Happy Birthday MV
On March 31, 1988 the Master Planned community of Mission Viejo became the 27th city in Orange County.
Our first election, with a dozen candidates, was held on Nov 3,1987. The initial council members elected in Mission Viejo were Bill Craycraft, Robert Curtis, Christian Kenna, Victoria Jaffe and Norm Murray. At that date we had 32,307 registered voters. We have surely grown in the past 23 years. MV had 62,493 registered voters in the Nov 2, 2010 election.
According to the 2010 census we are on the cusp of exceeding 100,000 population in this bedroom community that has been acknowledged as the “safest city” of our size in the state.
In no particular order let me share some of our history beginning with declaring the lower half of our city blighted in 1992. Specifically all of the commercial properties south of Oso Parkway to the San Juan Capistrano city line and the Freeway Center on the west side of Interstate 5.
With governor Jerry Brown’s valiant effort to shut down redevelopment agencies, RDAs, I thought addressing that topic in our city would be a good place to begin this post.
Reading from a 1998 city brochure entitled “A World Class Community.”
“Mission Viejo, one of America’s most successful masterplanned communities, is renown for its beautiful parks and tree lined boulevards, modern business and commercial centers and the exceptional quality of life offered to its residents. From the natural splendor of its wilderness areas, to the serenity of a sunset on Lake Mission Viejo, or the sleek contemporary lines of its modern business parks, Mission Viejo was designed from inception to be a well-balanced community. Evolving from a simple idea in 1965, Mission Viejo became a vibrant hometown in less than ten years. The city is one of the pioneers of the physical, social, recreational and commercial concepts that are commonplace in today’s new residential communities. Mission Viejo’s success gained recognition in 1986 when it became the first American city to be honored as a “World Class Community” at The First International New Town Conference. More recently, Mission Viejo received the Award for Excellence in 1992 from the prestigious Urban Land Institute which stated that Mission Viejo “stands as one of the most successful American new towns ever realized.”
In 1992, the same year we received that prestigious award, we created our redevelopment agency. Also detailed in that brochure it states “foremost among the city’s shopping centers is M.V. mall with its fine shops” yet in July 1992 our RDA declared this mall, and the surrounding area as being “blighted.”
At the request of Tom McClintock I testified before the Housing and Community Development committee in 1998 where I pointed out this abuse of our RDA. Chairman Tom Torlakson and Kenneth Emanuels both told me that with passage of AB1290 (Eisenberg) the year prior to Mission Viejo’s RDA creation, we could not have reverted to the blight designation after that bill became law.
In his Jan 28,1999 editorial entitled “City Hall Handouts” Register Editorial writer Stephen Greenhut addressed “what happens when a government tinkers with the market. In discussing redevelopment projects in the non-blighted city of Mission Viejo, former City Manager Dan Joseph is quoted to say “fault the law, but don’t fault cities” for taking advantage of it. Steve adds that Redevelopment laws certainly deserve more scrutiny. Note: Several state elected officials have echoed that same comment.
Mission Viejo’s bogus RDA was not included in the 18 agencies recently audited by the State Controller.
Former Dana Point council member Jim Lacy recently wrote an editorial supporting shutting down RDAs in which he referenced the bogus Mission Viejo RDA.
One final comment on our RDA. Our power of eminent domain, that was never implemented, ended in July 2004 (12 years after Plan adoption).
Over the past four plus years blogging for the Juice I have written numerous stories of our city.
One of the contentious issues I covered was the decision to celebrate our 20th birthday in 2008 by spending over $300,000 of taxpayer funds to have a city float in the Tournaments of Roses Parade. It warrants mention that our city manager is a member of the Tournament staff. While the founders of our city, the Mission Viejo Company, (Philip Morris Co.), did in fact enter many floats before cityhood it was a marketing plan to promote the “California Promise” and sell thousands of newly built homes as we competed with Irvine and other neighboring cities. For a private firm that was a proper decision. However to justify this expenditure during the recession was unconscionable. I love the answer from our city council in which they justify it stating “we budgeted for the float in the prior year” so it was OK to move forward with the project. And they call themselves “fiscal conservatives.”
One decision from the initial 1988 council, that I fully support, was the decision to be a contract city and not have our own police and fire departments as found in northern OC cities. At that time pensions was not even an issue of discussion. While having city police departments in beach cities of Laguna Beach and Newport Beach may require different support, we do not.
In Sept 1995, during the County bankruptcy, we made a decision to break away from the County library system and received BOS approval. That decision was driven by proposed cutback in hours of operation. If I am not mistaken the County transferred around $one million dollars of library tax dollars for library services to the city. Since our grand opening on Oct 25,1997 we boast of having cardholders from every city in OC and beyond which is a double edged sword. If I recall the librarian we have more card holders than residents. Local taxpayers and students often have to hike from the far corners of the parking lot to reach the library only to find out of towners on our computers or taking out books and tapes that they were looking for. Overhead for the city library far exceeds the revenue to fund this ever expanding function. Some have suggested transferring the library operations back to the county.
I would be remise not to include the non-partisan Mission Viejo Committee for Integrity in Government, CIG, that was the brain child of (D) Milt Jacobson and (R) Brad Morton. CIG was formed Jan 23,1997 by a group of concerned citizens who were tired of receiving incomplete or inaccurate information from city staff and council about significant local issues. One illustration was breaking the housing cap in Oct 1996 even after a Petition containing 7,00 signatures of residents opposed to building 741 apartments near Crown Valley Parkway was submitted to the city.
CIG was an effective grass roots watchdog group which stayed united for over six years. One of our major achievements was removal of a sitting mayor and mayor-pro-tem, Susan Withrow and Sherri Butterfield, in the Nov 2002 General election where they were soundly trounced. Shortly thereafter our city manager Dan Joseph and city clerk Ivy Joseph departed. One expression that will stand out in my watching city council interaction with city managers was taught to me by former City Manager Dan Joseph when he said he only had to “count to three.” I guess that was his undoing after we booted out two of his major supporters.
Every few years the city manager retains the services of a facilitator to conduct an off site “team building” workshop attended by senior staff and council. In the May 2003 workshop addressing perception/opinion of Mission Viejo former assistant city manger Rick Howard listed threats. On top of his list was the Committee for Integrity in Government calling us a “negative” group. Newly elected council member Trish Kelley responded that “CIG is a asset.”
In our 23 years of cityhood we have lost two of our council members, Norman P. Murray and Tom Potocki.
As I reflect on the changing faces in our city government, especially city council members, CIG members were very active in the initial election of every new member in the past five elections with one exception, current member Dave Leckness.
Mission Viejo has held two recall elections. While I covered the removal of Mayor Lance MacLean in Feb. 2010 there was an earlier attempt to remove councilman Robert Curtis that failed. That recall election took place on Feb 27, 1990. Sixty nine percent of the voters in that special election said NO.
Included in our Nov 1992 Ballot was Measure L in which 86% of the voters supported that we vote on the “location, size & estimated cost” of a project to build a city hall, town center complex or city administrative office building.” There was a key word that was included which cost me a court challenge. The word was “advisory.” On March 7, 2000 we held an advisory vote special election for providing municipal office space, a council chamber and an EOC. The three options changed to “lease, purchase the building we were leasing or build” a new city hall. That is not what we voted for in 1992. When challenging the change in options from the prior election the court told me that while understanding the difference the key word found in the prior vote was “advisory” and that the city could seek advise on a variety of issues.
In the early years of our community residents of Mission Viejo had a live Nativity Scene every Christmas at the intersection of La Paz and Chrisanta. During one holiday season former City Manager Joseph said “we are getting out of the religion business.” Yes, there are many stories I could list in this city of 100,000 people.
Let me close on a positive note by mentioning the major expansion of Mission Hospital including the new state-of-the-art equipped Tower II that I recently visited to see a stroke victim.
Larry–you forgot to mention the Village Idiot of Mission Viejo–Dan Avery
Pico Pia.
This was a view out the rear view mirror covering stories of MV, other than the float on another birthday, that have not been addressed.
HEY–WHAT HAPPENED TO LANCE MACLEAN ??
Jack. Good question. He disappeared after the Nov election.
MacLean disappeared DURING the campaign.
Jim. Other than keeping his web site up and attending the COX Forum and one candidate forum I must agree with your comment.
So quick question Larry….Do you enjoy living in Mission Viejo?
Dennis. I’ve lived here for 30 plus years. Where do you live?
question was simple…. “Do you enjoy living in Mission Viejo?” …..we know you have lived here a long time
Dennis. It might helpful if you told everyone who you are first
Dennis. As people can use alias’s on our blog I need to make sure this is the same Dennis who is also our current city manager.
If so, let me point out that as a resident for over 30 years there were many other illustrations I could have included in this history of our city.
i.e. In reviewing routine Check Registers between Dec 2002 and March 2003 I spotted invoices for “clean up” at one of our many parks. What caught my attention is that over the next few weeks the initial 3 invoices payable to Granich Construction against a maintenance contract totaled $121,946.11 with the final billing projected to reach $200,000.
The invoice justification was changed to read “illegal dumping” but when I started asking questions, and even tried to file a police report, we finally discovered the truth.
I have a copy of an email from former City Manager Dan Joseph to the city council with a copy to Dennis Wilberg stating that “I wanted to alert you that Larry Gilbert was in this morning and met with Sheriff deputies regarding the illegal dumping behind Curtis Park. He has demanded that a criminal investigation occur because the City has made statements that we are removing “illegally “dumped debris.
Frankly, in my opinion this is a waste of the Sheriff’s resources. However, because he has lodged a complaint, they will have to follow up on this matter.”
The sheriff deputy told me they would set the case aside because “we have no suspects, we have no witnesses and we have no evidence.”
Really.
Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Dennis Wilberg admitted during questioning by Bo Klein at the Feb 10th 2003 planning commission meeting that in fact the city had approved some dumping by the El Toro Water District.
Commissioner Bo Klein. “Do you know where the dirt came from?”
Dennis. “No, not all of it.”
Bo. “Did you ask any contractor to bring any dirt in?”
Dennis. “We had some dirt that we had ’em bring in from the El Toro Water District job that was done–ugh–in the end of 2001–is I think the commission is aware–the water district raised the level of the reservoir off Alicia Parkway.”
We eventually shut down this stealth project. Several members of CIG joined me in taking photos of the site, extensive grading, and Granich trucks and equipment in action.
I say stealth because there is a document which I have that references a future park at the site in question to the tune of $1 million dollars.
Yes, I hope you are the same Dennis. We would welcome your explanation to this abuse of taxpayer funds.
Dennis W knows that I retain thousands of pages of documents which are needed to back up my writings.
So you don’t enjoy living in the city then huh, Larry? Interesting you’re so paranoid about who is who you can answer a simple and harmless question.
By the way the “librarian” has never claimed we have more than 83,000 people with library cards, and, as you pointed out, we have almost 100,000 residents. So you lied about her. What else did you lie about Larry? Fair question given your figures aren’t adding up here.
LBM. Dennis X’s question has nothing to do with my recap of our city history.
Aside from my writing for this blog for almost five years, and all of my industry, property rights and church related functions over the past 30 years, I have still made time to serve as a volunteer in our city.
I found it amusing when, during our last council meeting, we applauded a senior citizen from Laguna Niguel for having attended hundreds of council meetings yet last year one activist supporter of councilman Leckness in MV pointed out my attendance at our meetings as if its a bad thing to hold your elected officials and senior staff accountable.
LBM. Once again you are incorrect but why should I be surprised.
In 2008 we had 144,492 library cardholders. Source. City document
In 2010 we had 80,937 cardholders FROM MISSION VIEJO.
I used a total figure in my post comment.
Do your homework if you expect our readers to give you any credibility
From the way the questions were phrased, I say it was Dennis O’Connor. Sounds just like him.
so other than complaining about the city’s ongoing support for the popular and successful Library it seems your main gripes are with things that occurred in 2002 and earlier, long before any of our current councilmembers took office,
and still no answer to the simple question “do you enjoy living in mission viejo?”
Is this realtor Dennis O’Connor or city manager Dennis Wilberg?
It really doesn’t matter. Gripes since 2002? I guess you are not a regular reader of the Juice.
Buried in my 1,000 posts, since joining Art Pedroza in Sept 2006, are many stories relating to Mission Viejo. While this is a county blog many of my posts related to our city. Perhaps 95% dealt with current events, including the Rose Parade float.
Earlier today former mayor Bill Craycraft, who came in first in our 1987 election and served multiple terms in office, commended me for this history of MV that contains details not found in the Heritage Committee history book.
In fact both our first mayor (Bill Craycraft) and current mayor (Leckness) commended me for this post.
I smile in reading my Feb 10th post of our policy to have email questions from anyone that are read during ongoing council meetings.
How about my post on the Feb 6th telphone survey where the city manager is more concerned with how his department is rated by 400 random residents rather than upcoming expenditures such as almost $4 million to add a tennis court, new lighting and a clubhouse remodel for “special interest” tournament play especialy at a time when he recognizes that we are in a recession.
Let me recap that survey. With 100,000 residents I venture to say that less than one half of one percent contact the city by phone, fax, or Federal Express yet questions 9 thru 14 ask for feedback on our interface with the staff.
In Jan I had fun posting a story on a proposed dog park that would include a retractable roof. Several citizens found that post to be humorous.
Also in my Jan 2011 files was a proposal to convert Barbadanes Park for the requested dog park rather than spending upwards of one million dollars. This field can easily be subdivided by creation of a mixed use facility. If we can do it for SB375 housing in our state there is no reason why people and dogs can’t share a park, especially when we saw adults walking their dogs at this site.
As Dennis X felt I was not covering current issues let me suggest he read my Jan 4th post relating to Frank Ury’s hatred of another council member.
If we look back at last years calendar we can begin with my post of Dec 30th on the tennis expansion for 250 residential users while we have numerous public and private courts in our city. The funny thing about this special interest request is that the subject Marguerite Complex is closed several hours mid-day on weekdays but we need the 8th court for tournament play.
Another Dec MV story was the OCFA request for mandatory fire sprinklers that I opposed. If I am not mistaken the council said NO.
Looking back to Nov 22nd where I listed staff wages and benefits or the Nov 3rd election results where first time candidate Rhonda Reardon was elected, or the passing of council candidate Bill Barker on election day.
Yes Mr. or Mrs. Dennis. I have devoted a considerable amount of my post 2002 writings to this city in which I am a property owner paying property taxes on more than one home in Mission Viejo. As such I have a 30 year investment in our quality of life and want to reestablish/enjoy the California Promise of the MV Co. that we bought into, not the iron tree logo and signs as some non residents in senior staff work to change the image of our master planned community.
And Dennis, I would be remise not to list the council vote to terminate lifetime health care for themselves where Frank Ury voted to keep that perk.
When was that meeting held? It surely was after 2002. We both know the answer as you defend the current city council.
sorry Larry I thought I had asked a simple question that could have been answered easily with a yes or no or something like that by most people but clearly you have issues, I didn’t mean to upset your day or add to your stress level so I will move on
Mr. City Manager.
While you continue to press me for an answer I am surprised that you have no comment to the issues covered by me after 2002. Did I open some old wounds?
Perhaps exposing Frank Ury’s vote to keep his access to taxpayer funded health care has chased you away from further discussion.
You live in Lake Forest and take a pay check from MV taxpayers.
I have already responded to your 30 question survey that I posted on Feb 6th.
The caller had my number and my answers.