EYE ON SJC
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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING
SAN CLEMENTE San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station was forced to declare a low-level emergency after one of its non-nuclear security monitoring systems failed to work properly Saturday, July 16. At 6:12 a.m., parent company Southern California Edison issued what’s called an “unusual event,” the lowest of four emergency classifications at a nuclear power plant, according to a statement by SCE. The affected system, which is one of multiple monitoring systems, was restored within 45 minutes, and the “unusual event” was exited at 9:50 a.m., the statement said. “Both San Onofre units operated safely throughout the event, which posed no risk to the facility, workers or the public,” the statement said. Spokesman Gil Alexander said in an email that the cause of the system problems is still being investigated. The last “unusual event” occurred April 4, 2010 after an earthquake in Baja California.
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DANA POINT The mixed-use Makar development at Del Obispo and Coast Highway can move forward after the state 4th District Court of Appeal ruled the developer does not have to take steps to warn or protect potential residents from a neighboring sewage-treatment plant. State law mandates studies to ensure a development won’t impact the environment, but in this case SOCWA was suing over how the environment might impact the development. SOCWA sued out of fear future residents would complain about the plant. While this concern on SOCWA’s part appears to be public spirited, in reality SOCWA had another agenda. The justices’ June 30 ruling says, “Its recommended method of dealing with the bad smells…was to cover the plant’s aeration tanks, at Makar’s expense,”—a cost of over $6 million.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS
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...Settlement with Caltrans?
THE LATEST: A stop light will be installed at Ortega Highway and the Hunt Club entrance as part of a settlement between San Juan Capistrano and the state over a proposed widening of the state route through town. Caltrans proposed widening Ortega Highway to four lanes from the Hunt Club to the city’s eastern limits—it is already four lanes on either side—but Capistrano sued, contending the wider lanes would make Capistrano a driveway to the San Diego (I-5) Freeway. Under the settlement announced Tuesday, Caltrans will replace every tree removed from the scenic portion of the highway with three new trees, and a stoplight will be installed to ensure residents can enter and leave the Hunt Club safely. The state will also pay to move the Hunt Club guard gate away from the roadway. On the south side, transparent panels will be used in the sound walls rather than solid block. WHAT’S NEXT: The settlement also calls for creation of an “esthetics committee” of residents and city officials to ensure the design meets Capistrano’s standards. FIND OUT MORE: See www.thecapistranodispatch.com —Jonathan Volzke
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...Guns in Parks?
THE LATEST: City Council members on Tuesday blasted a proposal to allow unloaded guns in parks. Councilman Derek Reeve proposed eliminating the city’s prohibition of The Capistrano Dispatch July 22–August 11, 2011
weapons in parks, saying it was in conflict with state laws that allow residents to openly carry unloaded sidearms. He also said it was in conflict with federal law. Reeve said he believes more people carrying guns makes for a safer society. He said Tuesday he was also concerned Capistrano could be sued. He failed to gain any support from his council colleagues. Councilman Larry Kramer called the proposal “ridiculous” and lambasted it as a distraction and waste of city resources to even discuss. WHAT’S NEXT: Reeve said he plans to introduce a policy requiring businesses to pledge to use E-verify to confirm employees’ work eligibility before receiving a business permit.
property tax from projects in the redevelopment area. That money is supposed to be used for infrastructure or funding additional projects that officials believe would benefit the area. On Monday, the California League of Cities, the California Redevelopment Agency and San Jose and Union City filed a lawsuit to overturn Brown’s actions. WHAT’S NEXT: The city redevelopment agency will meet at 5 p.m. on July 28, at which time staff will present a technical analysis of the agency’s assets and obligations. FIND OUT MORE: See www.thecapsitranodispatch.com —JV
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FIND OUT MORE: See www.thecapistranodispatch.com . —JV
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...Redevelopment in Town?
THE LATEST: San Juan Capistrano officials on Tuesday asked staff to begin compiling a strategy in reaction to Gov. Jerry Brown’s elimination of redevelopment agencies, even as two cities and two state agencies have filed a lawsuit to overturn the governor’s move. The City Council, acting as the redevelopment agency board of directors, scheduled four meetings through August in which to develop the strategy, which may include creating a housing authority or repaying existing debt between the redevelopment agency and the city. Redevelopment agencies are voluntary organizations started by cities that allow the city government to identify an area for improvement, then capture additional
...Capo Terrace Bankruptcy?
THE LATEST: The owners of Capistrano Terrace Mobile Home Park in San Juan Capistrano have filed bankruptcy, the latest twist in the saga of the 60-year-old park, where residents already faced the prospect of losing their homes. In a news release issued Friday, owners of the park, Capistrano Terraces Ltd., said they were forced into bankruptcy protection by the city’s rent control ordinance, lawsuits by residents and other issues. An Orange County Superior Court Jury awarded more than 100 plaintiffs $1 million in a 2007 lawsuit by residents alleging park owners had not maintained Capistrano Terrace. The previous owner paid more than $1.5 million in a similar suit before Capistrano Terraces purchased the Valle Road park. The same ownership is involved in the ownership of the neighboring Distrito La Nova/San Juan Meadows project.
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WHAT’S NEXT: Park owners had already started the process of shutting down the 17.5-acre park on Valle Road park, home to 143 occupied units. FIND OUT MORE: See www.thecapistranodispatch.com. —JV
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...Drifter Bandit Arrested?
THE LATEST: The alleged “Drifter Bandit” was arraigned July 12 for robbing two Capistrano banks and two others in South County between May and June. Michael David Marano, 45, is charged with four felony counts each of second-degree robbery and second-degree commercial burglary and sentencing enhancements for eight prior strike convictions. About 11 a.m. on July 8, Marano was pulled over in his vehicle and arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, who had the defendant under surveillance. On May 3, Marano is accused of entering a Chase Bank in San Juan Capistrano. He is accused of presenting a note which stated “bank robbery” and demanding money from the teller. He repeated that pattern on May 26 at the U.S. Bank in Dana Point, then again on July 5 at the Citibank in Laguna Niguel and on July 6, again in San Juan Capistrano, at the Farmers & Merchants Bank, authorities said. He is accused of taking about $30,000. WHAT’S NEXT: Marano faces a maximum sentence of 110 years to life in prison. He was being held without bail in Orange County Jail and is next due in court July 29. FIND OUT MORE: See earlier reports at www.thecapistranodispatch.com —JV www.thecapistranodispatch.com