by MissionViejoDispatch.com on September 3, 2010
Cathy Schlicht is proposing an ordinance to prohibit former elected officials, commissioners and high level city employees from conducting business with the city for at least a year after leaving office.
Known as “Revolving Door Ordinances,” such actions are intended to prevent wealthy special interests from retaining the services of former ‘insiders’ to gain undue influence with local government. It also seeks to prevent former city officials, elected and non-elected, from immediately enriching themselves by exploiting their insider knowledge and relationships with the city.
Schlicht’s proposal asks the Council on Tuesday to direct the City Attorney to review the Revolving Door Ordinances adopted by other cities and draft a similar measure suitable for the City of Mission Viejo. She included with the agenda item a copy of the City of San Jose’s ordinance as an example.
by MissionViejoDispatch.com on September 3, 2010
Halloween America opened its seasonal costume and supply store Friday in the former Comp USA store next to Borders Books. It is in the Mission Viejo Freeway Center at Oso and Cabot.
The company has opened eight locations in Southern California. The MV store will be open seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m. (949-367-0601)
by MissionViejoDispatch.com on September 3, 2010
Dave Leckness wants government to get into a couple new areas. First he wants City Hall to venture into the coupon business, even though it would compete with the private sector which already provides consumers with tons of coupons via newspapers, direct mail, internet and other media. Leckness is proposing the City create and maintain a website to promote coupons for local merchants.
Second, he wants the City to get involved in creating a business organization to replace the defunct Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce. Small businesses have increasingly deserted the Chamber in favor of ‘leads groups’ or other activities that do a better job of informing and promoting their particular enterprise.
The South Orange County Regional Chamber of Commerce has been largely taken over by big corporations like Southern California Edison, Cox Communications, Santa Margarita Water District, UC Irvine, Mission Hospital, Hoag Hospital, Saddleback Memorial Hospital, San Diego Gas & Electric, The Gas Company, Shulman Hodges Law Firm, and others. The organization promotes corporate special interests in local and regional matters and is no longer the familiar and traditional apple-pie organization.
Leckness, who is also involved promoting his local printing shop, placed both items on the Council agenda for next Tuesday.
If there are countless sources of coupons, and if resourceful small businesses choose other associations or activities above Chamber-like groups, why should local government spend the time, taxpayer money and other resources to become involved in the private sector?
by MissionViejoDispatch.com on September 3, 2010
The National Motorists Association has named Mission Viejo the worst speed trap city in California with a population under 100,000. The worst cities nationwide are listed on its September 2010 press release, which also identifies specific locations in MV reported as speed traps, accompanied by a summary vote from drivers.
by MissionViejoDispatch.com on September 2, 2010
It appears likely the Mission Viejo City Council will adopt a resolution Tuesday opposing Measure H. The Initiative will be on the November ballot proposing to change the method of election for Capistrano School Board trustees.
Currently CUSD trustees are elected at-large and answer to all voters in the District. Measure H would cause voters to elect a single trustee from one of seven segregated areas. Mission Viejo is the largest city in the District, but would be splintered into three areas.
Critics of H complain voters would lose 6 votes if it is passed. Some families with children in different schools across two or more areas are concerned they could not vote for the trustee representing a school where one or more of their children attend.
The council resolution is being brought by Mayor Trish Kelley. Last year Kelley said she would promptly bring an agenda item opposing “by-district” elections in CUSD. She didn’t, so the Dispatch contacted her. On 10/19/09 she replied that she hadn’t changed her mind but wanted to gather more information before placing it on the agenda. Last week the Dispatch again reminded Mrs. Kelley in an Editor’s Note after readers strongly opposed H. [Re: Will Measure H Hurt MV?]
In part, the proposed resolution states:
This City Council believes that “by-area” segregation of the District Trustees will not provide the greatest benefit to the residents of Mission Viejo. . . The City Council desires to preserve the equal voice of all those within the District by ensuring that each voter has an equal right to elect all the Trustees of the District.
