Council Considers Ordinary Business and an Extraordinary Situation

It was a typical Rancho Santa Margarita City Council meeting on Wednesday night—right up until the council took on one of the most unusual issues, and made one of its most unusual decisions, in the 11-year history of the city.

There was nothing typical about the council’s discussion of how to handle City Councilman Jesse Petrilla’s four-month absence for Army armor training at Fort Knox, KY. This extraordinary situation received extensive attention. Concerned that pre-meeting press coverage wasn’t always accurate, the City Council walked slowly and carefully through its three  options—as outlined by the city attorney. The first option—for Petrilla to teleconference—was determined to be unfeasible based on the military’s response to city inquiries. But Petrilla’s request to teleconference had not been withdrawn—putting the council in a difficult position.

The remaining two options—to leave the seat open or appoint a temporary replacement—were reviewed, with the council deciding to pursue finding and appointing a replacement. For a thorough account of what transpired, .

At the next regular Rancho Santa Margarita City Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 9, the council plans to review applications and likely appoint a temporary replacement for Petrilla—to be seated until his return from active military duty.

A highlight of the meeting was the city manager’s report, which provided a presentation by the newly formed Association of California Cities-Orange County. The association was formed based on Orange County cities feeling disenfranchised from the League of California Cities organization. Rancho Santa Margarita was among a number of cities that had recently withdrawn from the league because of its lack of effective representation and the high cost of membership. In order to be a part of the regional organization, membership in the state league was also required—costing the city more than $30,000 a year.

The new association has fewer restrictions and is expected to be more effective. The City Council decided unanimously to join the new organization and commit to a two-year membership for $21,000—after the city’s administrative services manager confirmed that the city is still on track to end the current fiscal year with a budget surplus of approximately $137,000.

In other action, City Councilman Steve Baric volunteered to be the city’s representative on the executive committee for the South Orange County Watershed Management Area. Councilman Jerry Holloway will be the alternate.

City Manager Steve Hayman made what he called a bittersweet announcement: The city’s chief of Police Services—Lt. Stacey Taylor—is being promoted to a new position working directly with Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens—leaving RSM in search of a new police chief. Although Taylor’s new assignment officially begins on March 11, Hayman anticipates that Lt. Taylor will be with the city through at least the two March council meetings.

The meeting began with certificates of commendation and student recognition being presented by Mayor Tony Beall. Deputy Alan Villanueva was recognized as 2010 Deputy of the Year and Deputy John Barbour was acknowledged for receiving the 2010 American Legion Medal of Merit.

Students receiving recognition were Samantha Hann and Sarah Healy of Mission Hills Christian School and Julia Ferrara and William Scott from Rancho Viejo Montessori. Special recognition was given to a group of students from Tijeras Creek Elementary School who raised more than  $15,600 for their school through a recycling program. Those in attendance were Chloe Miller, Eliza Schmitt, Evan Zimmerman, Daelyn Beaty, Bryce Igawa, Shawn Couron, Colby Wright, Madison Catanzariti and Kendra Zak.

Public speakers included a representative from the Muzeo discussing their contest for trash artists, a representative from the South Coast Air Quality Management District presenting the city with a copy of the “State of the Air” video and a member of the board of directors of Tijeras Creek condominiums expressing concern over parking issues.