San Juan City Council Back To Work In January

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — Did you know your city council has not met for the past two scheduled sessions? On Dec. 19, the San Juan Capistrano City Council cancelled it's meeting to accommodate holiday schedules and plans, the Orange County Register reported.

The January 2, 2018 meeting was also cancelled, as it was the day after New Year's.

According to the Register, the next scheduled meeting of the San Juan City Council and Successor Agency Meeting will be held January 16, 2018 - at 5 PM.

Issues they are expected to discuss include the 2018 City Work Plan with issues of new hotels, the San Diego Gas & Electric's South Orange County Reliability Enhancement project that plans to expand the capacity at a San Juan Capistrano power substation in a residential neighborhood at the city's objection. This one will be an issue to watch.

Other issues include the Northwest Open Space, an acre designated toward native people, and the building of a cultural center toward the Putuidem village park, which will be part of the fabric of the area to understand the history of San Juan Capistrano.

River Street expansion of a 61,000 square-foot agriculturally themed commercial development in open land near the Los Rios Historic District. Opponents not a fan of this one and have not wasted their effort to say so.

A recall effort has been underway against Councilwoman Pam Patterson who voted against processing the River Street Proposal. She stated that the recall was merely a retaliation for her vote.

Civic improvements will include:

• Widening of Del Obispo Street
• Conservation of city street light energy by changing to LED technology lights
• The Verdugo Street beautification process
• Water and sewer lines that extend to the San Juan Capistrano riding park --bringing potable water and a sewer line seen as a source of pollution in San Juan Creek, as well as a trail through the riding park
• Playground equipment upgrades at two parks
• More changes to water and sewer utilities
• City wide sign replacement

The replacing street signs that are looking "pretty tired" according to City Manager Ben Siegel in the last city council session.

Many of the projects are not funded. Capital funding exists, but there is no ongoing funding to maintain, Siegel said at the last city council meeting, from early December. "That is a concern," Siegel said. The council did engage an RFP to find low impact, low intensity commercial use of some areas.

Those unfunded capital projects include:

• Skateboard park, location found, design in preliminary stages, and fundraiser happening with estimated needs of $1.5 to $2 million. $50,000 and up, will be needed for annual maintenance of that park, according to Siegel.
• Putuidem village cultural site, which will take up to $75,000 to maintain annually
• Turf renovation at the sportspark
• Monument entry sign near the Jack In The Box
• Meredith Canyon road resurfacing, $4 million project, should funding come available.
• Camino Capistrano resurfacing, from the Vons center to Costco, with a $3-5 million "ballpark" price tag.
• Storm drain improvements.
• Widening of the San Juan Creek beneath the I-5 bridge, which does have a funding source, Siegle said, but will not start in 2018.

Funding can come through development, land sales, and permanent extension of the Prima Land Fill, which would provide one-time funding, according to Siegle. "After seeing catastrophic wildfire in other parts of the state, we know healthy reserves are imperative," he told the council at the last meeting.

The city council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 5 p.m. No agenda has been released as of this report.

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