City Council Minutes 1 September 8, 2026
MISSION VIEJO MINUTES
City Council, Community Development Financing Authority, Successor Agency of the Community Development Agency, Housing Authority, and Library Board of Trustees*
September 8, 2026
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 Bucknum at 5:00 p.m., on July 14, 2026, 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 July 9, 2026, 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 Kelley
Council Member Ruesch
Council Member Vasquez
Mayor Pro Tem Goodell
Mayor Bucknum
Absent: None
Staff Present: Elaine Lister, City Manager
Jerry Hill, Assistant City Manager
Tarquin Preziosi, City Attorney
Ellis Chang, Director of Administrative Services
Alison Walker, City Clerk
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION AND RECONVENE
At the hour of 5:00 pm Mayor Bucknum recessed to Closed Session. At the hour of 6:00 pm Mayor Bucknum reconvened the meeting with all five Council Members present.
INVOCATION: Council Member Ruesch
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Vasquez
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PRESENTATIONS
P1. Recognize Mid-Summer through Early Autumn as Wildfire Awareness & Prevention Season
Mayor Bucknum presented the proclamation to Chief Maule.
P2. Proclaim September 2026 To Be Hunger Action Month
Mayor Bucknum presented the proclamation to Malia Cary, Director of Government Affairs and Community Relations at Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.
P3. Recognize Oso Creek Golf Course
Mayor Bucknum presented the proclamation to Khaled Ayub, General Manager and Ted Moreta, Assistant General Manager of Oso Creek Golf Course.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Faith Fersten, M.V.: Asked why the City has not obtained a warrant to address safety and fire hazards at a neighboring property on Via Santa Maria. She also raised concerns about persistent odors from her neighbor’s dog and requested City action.
City Attorney Preziosi gave an update, stating a court-issued warrant was obtained September 8th, and the City will proceed promptly to abate the nuisance.
Mel Buwalda, Farie Momayez Tafreshi, Jocelyn Contestabile, Grant Chambers, and Audrey Locke, M.V.: Requested more days and larger, safer spaces for table tennis, citing health benefits for aging and neurological conditions. They emphasized current facilities are inadequate and overcrowded compared to nearby cities.
Yousuf Kamran, M.V.: Introduced the Community Character Trait of the Month, responsibility, highlighting its importance as a teachable life skill and shared his example of timely work completion.
He concluded with a Booker T. Washington quote on trust and responsibility.
Tom Moore, M.V.: Urged residents to learn about California’s Housing Element law (AB 1952) and announced a September 11th remembrance walk along the Oso Creek Trail.
Connie Lanzisera, M.V.: Expressed concerns about the City Council's communication regarding ALPR system discussions and noted unreported surveillance cameras with audio capabilities in the contract.
She also mentioned the absence of public safety town hall meetings promised since 2021.
Andie Lofy, M.V.: Raised privacy concerns about Flock cameras and AI surveillance, highlighting risks of data misuse and false arrests, and requested the City Council review and discuss the Flock contract further.
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Laura Lacko, M.V.: Supported updating pest management, urged pausing the Oso Creek plan for new Council input, proposed college volunteers for plant removal, and noted concerns over food bank support amid child nutrition cuts.
Anthony Elia, M.V.: Urged the City to resume regular fire hydrant and water valve inspections to ensure safety, noting recent repairs in his neighborhood and the need for citywide maintenance.
Wiley Faron, M.V.: Raised concerns about the placement of Flock cameras concentrated in a Home Depot parking lot rather than major traffic areas, questioning the effectiveness of resource allocation and requested their removal.
Cathy Palmer, M.V.: Urged the City to promote cooling centers for vulnerable residents during the heat wave to ensure they know where to stay cool.
Carolyn Gatto, M.V.: Urged a moratorium on capital project approvals until after the election to allow new Council members to have input.
Police Chief Larson clarified that the LPR cameras at Home Depot are privately owned, not City property, and noted that private businesses and communities are also acquiring similar cameras.
Community Relations Director Robert Schick confirmed that information about cooling centers has been distributed and that further notifications will be sent.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion made by Council Member Kelley, seconded by Council Member Ruesch to approve the Consent Calendar outlined below.
On roll call, said motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Bucknum, Goodell, Kelley, Ruesch, and Vasquez NOES: None
ABSENT: None
1. City Council Minutes
Approved the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of August 25 , 2026, as presented.
2. General Check Register Dated August 14 & August 21, 2026
Ratified the accompanying check registers.
3. Golf Check Register dated August 14 & August 21, 2026
Ratified the accompanying check registers.
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4. Biennial Update of the City of Mission Viejo’s Conflict of Interest Code
Adopted Resolution 26-43 Amending the City of Mission Viejo’s Conflict of Interest Code.
NEW BUSINESS
5. Third Amendment to the Employment Agreement for Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Services, Jerry M. Hill
Human Resources Manager Monique Goetz presented the staff report.
City Council provided comments.
Motion made by Council Member Kelley , seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Goodell, to receive (1) Oral report and summary of recommendation of Third Amendment (A24-26C) to the Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Services Employment Agreement with Jerry M.
Hill per Government Code Section 54953(c)(3); and (2) adopt Resolution 26-44, Approving the Third Amendment to the Employment Agreement with Jerry M. Hill as Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Services for the City of Mission Viejo; and (3) authoriz e the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.
On roll call, said motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Bucknum, Goodell, Kelley, Ruesch, and Vasquez NOES: None
ABSENT: None
6. Trabuco Wetlands Habitat Rehabilitation - CIP 26273
Public Works Director Rich Schlesinger presented the report.
Cathy Palmer, M.V., spoke in favor of this item.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Goodell , seconded by Council Member Kelley , to (1) approve the agreement with Nieves Landscape, Inc, (A26-28) in the amount of $280,000 for the Trabuco Wetlands Habitat Rehabilitation – CIP 26273; (2) approv e the agreement with Bistline Engineering, Inc., (A26 -29) in the amount of $180,000 for the Trabuco Wetlands Habitat Rehabilitation – CIP 26273; and (3) adopt Resolution 26 -45 amending the General Fund Budget by $250,000 and Oso Creek Golf Course Fund Budget by $250,000 for Fiscal Year 2026/27 to provide additional funding of $500,000 for the Trabuco Creek Wetlands Habitat Rehabilitation Project - CIP 26273.
On roll call, said motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Bucknum, Goodell, Kelley, Ruesch, and Vasquez
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NOES: None
ABSENT: None
MAYOR’S, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ACTIONS
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Lister announced that the City has been successful in getting wildfire mitigation funding in the order of $850,000 through Senator Blakespear’s Office.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS
City Attorney Preziosi provided additional updates regarding the Via Santa Maria property, noting that the court has given the City two weeks to carry out the warrant, adding urgency to the abatement process.
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS AND ACTIONS
7. 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 Kelley
Council Member Kelley provided an update on recent and upcoming events, including attending a Cal Cities meeting, supporting the Capistrano Valley High School football game in their new stadium, and highlighting community activities on September 12 such as Repair Cafe OC, Ales and Trails, and movie nights in the park. She also noted the Mission for Heroes football game on September 11 at Mission Viejo High School, honoring first responders and active-duty Marines.
Council Member Ruesch
Council Member Ruesch noted an upcoming Chamber of Commerce event for City Council Candidates.
He requested future detailed reports on community table tennis activities and the Flock camera system, including information on camera types, capabilities, costs, contract length, dat a acquisition, and effectiveness. He acknowledged that some cameras, like those at Home Depot, are privately owned.
Council Member Vasquez
8. Potential Update to the City’s Integrated Pest Management Program Guidelines
Council Member Vasquez gave her report.
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The following spoke in favor of this item: Michael Rotcher, M.V., Nicholas Valencia, M.V., and Bogdan Stoica, M.V.
Council Members offered feedback and posed questions to staff during the discussion.
Motion made by Council Member Vasquez, seconded by Mayor Bucknum, to direct staff to bring this item back to City Council at the September 22, 2026, meeting, with proposed updates to the City’s Integrated Pest Management Program Guidelines.
On roll call, said motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Bucknum, Goodell, Kelley, Ruesch, and Vasquez NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Mayor Pro Tem Goodell
9. Continuation of the Oso Creek Vision Plan into the 4 -6 Year Phase and Authorization of a Public Private Partnership Feasibility Process
Mayor Pro Tem Goodell gave his report.
The following spoke in opposition to this item: Tom Moore, M.V., Carolyn Gatto, M.V., Michael Rotcher, M.V., and Jill Schindler, M.V.
Council Members provided input and had questions for Mayor Pro Tem Goodell.
Motion made by Mayor Bucknum, seconded by Council Member Kelley, to call the question.
Motion made by Council Member Ruesch , seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Goodell , to (1) adopt Resolution 26-46 Directing Staff to Advance the Oso Creek Vision Plan into the 4- 6 Year Phase and to Initiate a Public Private Partnership Feasibility Process; (2) initiate a Public Private Partnership (PPP) feasibility study for a new golf course clubhouse, banquet/event venue, food and beverage operations, potential for hospitality, and additional parking that may be required; and (3) staff will endeavor within 60 days to return to Council with a feasibility report (developed with a consultant), fiscal analysis, procurement strategy, and draft PPP term sheet.
On roll call, said motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Bucknum, Goodell, Kelley, and Ruesch
NOES: Vasquez
ABSENT: None
City Council Minutes 7 September 8, 2026
Mayor Bucknum
Mayor Bucknum reported on a meeting with Congresswoman Young Kim and highlighted upcoming community events, including a September 11 tribute at Mission Viejo High School. She announced the passing of her father, Doug Burke, sharing his career accomplishments, and also announced the passing of Commissioner Joe Bl um, highlighting his contributions to the community. In their memory, she adjourned the meeting with a moment of reflection and noted that city flags were lowered to half -staff in honor of Joe Blum.
ADJOURNMENT
At the hour of 8:56 p.m., with no further business to come before the City Council at this session, Mayor Bucknum adjourned the meeting in memory of her father Douglas Burke and Planning and Transportation Commissioner Joe Blum, to Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
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Alison Walker
City Clerk