City Council Minutes 1 September 9, 2025
MISSION VIEJO MINUTES
City Council, Community Development Financing Authority, Successor Agency of the Community Development Agency,
Housing Authority, and Library Board of Trustees*
September 9, 2025
A Regular Meeting of the City Council, the Community Development Financing Authority, the Successor Agency of the Community Development Agency, the Housing Authority, and the Library Board of Trustees of the City of Mission Viejo, California, was called to order by Mayor Ruesch at 5:01 p.m., on September 9, 2025, at 200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, California.
A complete copy of the agenda for the meeting containing all items as shown herein was posted by 5:00 p.m. on September 4, 2025, on the outdoor bulletin board at City Hall. A copy was also posted at the Montanoso Recreation and Fitness Center, 25800 Montanoso Drive and Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way.
*All Board and Agency memberships are reflected in the title "Council Member."
Present: Council Member Goodell
Council Member Kelley
Council Member Vasquez
Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum
Absent: Mayor Ruesch
Staff Present: Elaine Lister, City Manager
Jerry Hill, Assistant City Manager
John Harper, Interim City Attorney
Ellis Chang, Director of Administrative Services
Kimberly Schmitt, City Clerk
Renata Winter, Assistant City Clerk
Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum announced the sudden passing of City Attorney B ill Curley and stated that John Harper, a colleague of Bill’s, is in attendance this evening to fill in for Bill. She a sked that everyone bear with us this evening as we process this news because Bill was a family member to us in our Mission Viejo family.
RECESS AND RECONVENE THE MEETING
At the hour of 5:01 pm Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum recessed the meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum reconvened the meeting at 6:00 pm with four City Council Members present.
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INVOCATION: Council Member Kelley
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum
PRESENTATIONS
P1. Proclaim September 2025 To Be Hunger Action Month
Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum presented the proclamation Alejandro Aular.
P2. Vocational Visions Presentation
Received presentation from Director of Development Dinh Thai.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Rich Pulliam, M.V.: Clarified the events that took place during the Casta del Sol protest and thanked the sheriff deputies in the professional way they dealt with the situation.
Peggy O’Neill, M.V.: Spoke on the Casta del Sol protest and stated she used her first amendment rights and stated it was a civil protest and thanked the Chief of Police for his comments from the last meeting.
Tom Moore, M.V.: Voiced his concerns on the commercialization of the Oso Creek Trail in regard to the installations of various monuments and suggest a place be designated in one distinct location.
Saga Conroy, M.V.: Expressed her sorrow of Attorney Curley’s passing. Spoke out against Proposition 50 that will be on the November ballot.
Carolyn Gatto, M.V.: Spoke on behalf of resident Dolores Thompson regarding the peaceful protest at Casta del Sol and that there were no threats either verbal or physical.
Carlos Pianelli, M.V.: Spoke on his concerns about what is going on in the country, particularly democracy, elections, and the current administration.
Salma Flores, M.V.: Spoke on the Character Trait of the Month Responsibility and gave various examples.
Kristin Wilcox, M.V.: Asked for a Public Hearing for the hiring of a new city attorney and requested a comments page on the city’s website so that residents can provide input on which firm and attorney will best represent the city.
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CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion made by Council Member Goodell, seconded by Council Member Kelley, to approve the Consent Calendar outlined below.
On roll call, said motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Bucknum, Goodell, Kelley, and Vasquez
NOES: None
ABSENT: Ruesch
1. City Council Minutes
Approved the Minutes for the regular City Council Meeting of August 26, 2025, as presented.
2. General Check Register Dated August 15, 2025, in the Amount of $935,329.30 Ratified the accompanying check register.
3. General Check Register Dated August 22, 2025, in the Amount of $1,229,769.68 Ratified the accompanying check register.
4. Golf Check Register Dated August 15, 2025, in the Amount of $6,433.74
Ratified the accompanying check register.
5. Golf Check Register Dated August 22, 2025, in the Amount of $412,389.22
Ratified the accompanying check register.
6. Quarterly Financial Report for the City of Mission Viejo - First and Third Quarter 2024/25
Received and filed.
7. FY 2025/26 Investment Policy Updates: City, Mission Viejo Housing Authority, Mission Viejo Community Development Financing Authority
(1) Adopted Resolution 25-29 Approving the City's Investment Policy for FY 2025/26; (2) adopted Housing Authority HA Resolution 25 -02 approving the Mission Viejo Housing Authority (MVHA) Investment Policy for FY 2025/26; and (3) adopted Community Development Financing Authority CDFA Resolution 25- 02 approving the MVCDFA Investment Policy for FY 2025/26.
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8. City Treasurer’s Monthly Report for July 2025
Received and filed.
9. Mission Viejo Community Development Financing Authority (MVCDFA) Treasurer’s Monthly Report for July 2025
Received and filed.
10. Mission Viejo Housing Authority (MVHA) Treasurer’s Monthly Report for July 2025 Received and filed.
11. Successor Agency of the Community Development Agency Treasurer’s Monthly Report for July 2025
Received and filed.
12. Marguerite Parkway Traffic Signal Synchronization Project (CIP 24260)
Approved the bid specifications, subject to minor revisions required by the City Engineer, and authorized staff to advertise for construction bids for the subject project.
13. Updated Single-Family Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant Program Guidelines.
Approved the Updated Single -Family Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant Program Guidelines and Authorize Continued Implementation of the Program.
14. Delegation of Tort Liability Claims Handling to California Joint Powers Insurance Authority
Adopted Resolution 25-30 Delegating Tort Liability Claims Handing Responsibilities to the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority.
NEW BUSINESS
15. 2025 California Building and Fire Codes, the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, the International Property Maintenance Code and an Electrical Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Code Section
Director of Community of Community Development Larry Longenecker presented the staff report.
Motion made by Council Member Kelley, seconded by Council Member Goodell, (1) introduce Ordinance 25- 356 Adopting by Reference the 2025 Editions of the California Administrative, Building, Residential, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Energy, Green Building Standards, Historical Building, Wildland Urban Interface, Referenced Standards Code and Existing Buil ding Codes, and the 2024 Editions of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and International
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Property Maintenance Code, Together, with Certain Appendices and Amendments Thereto, and Amending Title 8 of the Mission Viejo Municipal Code Including the Addition of a Streamlined Permitting Process for Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations"; and (2) int roduce Ordinance 25- 357 Adopting by Reference the 2025 California Fire Code, with Certain Amendments and Deletions.
On roll call, said motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Bucknum, Goodell, Kelley, and Vasquez
NOES: None
ABSENT: Ruesch
16. Municipal Code Amendment on Chapter 3.16 Regarding Demands and Claims
Director of Administrative Services Ellis Chang presented the staff report.
Motion made by Council Member Kelley, seconded by Council Member Goodell, to introduce Ordinance 25- 358 to Amend Chapter 3.16 of the Mission Viejo Municipal Code Regarding Demands and Claims.
On roll call, said motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Bucknum, Goodell, Kelley, and Council Vasquez
NOES: None
ABSENT: Ruesch
17. Design for Mosaic Obelisk in Honor of America’s 250th Anniversary
Director of Library Services Genesis Hansen presented the staff report.
Tom Moore, M.V.: Stated that the proposal is incomplete with no cap, no crown, or base and feels that the maze garden is too remote and visibility of the obelisk is very limited and suggested another location.
Peggy O’Neill, M.V.: For the interest of educating the public the Declaration of Independence should be shown instead of the Constitution.
Cathy Palmer, M.V.: For the interest of educating the public the declaration of independence should be shown instead of the constitution. Remove the city logo and DAR logo on the tree.
Carlos Pianelli, M.V.: Spoke in favor of the obelisk and suggested getting students involved in this and is happy to help the DAR with fund raising.
Motion made by Council Member Kelley, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum to approve the recommended action.
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On roll call, said motion failed by the following vote:
AYES: Bucknum and Kelley
NOES: Goodell and Vasquez
ABSENT: Ruesch
Motion made by Council Member Vasquez to approve the obelisk design but to remove the DAR and Mission Viejo logos from the third panel and place them on the plaque.
Motion died for lack of second
Motion made by Council Member Goodell, seconded by Council Member Vasquez, to (1) approve the mosaic obelisk removing DAR and City logos from tree panel and placing them in tile at the base of the obelisk, and (2) form an ad -hoc committee with Mayor Ruesch and Council Member Goodell for the final approval of the design including the cap and base of the obelisk.
On roll call, said motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Bucknum, Goodell, and Vasquez
NOES: Kelley
ABSENT: Ruesch
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
Assistant City Manager Hill gave an update on the Cal Fire Grant effor ts. He stated that progress will move swiftly in the area of Vista del Lago, Los Alisos and Via Novena. He explained that additional CEQA work was approved to go 70 additional feet behind the homes on Via Santiago and Via Noveno for a total of 170 feet. The 50-foot roadside clearance is complete from Vista del Lago to Via Noveno. He announced that the goats are in Mission Viejo to clear the opens space along Jeronimo between Silleros and Pavion.
18. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS AND ACTIONS
Council Member Reports of Events and Activities Attended ~ AB1234
By consensus, the City Council Members acknowledged their event and activities calendars as presented in the report and agreed to provide any changes to the City Clerk for the public record.
Council Member Goodell
Council Member Goodell mentioned that he attended the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to give an update on the city’s efforts in securing deals with national Olympic committees for the 2028 games. He shared that the Netherlands will be coming here to train and next month their national team coaches will be in Mission Viejo to see all the facilities to begin planning their training camps between now and the 2028 games. He also shared that the Nadadores have been able to secure deals with other teams such as the U.S. Olympic Diving team which will train at the aquatic center as well as the French, Japanese and he thinks the Australians.
Council Member Goodell said there is a national training camp of about 50 tandem divers from
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around the country. He indicated that the Sports and Economic Tourism have been going well with hundreds of Mission Viejo hotel rooms being booked. He attended the South Orange County Economic Coalition State of the City last Friday where Supervisor Don Wagner gave a State of the City. Lastly, he mentioned that Los Angeles has awarded the diving venue for the Olympics to the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center. He stated it’s about a seventeen-million-dollar rehabilitation project that has not commenced, and they will have less than three years to complete.
Council Member Kelley
Council Member Kelley thanked Senator Blakespear for obtaining 1.8 million dollars for our Oso Creek Trail Project. She gave kudos to Council Member Goodell for his talk at the SCAG meeting which his comments were well received. She attended the Boots Beer & Barb ecue event which is one of the annual fundraisers put on by our Marine Adoption Committee that raised about five thousand five hundred dollars. Council Member Kelley announced that the first welcome baskets for the new marines went to camp Pendleto n today. She attended the Mission for Heroes Football game that is now expanded to include law enforcement and firefighters as well as military and veterans. Police Chief Ivins, Sheriff Barnes and Fire Chief Fennessy were in attendance.
Council Member Vasquez
Council Member Vasquez also attended the luncheon with Supervisor Don Wagner. This past weekend along with her family they attended the United40C Kickoff Event which is a social initiative to make or do 4 million positive moments of impact by the year 2030. Lastly, she spoke about her youngest daughter’s activities.
Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum
Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum attended Tuesday on the Terrace and commented that the band member Michael Ramirez happens to be a graduate from Capo High School who graduated with her husband. She noted that Michael Ramirez is also a Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist. She attended the Salida Del Sol elected officials VIP Open House, which is a Jamboree Housing that is in combination with the new San Juan Capistrano City Hall. She also attended the luncheon with Supervisor Don Wagner and attended the Mission for Heroes Football game. Mayor Pro Tem was unable to attend the last Council Meeting as she was on vacation but wanted to thank staff and Commissioner Robert Breton for the wonderful Pacific Symphony. Lastly, she thanked Senator Blakespear and Assistant City Manager Jerry Hill for the grant funding for the Oso Creek Trail.
Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum asked staff members on the dais to pay tribute to City Attorney William Curley and called for a moment of silence.
ADJOURNMENT
At the hour of 8:26 p.m., with no further business to come before the City Council at this session, Mayor Pro Tem Bucknum adjourned the meeting in memory of City Attorney William Curley to Tuesday September 23, 2025.
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Kimberly Schmitt, City Clerk
Approved at the meeting of September 23, 2025