Cities, like disgraced politicians and wayward celebrities, can hire companies to create PR strategies to re-cast their image. The City Council is poised to buy “re-branding” and “re-imaging” for Mission Viejo - even though the City is already known as The California Promise and America’s Safest City.
A consulting company, brandStrata, has a series of “First Steps” to sell the Council [...]
Archive for November, 2007
Council Poised to “Re-Brand” Mission Viejo
Posted in Re-Branding & Mixed Use on November 30, 2007 | 4 Comments »
City Faces Higher Density Under Proposed ‘Mixed Use’ Overlay Ordinance
Posted in Re-Branding & Mixed Use, Zoning & Development on November 29, 2007 | 1 Comment »
On Monday the Council will entertain a proposal opening the door to a ‘Mixed Use’ environment in Mission Viejo. Mixed Use is the modern mantra by urban planners seeking to increase density by stacking residential, retail, and office uses on the same parcels. In addition, these projects typically include affordable housing, higher rise buildings, parking structures and an acceptance [...]
Update: Traffic ‘Roundabouts’
Posted in Traffic & Transportation on November 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Click here for substantial update to the Roundabout Letter . . .
Passing: Maye Russ
Posted in Passings, Uncategorized on November 28, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Maye Russ passed away last night at her home in Casta del Sol. Maye earlier served the retirement community as its liason to city hall. She was a long-serving member of the City’s Senior Community Activity Team (SCAT) and past member of the Board of Directors for the Casta Homeowners Association. When not serving [...]
Councilman Aids T-Mobile’s Attempt To Overturn Residents’ Victory Against Cell Antenna In Gilleran Park
Posted in Cellular Antennas on November 27, 2007 | 1 Comment »
On October 22 the Planning Commission received an outpouring of residents protesting a proposed cellular antenna in Gilleran Park. The Commission received a petition with 85 signatures, 21 emails, and several public comments. There were no statements from the public supporting the proposed T-Mobile antenna.
Residents throughout the city have become increasingly concerned about cellular [...]
Letter: Dog Parks
Posted in Animals on November 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Our family owns two yellow labradors that love the Oso trail and numerous city parks and green belts where we exercise them (and us). We are very lucky to have as much green space in our city as we do to walk/run our dogs. The comments that I have received from various veterinarians is [...]
New Cellular Antenna Approved Near Marguerite & Felipe
Posted in Cellular Antennas on November 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
On Monday evening the Planning Commission approved (3-1-1) a new cellular antenna for installation on an existing fake pine tree on the property of the Church of Christ at 26558 Marguerite Parkway. The application was submitted on behalf of cellular service provider Metro PCS. T-Mobile and Sprint currently have antennas on the same ‘monopine’ [...]
GM SUVs Are Hot Item On Busy Shopping Day At MV Mall
Posted in Crime & Public Safety on November 26, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Thieves were shopping for General Motors’ SUVs on Sunday at the Shops of Mission Viejo. According to the O.C. Register, 29 of 32 SUVs stolen from the Mall during 2006 and 2007 were taken from parking structures. Three other O.C. malls, South Coast Plaza, Brea Mall and Main Place, have higher rates of vehicle theft. Click here to view OC [...]
Brea Golf Course Similar To Mission Viejo’s Casta del Sol; Brea Financially Strong
Posted in Save Casta Golf Course on November 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Financial viability has been cited as a significant issue in determining the future of Mission Viejo’s Casta del Sol Golf Course. Birch Hills Golf Course in Brea is virtually the same length as Casta. Prices are similar, and it may be Orange County’s most comparable course. The primary difference seems to be that Birch Hills has a practice range; Casta has vacant [...]
Council (3-2) Rejects Attempt By MacLean & Ury To Explore Tax Increase For Casta Golf Region
Posted in Council Votes, Save Casta Golf Course on November 23, 2007 | 2 Comments »
On November 5 Councilman MacLean proposed studying the creation of a Special Assessment District to raise taxes as a possible alternative to partially rezoning Casta del Sol Golf Course for retirement housing. Sunrise Assisted Living has ‘conditionally’ purchased the course from American Golf Corporation, contingent upon the City approving a zoning change permitting it to construct a [...]
Dog Park Opinions Heard
Posted in Animals on November 21, 2007 | 5 Comments »
Last night the Community Services Commission conducted its second and final public workshop regarding the idea of a dog park. About 60 residents attended, with 26 public comments addressed to the Commission. The majority of speakers seemed to favor a dog park, but the Commission heard that a dog park shouldn’t be placed near residences, schools, or sports [...]
Norm Murray Center To Close For One Month; Re-open In Mid-January
Posted in Community Center Update on November 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
The Director of Recreation and Community Services, Kelly Doyle, revealed last night the Norm Murray Senior and Community Center would close in mid-December. The facility is completing renovation. Final improvements, such as flooring and furnishings, need to be completed during the closing. He predicted the Center would re-open to the public in mid-January.
Council Debates Competitive Bidding For $246,000 Furniture Contract
Posted in Competitive Bidding Waiver, Council Votes on November 20, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Four members of the City Council expressed displeasure last night with the Staff’s request to waive competitive bidding for the purchase of furniture for the Community Center. Councilmember Maclean disagreed and made a motion to approve the no-bid $246,387 purchase; his motion failed for lack of a second.
The Council’s action, on a 4-1 vote, called [...]
Letter: Remember?
Posted in Letters to Editor on November 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
I will enjoy reading the Dispatch. And (especially) the comments to the stories. Remember when each week, the SVN contained all kinds of letters to the editor, poking and prodding the Council about all sorts of things? I remember the passionate letters in the SVN way back when the MV Company was trying to [...]
Letter: Thanksgiving of Sharing
Posted in Charity, Letters to Editor on November 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Overt commercialization, first of Christmas, and now Halloween, is making Thanksgiving Day almost a national oversight. Sure families will gather for a holiday meal, but Americans are given lesser occasion to reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving, both thanks for your blessings and sharing your blessings with others.
The featured story in Sunday’s Orange [...]
