Council Pushes for Sale of Harrison House, Plus Other Council Action

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night .

Its decision was based on the fact that the Capistrano Indian Council—which has rented the space for $1 a year for the past 30 years—is no longer recognized as a nonprofit organization by the state of California and has said it cannot afford to pay an increased rent of $300 a month, which is the cost of maintaining the property.

The council directed the staff to sell the house and the nearby Parra Adobe as soon as possible.

"I don’t believe the city should be the landlord on all of these properties that we have," said Mayor Sam Allevato. "I’d like to see more of them sold off."

In the last few decades, the city had given the Capistrano Indian Council a discounted rent because of its status as a nonprofit and because it opened its doors to the community to teach about Native American culture. More recently, however, the council determined that the costs to maintain the property were too hefty and that it would be fair for the Capistrano Indian Council to pay its share.

Also on Tuesday, the City Council:

• Directed staffers to apply for at least $4 million in state grants that have previously been denied for parks projects.
• Voted 4-1 to have City Attorney Omar Sandoval write an impartial analysis of Measure B, the ballot measure.
• Waived 100 percent of permit fees—totaling $19,648—for the Fiesta Association's production of the Swallows Day Parade and its related events.
• Convened as the board of directors for the Community Redevelopment Agency and voted to ease restrictions for the Capistrano Home Furnishing Center, a commercial development. Restrictions on the deed no longer require that only home and home-accessory retailers fill the center; now, any type of general commercial business, including restaurants and clothing boutiques, may rent the space.