a select few, enables residents to make while average residents are left educated decisions about local with the resulting increases to cost leadership. of living, traffic and debt.

We do the homework – you decide! Where are the voices of the residents of SJC who moved here to escape the crowds and crime that permeate many larger cities? Where is our Historical Society, whose stated goal is to protect and preserve the history of our town? Where is the “Fiesta Association,” and the ranchers and horse owners? Are they willing to let this remaining Orange County “western” town ride off into the sunset? Thomas “Tom” Perrin, Jr. has been a San Juan Capistrano resident since 1988. He holds an AA Degree in

Community Common Sense

English Literature, a BA Degree in Business Administration and an MS Degree in Management. He is the founder and President of Frontline Management, Inc. a California engineering consulting company. UPDATE : The “Urban Village” development failed to gain approval at the 8/5/14 council meeting. The vote was 2-2 (Allevato, Kramer for / Reeve, Byrnes against; Taylor recused himself). When council votes are tied, vote automatically fails. Stay tuned for further updates. PAGE

San Juan Capistrano

Whose Park Is It?

The Reata Welcome Center at Ortega & La Pata is open to all... if you’re from the Rancho Mission Viejo gated community of Sendero, where residents of Phase I of the Ranch’s soon-to-be 14,000 home development ~ will find the gates always open! Meanwhile, the “Welcome” center has a very different feel for SJC residents who paid $30 million for it and the adjacent riding center.

Although we pay an estimated $30,000 per month to maintain it, SJC residents are greeted by gates chained shut....

...while a walk down the path reveals a wide open gate that serves as 24/7 access for residents in Sendero, with a view of the biking / pedestrian trail under the busy Ortega Highway...

SJC residents can glimpse the Riding Park from Sendero’s trail ...and wonder if they bore the cost of this expensive underpass that doesn’t serve them at all. And that’s not the only access to Sendero funded by taxpayers; we also spent approximately $560,000 for “Reata” access road and traffic signal on Ortega Hwy that leads directly into the Ranch’s gated Sendero community... But cheer up SJC residents, you do get some benefit; the city will allow you to access your $30 million park - at least once, maybe even twice a year, when they show a couple of “free” movies to the public at your “open space” park! To calculate how much these movies cost you, check your property tax bill. SJC property taxes were increased approximately $36 for every $100,000 of assessed value, every year for 30 years, to pay for this “park” that SJC residents are restricted from using.

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Over the next 3 months leading up to the election, we will print the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Voting Record of San Jaun Capistrano Council members Larry Kramer, Derek Reeve and John Taylor, all of whom are running for re-election to the SJC City Council in November. Only votes related to fiscal and quality of life impacts are listed, beginning in year 2012.

2012 Voting Record of SJC Councilmen Kramer, Reeve and Taylor Proposed Item 1/18/12 - Agenda # I1: Resolution prohibiting mention of a deity (such as Jesus Christ) in the city council meeting invocation; allowing only council members to give the invocation.

KRAMER SUPPORT

REEVE OPPOSE

2/7/12 - Agenda # D16: Staff pay raise - 3% 2/21/12 - Agenda # F2a: Purchase more proprietary filters for water plant; waive bidding 3/6/12 - Agenda # D12: Spend $12,573 more on Reata Park water line 4/17/12 - Agenda # D15 Spend $97,400 to purchase more filters for water plant 6/5/12 - Agenda # G3a: Approve solid waste (trash) increase approx. 3.9%

YES YES

NO NO

YES

SUPPORT

OPPOSE

6/19/12 - Agenda # H24: Spend $165,648 to purchase another filter for water plant 6/19/12 - Agenda # H29: Give $25,000 to Chamber of Commerce

YES

Dumping more money into failed water plant, increasing water costs

YES

Taxpayer funded “gift” to private organization

8/7/12 - Agenda # D10: Taxpayer funded $114,000 for “Gang Reduction and Intervention Program” counseling program

YES

Contract requires no stated measurement of performance or success rate

8/7/12 - Agenda # D11: $124,000 for Crossing Guard at local school

YES

Increases cost to SJC taxpayers

8/7/12 - Agenda # D16: Give $78,000 to Boys & Girls Club

YES

Taxpayer funded “gift” to private charity

8/21/12 - Agenda # F2b: Taxpayer funding of $606,000 water plant expansion

YES

Dumping more money into failed water plant, increasing water costs

9/18/12 - Agenda # F4a: Taxpayer funding of $5 million for water plant projects 9/18/12 - Agenda # D14: Waive bidding for water related projects totaling $128,000

YES

Dumping more money into failed water plant, increasing water costs Dumping more money into failed water plant, increasing water costs

6/5/12 - Agenda # D11: Review of water rate increase 3%

TAYLOR Result of Vote SUPPORT Removed mention of specific deities including “Jesus Christ” from council meeting invocations; prevents religious leaders from giving invocation as was tradition Taxpayer funding; increases taxes YES Dumping more money into failed water YES plant, increasing water costs Total cost of taxpayer funded water line extension: $271,318 Dumping more money into failed water YES plant, increasing water costs Increases cost of trash service. Waste hauler YES CR&R contributed to campaigns of Kramer & Taylor SUPPORT Increases water rates YES

Source: SJC City Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes; www.cityofsanjuancapistrano.org

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San Juan Capistrano

Letter to the Editor

Connecting the dots...

Recently I came across a half page color ad in a local paper promoting the “Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo” held at the “Corner of Ortega Highway & Antonio/La Pata” - with no mention of it being in our city or the fact it’s OUR property! I thought the purchase agreement for this “Open Space” property required the property to be identified as the “Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano” in ALL advertisements? Here, the real proof of where our council majority control comes from can be easily seen by the list of rodeo sponsors – Holy cow! Of the 25 sponsors listed, ALL BUT THREE (Cox, Mission Hospital, and The Ranch Restaurant) are developers, builders or key suppliers to builders! I think it’s pretty obvious how Sam Allevato’s anti-recall war chest filled as quickly as an Indy car gets in and out of a pit stop! Even more suspect is the mention that “monies raised are donated to local SJC charities”, with no mention of which “charities” will benefit. Could the failure to list them be due to the fact that one of the primary beneficiaries of the rodeo revenue is Brad Gates’ Open Space Foundation? Gates was the “designated” (not clear by whom) lead negotiator for the purchase of the park with $27.5 million of our tax dollars (while, at the same time banning residents from using our property ~Great negotiation!!!). Gates also negotiated into the purchase agreement that “the majority of rodeo revenues” be directed to his Open

“No” to the status quo

Space Foundation and a couple of other pet charities. The Open Space Foundation is also the group that’s burdened us with a $30,000 per month maintenance tab for the “Open Space / Reata Welcome Center” that serves mostly the new Ranch development. In one fell swoop we have the same “Open Space Foundation” promoting an adjacent city, while burdening us with debt, increasing our property taxes and tying us to a highly expensive “Welcome Center” that no doubt they’ll use (for free) for staging the RMV Rodeo. Worse yet, they FAILED to abide by the minimal requirements of the purchase! Why again did we purchase this property rather than one of the originally promised properties in San Juan, such as the Armstrongs Nursery growing grounds, now slated for ultra-high density development? It’s time to hold each council member accountable to their campaign promises to serve the residents that elected them into office ~ not back room interests clearly displayed here! Mark Speros San Juan Capistrano

I just received a copy of a campaign statement from city council candidate Stephanie Frisch that raises some serious concerns. Frisch is proposing “parking solutions” for the “growing parking problem” in the downtown area, which has become over-crowded and at times impossible to park for shopping and dining. The first thing that struck me is the irony in Frisch acknowledging a problem that the council men she supports; Sam Allevato, Larry Kramer and John Taylor, helped to create by approving new development without fixing existing traffic problems. The second thing that occurred to me is, isn’t this one of the jobs of the Transportation Commission? If not, it seems that it should be. Duplicating efforts by creating even more committees just contributes to more red tape and bureaucracy. Establishing committees are one of the few things Government bureaucrats are good at. That’s not a compliment; how many “Blue Ribbon Commissions” have we convened over the past 20 years to study the downtown development plan - and at what cost? Especially concerning however, is Frisch’s proposal to sue the state if they don’t give redevelopment agency properties back to the city

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which she said could then be used for parking structures and parking lots. This is just what we need; another expensive lawsuit with a highly questionable chance of success. But no matter I suppose, when it’s other people’s money. The problem is that it’s our money being squandered on these losing lawsuits by spendthrift politicians. I have a simple solution; how about the council majority of Sam Allevato, Larry Kramer and John Taylor (all of whom Frisch supports) stop approving every development that comes before them, unless real traffic solutions are found (not the phony “mitigations” that only back up traffic further)? Nah...that would run counter to Frisch and the council majority’s desire to “generate revenue” - no matter how negatively it impacts the residents of San Juan whose taxes support so much of this over-development and overcrowding and who are left to pay the price through increased traffic and debt. In my opinion, the leadership in San Juan has utterly failed the residents. The current council majority continues their push to transform San Juan into something unrecognizable to those of us who moved here for the small town character. Stephanie Frisch in her promotion of more development on the backs of residents and through her support of the current leadership demonstrates that she’s part of the problem. I know who I won’t be voting for in November. Unless you want more of the same, I suggest San Juan voters do the same. J. Simonson San Juan Capistrano

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San Juan Capistrano sets conditions for use. Under the State permit, salt water intrusion must be monitored and if detected, the Agency must stop pumping until sufficient recharge or replenishment of water (from say, rainfall) occurs. The City’s “fix” for having overpumped the basin despite warnings about the dangerously low water level is to spend $1.8 million in 2015/2016 to purchase recycled water (toilet water) from an outside source and pump it into San Juan Creek so that it can percolate down to the underground water storage to artificially “recharge”

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Laguna Woods Village restaurants such as Five Crowns in Corona del Mar ($834.71), the Chart House in Dana Point ($564.21) and Gullivers in Newport Beach ($543.72), among many others. Entertainment charges included Dana Wharf Sportfishing ($375.00), the Disney Club ($700.00) and Dave & Buster’s ($811.72). There was even a charge for a purchase from Tiffany & Co. for $441.72, which we understand was for “earrings” as a retirement gift to a departing employee. When Residents Voice members questioned PCM employee Jerry Storage about the charges for such entertainment as a sportfishing cruise, they were told only that the charges were “mutually agreed upon expenses.” Storage is still employed as the General Manager of PCM in LWV and did not respond to request for input to this article. The credit card charges noted above were just a few in a long list of celebrations and “incentives” for PCM employees, charged to LWV homeowners. The list includes meals and celebrations for numerous employee birthdays,

the basin. This water would then be pumped by the GWRP, cleaned up using reverse osmosis, and placed into our water supply.

this small community cannot afford to support a redundant water system. We now purchase 50% of our annual water from the MWD which is investing The City’s “fix” for over-pumping The cost to heavily do this is unthe basin...is to spend $1.8 million to in surface realistically purchase recycled water...and pump it water storage high. The into San Juan Creek... to artificially facilities to City must replenish the basin...increasing our assure water first purchase availability water rates. recycled waduring dry ter for $900 per acre foot, dump it into periods. At the same time, we seem the ground, then pump out and run it to be stuck with having to pay off the through the GWRP at an additional bonds used to construct the GWRP cost of $1500 per acre foot. The total that we don’t own, so we’re told that cost of this water will be over $2500 we can’t just walk away from this per acre foot, and you the consumer “White Elephant.” will pay for it through increased water The solution is to have the San Juan rates. Basin Authority regionalize the So what is the solution? Obviously, GRWP to relieve the San Juan rate

payers of having to carry the financial burden of not only paying for the bonds but having to pay millions of dollars to fix the basin so that salt water does not intrude into the basin. The current City Council seems unwilling or unable to fix this problem. In my opinion, a new council majority needs to be elected specifically to get the job done.

weddings, baby showers, retirement parties, farewell parties, new hire and “employee appreciation” celebrations. The list also includes numerous expenses for items such as an “End of Audit” party, “Maintenance Division review”, “Administration Professionals Day”, Holiday luncheon for Accounting staff ($358.23), “Power Toyota Signing Contract - Oak Creek Lunch + Clients - Cash” ($496.00), Two “Professional Development Courses” ($3,672.00), Halloween party ($242.00), “Tips for Making and Delivering Pizza for Halloween” ($45.00), “Thank you Breakfast for Halloween Committee” ($117.52), “Safety Incentives” ($400.00), “Safety Incentives for Design Team” ($714.00), numerous 2nd, 3rd and 4th Quarter “luncheons for Accounting” and other staff (hundreds of dollars), and the list goes on.

(a question which was not answered as of date of publication), shouldn’t homeowners have some input into how their dues money is spent? After all, many if not most LWV homeowners are on fixed incomes with tight budgets. Ironically, many homeowners cannot themselves afford to dine at fine steak and seafood restaurants where the average entrée costs upwards of $30.00, but have paid for their vendors and “representatives” to do so repeatedly.

There were also charges to LWV for professional development courses including three Information Technology classes at $1,371.00 each (total: $4,113.00). The most baffling charge was listed as; “Reimbursement for Training Software purchased for self [Matt Parker]; to be used by any MIS [Management Info Systems] staff wishing to become certified...

Lifetime Member” ($1,129.00). It is unclear whether LWV homeowners paid for a PCM employee’s personal software license. Regardless, it is difficult to understand why LWV homeowners should be paying for software and/or training for PCM employees. After exposure of the outlandish spending resulted in blow-back from the homeowners, 10 credit cards were taken away from PCM employees between 2008-2012. But all indications are that the wasteful spending may not have stopped there. According to the RV residents’ group, in lieu of credit cards, the former GRF Board gave PCM between $50,000 to $80,000 per year in a “Discretionary Bonus Plan Payout”. The discretionary funds are said to increase approximately 10% every year and are used to pay for employee parties, celebrations, incentives, etc. Is this business as usual, with the only change being in the way the expenses are funded? The charges listed in this article are just a snapshot of the expenditures; the total charges are too numerous to list here. But this raises the question; shouldn’t PCM provide celebrations and incentives for their own employees? Even if the GRF Board at the time authorized the expenses

Community Common Sense

John Perry graduated from USC with a Masters in Education and is certified in School Business Management. He served as an Assistant Superintendent of Business Services before retiring. John was appointed to the Special Water Management and Operations Audit Committee in 2011 and is a founding Board member of the Capistrano Taxpayer’s Association.

The new GRF Board currently has their plate full in working to address the problems created by such issues as over-spending and deferred maintenance, among others. Once they have a handle on the more pressing issues, do you want the new Board to periodically review PCM expenditures? If so, does it make sense to suggest that the new GRF Board appoint a residents’ committee to review PCM expenditures funded through the “discretionary bonus plan”? Do you support continuing to give PCM discretionary funding from your HOA dues? We want to hear from you! Email us at: eboard@ccsense.com, or mail to: Community Common Sense, 30240 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite A, San Juan Capistrano CA 92675. Responses will be forwarded to the GRF Board and printed in an upcoming edition of the CCS. PAGE

Laguna Woods Village

Letter to the Editor The Importance of Voting Laguna Woods Village pays PCM to manage the work needed to operate our community. Our elected boards provide oversight of that work [and outside contractors]. Laguna Woods is beautiful and well-cared for. Perhaps the most important duty of the board members is to see that our costs are kept under control. This has worked fairly well

for 50 years. The officers who are elected by the residents have usually been above reproach as far as conflicts of interests are concerned. In recent times however, the Golden Rain Foundation Board embarked on what seemed to be excessive overspending. A Recreation Master Plan to spend more then 18 million dollars in the next two years was rolled out in an almost obsessive, heavy

Laguna Woods Village

handed manner. It would also create more monthly charges to operate another building. Yet when members showed objection and concern, GRF President Lynn Dvorak ordered them removed from the room by security. The [Board] officers seemed so aggressive in regard to their plan that one had to wonder why they would not allow the residents who were being indebted, to vote on it or even object to it in an open meeting. The honesty of our boards is not usually questioned. I have been told that Larry Sousa and Marv Rosenhaft were signers on the 10 Million Dollar Loan, along with Lynn Dvorak. The terms were extremely

unfriendly to the Village. When looking to see who would benefit from such a loan, it would mainly be PCM and the selected contractors, although there is no proof that anyone was paid a finders or referral fee by Bank of America. Thank goodness that loan has been cancelled. This illustrates why everyone should [make sure] they vote. Do not be complacent because this place has been here for 50 years; many countries have been decimated by elected people who abuse their power. Betty Salazar Laguna Woods Village

Laguna Woods Village

Letter to the Editor

Thumbs Up on Wish List

Speaking of a Wish List...

I agree with your “Wish List” printed in the CCSense. These are good safeguards against “human nature”. Frank Q. Laguna Woods Village

ACT NOW

Laguna Woods Village residents! The August edition of the CCS will be the last complimentary edition. The number of new subscriptions will determine whether the CCS will continue to be distributed in Laguna Woods. SUBSCRIBE now to the CCS to ensure this new paper continues in your community! Subscribe online at: www.ccsense.com or mail a check for $15* for an annual subscription to: Community Common Sense 30240 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite A San Juan Capistrano CA 92675

Can we forbid absentee owners to rent their inherited condos to welfare recipients, persons on disability, registered sex offenders, persons on parole or probation, and (worse) renting by the room to different renters?

A condo owner (Name withheld on request)

LAGUNA WOODS VILLAGE ELECTION DATES ACTION

Deadline for Candidate Application Mail Ballot Package Ballots Due Back Counting of Ballots by Inspectors of Election* Annual Meeting Date

*include your name, address and email address

In an 8-condo building, 2 condos in a neighborhood are rented by the room. Do we have to share our neighborhood with such persons?

3RD MUTUAL

UNITED MUTUAL

GRF

8-13-2014 5:00 PM

8-15-2014 5:00 PM

9-23-2014

8-25-2014 9-24-2014 5:00 PM

10-31-2014 11-12-2014 10:00 AM

9-26-2014 8:30 AM

9-26-2014 1:30 PM

11-12-2014

10-2-2014 9:30 AM Clubhouse 5

10-14-2014 9:30 Clubhouse 3

11-12-2014 10:00 AM Board Room

* Election schedule dates may be adjusted per the Inspector of Elections. For more information about Elections, see: www.lagunawoodsvillage.com

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Mission Viejo

Letter to the Editor City Hall Underestimates Reaction The Coronado neighborhood in south Mission Viejo fought City Hall and won. Congratulations to the citizens who live near Avery Parkway for their July 14 victory. The City Planning Commission received a proposal from Saddleback College to allow parking on Avery Parkway. Amazingly, the city staff was supporting the proposal against the wishes of the residents. Maybe the city staff underestimated the ability of the neighborhood to fight off another traffic problem. Residents mobilized, and the college withdrew the proposal. Following is an example of a

Coronado resident’s protest, which was sent to city officials and entered into the public record. “… I live at the south end of MV, off Avery Parkway. I am writing this email to share my disdain for the thought of opening up Avery Parkway for student parking for Saddleback College. My personal opinion is that the college makes money, and they should have started building parking structures a long time ago. We in the Coronado homes have been burdened by the City’s lack of care, an understanding where the college and Capo High School are concerned, for as long as I’ve lived here. I don’t know if you know, or even give a rat’s [deleted] about

the excessive traffic problems near Avery and Marguerite caused by the City’s lack of vision and planning, but it’s easily the worst traffic mess in the City. I vehemently oppose allowing the college to further strain our community for their own gain. May I just say, GET YOUR [deleted] TOGETHER!!!! The City Council is a joke. I love how they ask for our input before they turn around and do the exact opposite of our desires anyway. How about you guys just annex our homes by eminent domain and then turn our lots into free parking for the college, high school, golf course or hotel. That seems to

be what you’d prefer. In closing, I can only say [deleted] to the City of MV. You all [deleted].” I have removed some words in the above copy, but the original document can be found on the city’s website, http://dms. cityofmissionviejo.org/sirepub/ cache/2/v2xuul2iltlrzxuabeos3 ml/280409908022014015643311. PDF, page 47. Donna Snow Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo

Letter to the Editor Fire Zone Questions Go Unanswered Community Common Sense has done a good job of raising awareness of the Fire Map issue. I didn’t know half of Mission Viejo’s homes are now in the high-risk fire-hazard area. With all the information at hand, including Cal Fire’s Fire Map, why would anyone say that no Mission Viejo homes are in the Fire Zone? As CCS reported, the decision by the council majority in July 2012 added 12,000 Mission Viejo homes to the 3,000 previously in the highrisk fire zone. The council increased potential liabilities to residents – lower property values, higher insurance rates and more bureaucracy. The 12,000 homes were added with a 4-1 council vote. Rhonda Reardon, Trish Kelley, Frank Ury and Dave Leckness voted in favor of the change, and Cathy Schlicht voted against it. At a city council meeting last month, Councilwoman Reardon tried to explain what happened, but her presentation didn’t address some basic questions.

Community Common Sense

What criteria were used to decide which homes were added? Who redrew the boundary and what are their qualifications for making decisions? Since Cal Fire is the authority on the state’s Fire Map, how can a city council majority overrule the state authority? Was Cal Fire even consulted when the boundary lines were redrawn? Councilwoman Reardon has said Mission Viejo “has no homes in the Fire Zone.” However, thousands of Mission Viejo homeowners received the notice from the Orange County Fire Authority in May that their properties will be inspected. These properties include the ones the council added. As an equally problematic issue, Mission Viejo’s homes are on Cal Fire’s Fire Map. Here’s the link to the information on Cal Fire’s website: http://www. fire.ca.gov/fire_prevention/fhsz_ maps/FHSZ/orange/c30_MissionViejo_vhfhsz.pdf Kirk Kelley Mission Viejo PAGE

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Wendy Bucknum’s Council Campaign Financiers

Mission Viejo To recap my article in the April edition of CCS, it is important to know who/what Bucknum lobbies for and why a council seat would be a plum for her employer. She works for Professional Community Management (PCM), a huge company that manages homeowner associations (HOAs). PCM’s website describes its relationship with developers and builders; “We provide developers and builders the peace of mind of having a single point of contact …”

CONTRIBUTOR Building Industry Assn of Or. Co. CRE PAC John Saunders Christopher Skorina Harvest Landscape Enterprises Inc. Carol Lee Sanchez Jeanette M. Krembas Michael Berg Ins. Agency Laura Ostrom Dana Whitmer, McWhit Properties Associa Pac Or. Co. Automobile Dealers PAC Martin Morgenstern Tinnelly Law Group Charles Antis Ann Kurzel David Zak James Judge Jake Volebregt Don Combs, in-kind donation

NAME OF BUSINESS / DESCRIPTION Housing Developers Association California Real Estate Political Action Committee Saunders Property Co. (owner of Unisys property) Lawyer Landscape retired J. Group Real Estate Broker Insurance Agent teacher Real Estate Property Management Political Action Committee expressly for lobbying Political Action Committee Real Estate Investment Lawyers representing homeowner associations Roofing Business retired Newport Capital Advisors Real Estate Lawyer specializing in homeowner associations Lawyer specializing in entitlement and zoning Dry Master restoration services, owner

AMOUNT $ 500.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 500.00 $ 300.00 $ 250.00 $ 100.00 $ 100.00 $ 250.00 $ 150.00 $ 500.00 $ 500.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 250.00 $ 250.00 $ 500.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 500.00 $ 250.00 $ 150.00 $ 814.00

Bucknum’s employer PCM is a force in the Community Associations Institute (CAI), a national trade association and special interest group. Research indicates the CAI lobbies state legislatures to promote GRAND TOTAL laws beneficial to them and oppose $9,698* (as of June 30, 2014) laws harmful to them. The CAI sells Source: Wendy Bucknum for City Council 2014. *Bucknum’s report contains errors, including the total, which should be $9,689 services to HOA lawyers and community managers affiliated with http://dms.cityofmissionviejo.org/sirepub/cache/2/v2xuul2iltlrzxuabegos3ml/280983108022014110344318.pdf#xml= “Common-interest developments” http://dms.cityofmissionviejo.org/SIREPub/cache/2/v2xuul2iltlrzxuabegos3ml/280983108022014110344318.xml (CIDs), which lean toward higherdensity developments. Such projects consortiums appear to be trying to Candidates are currently emergJoe Holtzman, an Industrial increase traffic and create problems buy a Mission Viejo council seat. ing for the council race, and in my Engineering and Manufacturing/ associated with packing high numopinion any of the others would be Distribution Executive with bers of people into compact spaces. The recovery of the housing market better than having a housing lobbyist McDonnell Douglas and Ford Motor should put residents on high alert on the council. Company, is a 31-year resident of The growing number of CIDs and if they are concerned about homeMission Viejo. HOAs increases demand for profes- building on the Casta Del Sol Golf sional property managers who offer Course, the former Unisys propsuch specialties as influencing legis- erty or any closed school campus. lation that governs housing and deNeighbors of the apartment project velopment. Enter Wendy Bucknum, nearing completion on Oso can the lobbyist who tells voters she anticipate traffic snarls as well as a wants to be on the council because structure that doesn’t match its surshe loves Mission Viejo. roundings. The rest of us also love our city too, but we want to preserve its lowdensity housing and family-oriented nature, as designed by the Mission Viejo Company. A factor protecting our city from more development has been the homebuilding slump, which is turning around. Take one look Bucknum’s campaign finance reports (Form 460s) and the picture becomes clear; her housing development associates and the real estate

Bucknum’s Form 460 for the period ending June 30 states she’s a “Government & Public Affairs Manager”; that means lobbyist. Also on Bucknum’s most recent Form 460 is a campaign expense of $180 to a high school booster club. Since public schools are prohibited from engaging in politics, voters, the school district and the California Fair Political Practices Enforcement Division should all be looking at this.

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The CCS occasionally prints the voting record of candidates for elected office to help our readers understand the candidates’ background and history. Listed below is the voting record of Mission Viejo City Councilwoman Rhonda Reardon, who was first elected to the council in 2010 and is running for re-election this November.

Voting Record of Mission Viejo Councilwoman Rhonda Reardon Proposed Item

Rhonda Reardon Vote Yes

9/6/2011- 12/3/2012, Approve Tennis Remodel 1/25/2012 Establish “MV Housing Authority” and hide money from the state 5/7/2012, UDR high-density apartments increased to 320 units, 24 affordable 7/2/2012, rezoned 12,000 MV homes into “special” fire zones 11/2013 International Tennis Federation tournament; $100K over budget 11/18/2013, Funding of counseling for teens, including the “option” of abortion 11/18/2013, Funding for cell phones for homeless people

Yes Yes, despite outcry from Palmia neighbors Yes; led and defended the action Yes; supports it again for Nov. 2014 Yes Yes

2/14/2014, Approve Pavion Park remodel; excessive cost of more than $1M

Yes

4/21/2014, Approve Nadadores’ 20-year contract to use Marguerite Swim Complex 4/21/2014, Approve continual re-dos of Marguerite Pkwy medians; beautify civic center while ignoring other areas of town

Yes

May 3, 2014, Dismissed $100K debt of failed MV Foundation

Yes

7/7/2014, Resolution supporting Newport Beach’s petitioning Supreme Court regarding residential centers

Yes

Result of Vote Cost ballooned to $5.6M with change orders ($1.9M over budget) Millions await developers as bonus for more housing Project increased traffic; windfall for developer Raises insurance rates and lowers property values Fiscal mismanagement, cronyism, no accountability Voted to support teen abortion option Duplicates Obama’s phones for homeless; taxpayers pay twice Another regional park; no needs assessment No public discussion; no council review of contract Wasteful spending to plant and replant the same area; ongoing traffic snarls Fundraising became debt-raising. No accountability Issue relates to Aegean Hills’ excessive number of board and care facilities

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