The Orange County Register recently reported that the average cost for a starter home in Orange County is $587,100.
As several recent posts dealt with Santa Ana and the First District BOS race let me share some current news from the city where I reside, Mission Viejo.
Approved at the March 19th Mission Viejo city council meeting was Agenda item #19 which reads in part: “Recommended Action:(1) Award the contract to Green Giant Landscape, Inc for the construction of the Melinda Park Restroom in the amount not to exceed $375,220”. Note: I believe this is a pre-fab unit.
Note: This is in addition to the design costs related to the work performed by RJM Design Group.
At the council meeting Mayor Reavis requested that this decision be held off until the next Budget Meeting. Councilman MacLean made the Motion to approve which was seconded by Councilmember Kelley. The vote was 4-1 to move forward with Reavis voting no.
What is sad is that we built a major restroom at Florence Joyner Park several years ago at a cost that was one third of the current bid. We have known of the need for this restroom for a number of years but only take action now at an outrageous cost.
A former mayor in our city once said “the purpose of having money (in the bank) is to spend it.” However two thoughts come to mind. This need has been known for some time. Why did we wait years to propose and than approve this toilet as the need is valid. And second, is a member of our staff looking to win another “award” as we did for our million dollar plus Lake Mission Viejo sidewalk known as the “Lake Promenade.”
Question for contractors. Were you aware of this RFP?
If so did you submit a bid for the project?
Should I simply chalk this up to inflation and pick another issue to address?
Councilmatic Legacies…do
follow people throughout
their careers. Here in
Newport Beach we had a lovely Councilwoman named
Ruth Ellen Plummer. Ruthy
made it her own special
duty to restore the Public
Facilities at the Newport
Beach Pier. This was an
area that was continually
defaced with Surf Nazi tagging and torn up plumbing
…all the time. The walls
were a chipped and cracked
and the repair people at
the city had finally given
up. After six years of
hard work…Ruthy got the
Toilet on the City Agenda.
They allocated $110,000
dollars for a complete “do
over”. Six months after the
repairs were made…..the
situation had returned to
a Zero Sum game. So, they
allocated $225,000 for a
brand new Public Facility.
This was in 1978……so
based on inflation…Ruthy
probably still has the record for spending on a
Public Restroom. But we
said at the time: Eight
years in office and she
finally accomplished ….
“something”!
At least you guys get a toilet.
after all the cash poured into the downtown districts for Santa Ana for the Artist Village, Civic Center, 4th street business, etc
There is not 1 public toilet.
Greetings:
This indeed is a sad situation. Melinda Park has a facility that has a bathroom in it. Instead of hooking up to that bathroom with a simple pre built unit the near do well city staffer decided to build a monument to himself. He has so snowed the city council they buy off on his uncontrolled extravagant spending.
In addition a city resident provided the complete detailed information on pre built units—which was summarily ignored by the city staffers for their chosen monument.
This is a city that likes to name parks and places for politicians and panders—I would suggest they name it after the well know big spender on city staff.
Zardnic
So Larry, it looks like JP Ledesma voted in support of this wasteful folly. And he wants to be a republican assemblyman running on a ifiscal conservative platform?
Are you supporting him?
Anonymous #2.
As of today there are five possible candidates seeking to replace Todd Spitzer in the 71st AD. As of now I have not endorsed anyone. Hopefully that answers your question.
Hopefully the toilet is big enough so Frank Ury and stick his head in it and flush!