New Mayor Chosen, Natural Gas Facility OK'd

Aliso Viejo netted a new mayor and a new mayor pro tem Wednesday during the last City Council meeting of the year.

During its annual reorganization, the council voted 4-1 in favor of Mayor Pro Tem Don Garcia serving as the city's mayor in 2012, and 4-1 in favor of current Councilman Bill Phillips serving as the city’s mayor pro tem in 2012.  

Their terms begin Jan.1.

While Garcia left before we could get a quote, Councilman Phil Tsunoda said this about Garcia’s upcoming year:

“He will do a fantastic job for 2012, and I look forward to serving under his leadership,” Tsunoda said.

Mayor Carmen Cave said Garcia brings experience to the position.

“I would never deign to give him advice,” Cave said, laughing. “Everybody has their own style, and he’s done it before.”

According to the staff report, the council reorganization procedure goes as follows:

• The mayor calls for a motion to nominate a member of the City Council to serve as mayor for 2012.
• The mayor asks if there are any other nominations.
• Nominations are closed.
• A roll call vote is taken and the results are declared.
• The process is then repeated for the position of mayor pro tem.
• Additionally, council policy 400-2 states that the council seating order shall be at the discretion of the mayor.  

During the nominations for the position of mayor, Cave nominated Garcia. City Councilmember Greg Ficke nominated himself.

Councilmembers can nominate themselves or other members of the council, according to Tsunoda.

The city clerk led a roll call vote on Garcia’s nomination, and the council voted 4-1 in favor of Garcia becoming mayor, with Ficke the sole dissenting vote.

There was no vote on Ficke’s nomination.

“Is there a need to take a second vote?” Cave asked afterward.

“No, there is not,” said City Clerk Susan Ramos.

Tsunoda then nominated Phillips to become mayor pro tem. Ficke nominated himself.

Mirroring the mayoral vote, the council voted 4-1 in favor of Phillips becoming mayor pro tem with Ficke the sole declining vote.

Incoming Mayor Pro Tem Phillips said he wants to focus on local business growth.

“I’m going to die preaching economic development,”  Phillips said. “I think that that’s a killer. We’re resting on our laurels just too much right now.”

He said the current economic climate is going to worsen, and the city should prepare.

Other business

—The City Council gave the go ahead to the Capistrano Unified School District’s plan to establish a natural gas facility in the city.

The project calls for the installation and operation of compressed natural gas facility for 20 buses at the district’s transportation center in the city at 2B liberty, just near the corner of Liberty and Aliso Viejo Parkway.

The City Council approved a conditional use permit for the project unanimously.

—The mayor wanted to remind residents that alcohol and motor vehicles don’t mix, even during the holiday season.

 “Don’t drink and drive,” Cave said. “Call a cab. Have a friend drive you. That is one of those times of the year that is easy to forget.”

“Please be careful out there,” Cave added.

—John Fornes, member of the Orange County Grand Jury, urged residents to consider signing up to be part of the organization.

“If you have energy … if you’re curious, if you want make a contribution, if you can afford to devote a year at $50 a day, this is for you and you should do it,” said Fornes, who is soon ending his one-year term on the jury.

For more information, interested applicants can visit ocgrandjury.org. The application deadline is Jan. 13.

—The next City Council meeting takes place at 7 p.m. Jan. 7, at 12 Journey, City Hall.