The Capistrano Insider

Bates: Orange County Moving Ahead on New Animal Shelter

One of the complaints/concerns of local animal-rescue folks is that the Orange County Shelter, where lost pets and strays are taken, is so far away. The county is working on building a new shelter in Tustin, Fifth District Supervisor Pat Bates says.

From Bates:

New OC Animal Care Center Update

The Board of Supervisors continues to make progress on the development of a new Animal Shelter. On January 24, the Board approved an Exchange Agreement with the South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) for a land-swap of ten-acre parcels at the former MCAS Tustin Base. Five acres of the parcel to be received by the County, following release by the Department of Navy, has been designated as the site for a new Animal Care Center, which will replace the existing Animal Shelter currently in the City of Orange.

The planned Tustin site is centrally located in the County and easily accessible to all. OC Parks has been tasked with developing an 84-acre park directly across from the site, which will include one of the landmark blimp hangars. Conceptual plans have already been completed for the new Animal Care Center.

The County is continuing to work with the City of Tustin and SOCCCD to revise the documentation required by the Department of Navy as part of the Re-Use Process. It is hoped that a decision from the Department of Navy regarding conveyance can be obtained in late 2012 or early 2013.

Once the Department of Navy issues the decision on conveyance, construction plans will be developed and ground will be broken on the new site. Timing on construction will depend upon the actions of the Department of Navy and any requirements set forth in that action.

Previous cost estimates for the new Animal Care Center ranged from approximately $25 million to $30 million. Initial funding already has been set aside by the Board. Additionally, preliminary discussions have been initiated with an advisory group of city managers from the cities that contract with OC Animal Care regarding the balance required to complete the project, with more formal discussions on a funding agreement being initiated in the fall. Staff is also looking at other ideas for fundraising, including a non-profit fundraising effort.

Development of a new Animal Care Center is a high priority for the County and our partner contract cities. To that end, I will continue to provide updates on the progress as we move forward.

Supervisor Bates on Bringing Public Salaries in Line

This from Orange County Supervisor Patricia Bates, whose district includes San Juan Capistrano:

2012 Labor Negotiations

A major focus of your Board of Supervisors in 2012 will be labor negotiations. Several employee contracts are up for renegotiation, and it will be the responsibility of this Board to ensure taxpayers’ interests are successfully represented at the bargaining table.

We need to take the opportunity of the 2012 negotiations to explore options for slowing the rapidly rising cost of government. Employees must be compensated fairly; however, the compensation offered to employees must live within means of what the County treasury can afford both in the short-term and long-term.

In the closing months of 2011, the Board has taken actions that signal our intentions for 2012 labor relations and have initiated reforms that will prevent mistakes made in past negotiations.

In my view, a positive step forward for taxpayers was the Board’s recent action to reject proposed changes in the Orange County Managers Association (OCMA) contract. If approved as presented to the Board, the OCMA contract, which contained a “Pay for Performance” award program, would have significantly raised the salary range for managers and long-term pension costs.

The accelerated increase in base salaries, which is a byproduct of the Pay for Performance program, is what is threatening the fiscal solvency of our pension plans and the overall cost of government. That is why my colleagues and I rejected the OCMA contract proposal.

Similarly, this week we rejected a proposal that would have increased salary ranges for Law Enforcement Managers. I believe our employees deserve to be paid appropriately; however, we must correct the past that set salary and pension benefits at rates we cannot afford in the long-term.

To correct the record and avoid confusion, I should point out that media reports asserted the Board privately approved retroactive raises for members of OCMA prior to publicly voting down the contract I mentioned above. Such an assertion is inaccurate. The fact is these “raises,” or more accurately performance awards, were made in compliance with a previously negotiated contract.

The County began negotiations with OCMA in November 2010, as their employment contract was due to expire January 14, 2011; and as part of the negotiations, the County included in the discussions significant changes to the Pay for Performance award program contained in this existing contract. OCMA agreed to defer the 2010 performance awards that were due to be paid to eligible managers on or around January 5, 2011 until a new contract was hammered-out.

As a result of not reaching agreement on the new contract, it was determined the County was legally bound to fund and award performance increases, as outlined in the previous existing contract. Paying the previously agreed to awards saves the County the costs associated with litigation and avoids the large salary range increases included in the new proposed contract.

The Board has directed staff to continue to work with OCMA to reach an agreement that is fair to the County’s managers and awards exceptional performance yet does not significantly increase pay ranges and associated pension benefits.

Going forward, the prospects for taxpayers in the 2012 negotiations are strong. The Board continues to move toward implementing a significant reform: hiring a third party private firm to negotiate our labor contracts.

The negotiators supplied by a private firm will provide the County with the needed skill and expertise. A private, independent firm will also determine short-term and long-term impacts of every major contract component discussed at the bargaining table.

In the past, the County relied on in-house staff to conduct our negotiations. However, we believe a third party will provide for a stronger advocate at the bargaining table.

An additional positive for taxpayers is our recent Performance Audit, which identified over $150 million in savings can be achieved in contract negotiations. As such, the Board has agreed to meet and discuss this list of savings and develop a strategy for making them a reality.

Balancing savings for the taxpayer with salaries that award performance and also retains a superior workforce will continue to be a priority for me throughout my term. Nowhere is the opportunity for savings greater than in our labor contracts.

I value the work our public employees do and the services they provide; and I know Orange County is fortunate to have very competent and diligent public servants. However, the current path is unsustainable. Reversing the trend is the challenge all local officials must take on and one this Orange County Board of Supervisors is ready to meet.

Capistrano Makes the Wall Street Journal ... but it's not Good

The case of San Juan Capistrano verses Chuck and Stephanie Fromm -- the couple cited for hosting Bible studies in their home -- made the Wall Street Journal's online edition.

The article is pretty straightforward and notes the case has been settled, with fines dropped and the city re-examining their zoning codes.

But the interesting part? The comments -- especially those in which people say "there must be something missing, this can't be true..."

Here's the link: WSJ Fromm Story

Ah, Another Case of Code Enforcement Run Amok?

Remember when San Juan Capistrano impounded a truck off a man's driveway because it didn't run? The City Council (including except the Conservative Reeve) upheld that decision ... Now, the city's in the midst of working with Chuck and Stephanie Fromm, who were cited for holding Bible studies in their homes.

Chuck Fromm, by the way, attended Coffee Chat on Friday and complimented City Manager Karen Brust, so it seems as a settlement may be in the offing.

Brust, in her City Manager's Update, noted 204 new code enforcement cases were opened in September, way up from the 113 opened in August. No word on what type of violations the list includes.

But here's one from Diamond Bar, a Los Angeles County town just north of Brea. A man got arrested because his classic Mercedes had a flat tire in his driveway. Here's the story.

Mayor: Capistrano Aiming for 'Home Run'

Maybe it's because the playoffs are underway, but Mayor Sam Allevato's monthly column is baseball-themed. It starts with a line about keeping your eye on the ball, and finishes with how good planning and implementation would be a home run for all of us.

Topics he covers as recently accomplishments include various items off the agenda, along with plans for Pedros Tacos on Camino Cap to remodel into a two-story "Mission Grill."

He also talks about a new philosophy in Police Services, where one less motorcycle deputy will be patrolling the streets after the City Council decided to dedicate more resources to Neighborhood Watch and similar crime-prevention efforts.

The council voted this month to eliminate one of the three motor deputy positions, along with a long-vacant patrol deputy post to hire a sergeant and community services officer. That will give Capistrano a dedicated position to organize Neighborhood Watch programs, hold crime prevention meetings throughout the city and work with community groups on truancy and gang-reduction programs. The sergeant, meanwhile, will be able to better track crime trends and other issues. San Clemente and Dana Point have similar programs.

The changes also save the city about $43,000 a year, said Chief of Police Services Lt. John Meyer. 

As for the Mayor's Message, I'll let you decide whether it's a hit ... or strikes out. :)

Download Mayor's Message October 2011