Single Page Text Only - 02/22/14

Tournament Fiasco Continues

During the Feb. 17 meeting, council members had another chance to review last November’s wheelchair tennis tournament. Councilmember Cathy Schlicht called attention to problems by asking for an independent investigation. Instead of wanting answers, three council majority members either attacked her or indicated they didn’t need additional information. Councilman Frank Ury was absent.

The following summary indicates just how badly city administrators handled a tournament that wasn’t supposed to cost taxpayers a dime. A contract with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) was signed last year by City Manager Dennis Wilberg, who now claims he didn’t know what it would cost.

On 7-1-13, the council approved budgeting $55,000 after staff members indicated the money would be repaid. Costs of the tournament rose to $239,350, and that doesn’t include the city staff’s time.

  1. Council members’ copy of the contract had only 11 pages; the contract was 28 pages.
  2. Council members’ 11 pages didn’t include specifics, such as taxpayers paying for a 4-star hotel for professional athletes and their entourage.
  3. City staff didn’t have council approval to apply for hosting the tournament.
  4. ITF’s 4-2-13 press release announced Mission Viejo would host the event.
  5. The council didn’t approve hosting the event until 7-1-13.
  6. On 7-1-13, the staff said that the city’s outlay of $55,000 “would be underwritten by sponsorships, donations and fees.”
  7. Sponsors were solicited ($107,500 as per city website), but where’s the money?
  8. The amount budgeted for a tournament director was $6,500; a summary says he was paid $9,450, and the check register shows he was paid $10,100.
  9. The city paid $2,039 for a private ITF party on 11-6-13 at Mission Viejo Country Club.
  10. Costs for a “farewell dinner” have not been found.
  11. City employees’ time and pay have not been accounted for.
  12. Taxpayers were dinged $5,000 for hundreds of ITF Wheelchair Master staff shirts.
  13. The tournament is a business (not a charity) with paid professional tennis players.
  14. There is no record of players’ prize money – some prizes are as high as $9,533.00.
  15. City photos of the 2013 winners crop off oversize checks of prize money
  16. The city printed 2,000 programs, but the attendance was abysmally low.
  17. City videos of the tourney block out the stands of empty seats.
  18. ITF has already announced Mission Viejo is hosting the November 2014 tournament.
  19. Despite the problems and unanswered questions, the council majority of Ury, Leckness, Reardon and Kelley approved the city’s hosting another ITF tourney for 2014.

City staff members solicited “in-kind donations” of $45,000 from local restaurants to feed 125 people for a week. Other expenses included hotels and “gifts for the players.” Thirty-six professional tennis players and their coaches, etc., enjoyed a weeklong luxury vacation at Mission Viejo taxpayers’ expense.

Bucknum Campaign Update
Part 4

City council candidate Wendy Bucknum is a professional lobbyist. When she ran unsuccessfully for a council seat in 2012, many voters didn’t know about her job. They instead rejected her on the basis of her support for jumbotron-type electronic billboards in the south part of Mission Viejo.

In 2012, this blog published online references to Bucknum’s lobbying activities. One of the references was immediately scrubbed – her awards for lobbying were removed from her employer’s website. Is Bucknum not proud of her credentials?

Here’s a site that hasn’t been scrubbed, so look fast. Read a “guest post from Wendy Bucknum” on the California Legislative Action Committee of the Community Associations Institute website. The article written by Bucknum is about her “expertise” as a lobbyist. From the article:

“Wendy Bucknum rounded out the day along with special guest Shawna Rimke, District Director with U.S. Congressman Ken Calvert’s office sharing expertise on how to ‘Lobby Your Legislator.’ Which provided tips and tools for everyone as they headed out to visit their respective legislator offices. Chapter members visited the offices of Assemblymembers Solario, Miller, Norby, Wagner and Harkey. Martin Paine, District Director for Senator Mimi Walters‘ office came to the Chapter office to visit with everyone from CAI-OCRC.  Day in the District 2011 wrapped up with a successful debriefing session on the visits. This was done in an effort to educate our attendees about the importance of advocating on behalf of our industry at the local, state and federal levels!” http://caiclac.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/cai-orange-county-day-in-the-district/

An elected official who endorsed Bucknum in 2012 isn’t endorsing her in 2014. He said, “I won’t endorse her again because she didn’t follow through after I endorsed her in 2012.”

What exactly is Bucknum saying she will to do in exchange for an elected official’s endorsement? Read next week’s update on Bucknum’s campaign.

Non-government Events

Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise and non-profit groups.

WineWorks, live music every Friday, happy hour Tues.-Sat., check the website for wine tastings and other events, 26342 Oso Parkway, Suite 103, Mission Viejo, (949) 582-0026, http://www.wineworksforeveryone.com/tastings-events.php

A Hidden Vine on the Lake, wine tasting on Fri., Feb. 28 , 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Six high-quality wines paired with delicious cheese, charcuterie and a chocolate treat, 27772 Vista del Lago, Suite B-15, Mission Viejo, (949) 916-4810, http://www.ahiddenvine.com/wine_tasting.html

Soka University concerts: Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra on Sat., Mar. 1, 3:00 p.m.; Jupiter String Quartet on Sun., Mar. 2, 3:00 p.m., Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu

Mount of Olives Church SHARE Food Drive on Sun., Mar. 2, (first Sunday of each month) helps families in crisis, http://moochurch.org/share . Mount of Olives Church, 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://www.moochurch.org/

First Thursday Art Walk, Laguna Beach, Thurs., Mar. 6, 6:00 p.m., member galleries throughout Laguna Beach, including the Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive at North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-8971, http://firstthursdaysartwalk.com/

Mariachis at the Mission, Sat., Mar. 8, 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; second Saturday of each month, 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1300, http://missionsjc.com

St. Nicolas Parish Irish Festival, Sat., Mar. 8, 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sporrer Hall. Live music, Irish dancers, food and drink, 24252 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, (949) 837-7676, http://www.st-nicholaschurch.org/

St. Kilian’s Recycling Drive, Sat., Mar. 15, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, held on the third Saturday of each month. Organized by Knights of Columbus; acceptable items include aluminum, paper and plastic. No glass or cardboard. Lower parking lot, 26872 Estanciero Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 472-1249, http://www.stkilianchurch.org

Cabrillo Playhouse, Sun., Mar. 16, 6:00 p.m., “Local Sunday Sessions,” every third Sunday, three local musical acts, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, (949) 492-0465, http://cabrilloplayhouse.org

La Vida Drum Circle, Mar. 16, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., group meets on the evening of every full moon (Mar. 16, Apr. 15, May 14, etc.). Drummers should bring their drums. Firewood is appreciated for the bonfire, Aliso Beach, Aliso and Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 275-7544, http://www.lavidalaguna.com/things-we-dig/

Concordia University Concert, Sat., Mar. 22, 10:00 a.m., Lutheran Schools Handbell Festival. More than 150 ringers from Lutheran schools will perform; free admission, Concordia University Irvine, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, (949) 854-8002, http://www.cui.edu/AcademicPrograms/Undergraduate/Music/tabid/302/ctl/Details/Mid/2322/I temID/238/Default.aspx

Political and Government Events Calendar

Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting on Tues., Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100, http://ocgov.com/cals/?ViewBy=7&CalDate=1/15/2013&EventDateID=89649

Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet “if necessary” on Tues., Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m. The next regular meeting will be on Tues., Mar. 4, 6:30 p.m. (first Tuesday due to calendar conflict), 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/

Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Wed., Feb. 26, at the district office, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. Agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/

Nixon Library, free concert on Sun., Mar. 2, violinist Francisco Garcia Fullana with pianist Jiavi Shi. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and music begins at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org

Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Board of Directors on Wed., Mar. 5, 7:00 p.m.; Engineering Committee on Fri., Mar. 14, 7:30 a.m.; Finance Committee on Fri., Mar. 21, 7:30 a.m.; 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com

Rush Limbaugh Club of Orange County will meet on Sat., Mar. 8. Breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m., and the program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The group meets on second Saturdays of the month. The breakfast is $15.00, or attend the program for $5.00 to cover costs. The club pays for first-time attendees' breakfast or attendance fee. Casta del Sol Golf Clubhouse, 27601 Casta Del Sol Road, Mission Viejo, (714) 235-1430, http://rushlimbaughcluboc.com/

Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Community Relations Advisory Committee on Wed., Mar. 12, 9:00 a.m.; Engineering and Operations on Mon., Mar. 17, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Finance and Information Technology on Wed., Mar. 19, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Mar. 20, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., MNWD Main Office, 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://mnwd.com/board-of-directors-2/

OC Veterans Advisory Council, Wed., Mar. 12, 6:00 p.m. The council meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Veterans Service Office, Conference Room A/B, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, Santa Ana, https://cms.ocgov.com/gov/occr/occs/veterans/advisory/default.asp

Capistrano Valley Republican Women Federated, Wed., Mar. 19, 9:00 a.m., at the Marbella Country Club, 30800 Golf Club Drive, San Juan Capistrano. CVRWF meets on third Wednesdays of most months. CVRWF meets on third Wednesdays of most months. Call (949) 240-6799 for reservations, http://cvrwf.org

Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., Mar. 20, 7:00 p.m. SRA meets on third Thursdays (except in July, August and December) at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 769-1412.

SOC912 will meet on Fri., Mar. 21, 7:00 p.m., at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/events/161553102/

The Buzz

OC Board of Supervisors candidate Robert Ming opened his campaign headquarters last week. His Grand Opening will be on Sat., Mar. 8, 10:30 a.m., 30012 Ivy Glenn Drive, Suite 150 (off Crown Valley Pkwy), Laguna Niguel. For additional information: http://www.robertming.com/campaign-headquarters-grand-opening/ In the most recent reporting period, Ming raised more money than the combined total of his opponents: http://www.robertming.com/robert-ming-outraises-all-other-fifth-district-candidates-combined/ Councilman Frank Ury is running for the same Fifth District seat, which includes Mission Viejo

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Post from city watchdog Larry Gilbert: “It has begun. Spring decorations. Keep your eyes open in the Fifth District for Robert Ming yard signs for Board of Supervisors. He is the best candidate to follow Pat Bates this spring and has invested his own money in the campaign, something one of his challengers has not. So nice to play with Other People’s Money. Proof. Look at the Dec 31 460 candidate filing reports.”

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Save the date – the Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will meet on Mon., Mar. 10, at the Norm Murray Community Center in Mission Viejo. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. sharp. Program topic: “How Islam's Glorification in Our Textbooks Threatens Our Liberty: an Activist's Mission to Preserve Truth, Equality and Fairness in Our Classrooms.” The guest speaker will be David Whitley, author and conservative political activist.

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Do voters remember Councilwoman Rhonda Reardon’s 2010 campaign speeches? She said, “I’m running to second Cathy’s motions.” For a glimpse into the roles council members are playing lately, view Reardon’s meltdown during the Feb. 17 meeting, http://missionviejo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=12&clip_id=1296 , starting at 4:15 in the video. Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht asked for an assessment of the city’s gross overspending on a wheelchair tennis tournament that was supposed to be a privately funded operation with corporate sponsors. Instead of “seconding Cathy’s motions,” Reardon goes into a rage that such questions about fiscal accountability “insult” the tennis players.

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As moral lessons for viewers, Reardon makes constant references to her “grandchildren,” including a 14-minute segment during the Feb. 17 council meeting in which she describes visiting a park. Reardon has no children – no grandchildren.

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Wilberg reiterated a false claim during the Feb. 17 council meeting, stating last November’s wheelchair tennis tournament was “strongly supported by the community.” No, it wasn’t. The staff had advertised “free” tickets for various community members and apparently didn’t get any takers. Tennis has not enjoyed much popularity since the 1970s, and wheelchair tennis is a whole other sport. Despite a great deal of promotion, advertising and pressing city staff members into “volunteer service” of attending the tournament, the stands were practically empty.

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In public comments during the Feb. 17 council meeting, Mission Viejo resident Stephen Wontrobski addressed the council majority’s choice to change the city’s law firm to Lozano-Smith. Information about the firm’s problems has come out, and Wontrobski asked the council to reconsider its choice. View the video, http://missionviejo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=12&clip_id=1296, at 3:32.

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A proposition to split California into six separate states has the green light to gather signatures. From conservative watchdog Kelly Hubbard: “According to this proposal, each county would be part of a particular state, unless that county votes otherwise. According to preliminary proposals, Orange County would be in a separate state from L.A. County. Everything south of the north Orange County border would be in South California. What many don't know is that this idea has been talked about and proposed for quite some time. It's only been in the last year that actual efforts were made to bring this issue before the voters.  Even if this proposition gathers enough signatures to be placed on the November ballot, voters would first have to approve it and then it would go to Congress for final approval! If this does eventually make its way to the voters, it will be an interesting barometer to see if Californians have finally had enough of being under-represented.” Read on: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/02/19/plan-to-split-california-into-six-states-gets-ok-to-gather-signatures/ and http://www.sos.ca.gov/admin/press-releases/2014/db14-025.htm

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Last week, this blog published a paragraph about the city’s thousands of sickly sycamore trees. Mission Viejo residents can see for themselves, as sycamores line the city’s thoroughfares. These riparian trees would thrive if planted along streams or in regions with adequate rainfall. However, sycamores require a lot of water, and they aren’t drought-tolerant. The city’s sycamores are also distressed from too much salt in the soil due to lack of rain. Salt is not washed out by irrigation, particularly with reclaimed water instead of “clean” water (rain). During the Feb. 17 council meeting, assistant city manager Keith Rattay was asked if sycamores are riparian trees. He should have said “yes,” but he instead defended his choice of sycamores in this drought-prone area. Abundant information on sycamores can be found online, e.g., http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sycamore-trees-40884.html and http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/portals/9/pdf/pub395.pdf

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According to city staff members, the choice of the “dead tree” as Mission Viejo’s logo was made by Rattay and a consultant from Costa Mesa. No input was sought on the decision, and Rattay quashed discussion even among city staff members who didn’t like his choice. Residents have objected to the symbol as unimaginative clip-art having nothing to do with the city. Even as a clip-art tree, the logo is leafless and lifeless. Perhaps Rattay’s choice was prescient – this is how his riparian trees look along the road in a state with a severe drought and looming water war.

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