'Mercado' Decision Is Among City Council Business Tonight

The fate of a store on Camino Capistrano is set to be decided by the City Council on Tuesday night.

Nearby businesses in the center where the Mercado El Rey convenience store wants to locate are objecting, saying there aren't enough parking spaces to accommodate future shoppers.

At issue is whether the mercado is likely to draw more customers than the.

Also up for approval Tuesday are multiple spending requests.

Staffers are seeking approval for that would bring more effective speed bumps, new landscaping and tan-colored asphalt street paving to the Los Rios Historic District. As proposed, the changes would cost between $1.8 million and $2 million and are designed to make the area more friendly to pedestrians. 

Additionally, the City Council will vote to approve spending $30,500 on a grading and drainage survey and $7,860 on landscape plans for .

Metrolink is asking San Juan Capistrano taxpayers to pitch in $2,000 to make their downtown train station a stop along the Holiday Toy Express.

The toy express gives residents the opportunity to fill a train car with holiday gifts for needy children. It will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2011 and is proposing a 44-city tour.

Last year, due to budget cuts, Metrolink skipped 15 of its usual stops, including San Juan Capistrano.

The is also asking the city for money to continue providing after-school programs at its Via Positiva location. The city has contracted with the club since the 1997-98 school year, to fund arts and crafts, educational games, talent shows and the like.

The proposed agreement for Sept. 6 through June 30, 2012, calls for a $78,058 contribution.

Also at the Sept. 6 City Council meeting:

• Michael G. Colantuono, a specialist in public utility law, will give his opinion as to .
• The council will hear a resident's request to allow daytime parking on the north side of Mission Street, west of Lobo Street. City staffers are recommending no parking on a 70-foot section of the street from 8 to 6 p.m.
• The South Coast chapter of Trout Unlimited will present the latest in its efforts to construct a "fishway" within Trabuco Creek to allow migrating fish passage beneath the 5 freeway.