See Also: Index of all Measures

1. Lease 47,750 square feet of space at a cost of approximately
107.5 million over the next fifty years.

2. Purchase the 63,500-square-foot building at 25909 Pala at a cost of approximately $81 million (not including seismic safety and renovation) over the next fifty years.

3. Build a 47,750-square-foot city hall on land already owned by the City across the courtyard from the Mission Viejo Library at a total construction and financing cost of approximately $57.7 million over the next fifty years.

Section 2.65.010 of this Chapter states that "[p]rior to the solicitation of bids for construction of a project to build a city hall, town centre complex or city administrative office building, an advisory measure shall be submitted to the voters on the project."

Section 2.65.020 of this Chapter further states that the advisory measure may be submitted at a general or special election and that "[t]he advisory measure shall ask voters whether they approve of the location, size, and estimated cost of the proposed project."

As provided in Ordinance No. 92-90, the City Council is submitting to the voters an advisory measure which asks voters whether they would prefer to lease, purchase or build space for municipal offices, a council chamber, and an emergency operations center. The lease option would include leasing of 47,750 square feet of space at a cost of approximately $107.5 million over the next fifty years. The purchase option would include the purchase of the 63,500 square foot building at 25909 Pala, Mission Viejo, at a cost of approximately $81 million over the next fifty years. The build option consists of building a 47,750 square foot city hall project to be located on land already owned by the City across the courtyard from the Mission Viejo Library at 25209 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo at a total construction and financing cost of approximately $57.5 million over the next fifty years.

According to Elections Code Section 9603, an advisory vote means an indication of general voter opinion regarding the ballot proposal and the results of the advisory vote will in no manner be controlling on the Council.

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure K prepared by the City Attorney in accordance with Elections Code Section 9280. The text of the measure is set forth in the sample ballot.

A building of this size will cost approximately $10 to $12 million. A 30-year loan of this amount can be structured so that the payments (including both principal and interest) are less than the rent the city would pay if it continues to lease.

The City Council is asking the advice of voters in deciding whether to (1) renew the lease at a much higher rate, (2) purchase an older building, or (3) construct a new building across the courtyard from the Mission Viejo Library on land the city already owns.

According to Keyser Marston Associates (KMA), a real estate consulting firm, the approximate costs over the next fifty years are $107.5 million to lease, $81 million to purchase (plus the costs of remodeling to meet access requirements and seismic codes), and $57.7 million to construct.

Given these costs and additional information contained in the 46-page KMA report, constructing a new building is the least expensive and best way for Mission Viejo to meet its future space needs, and we encourage you to choose Option 3.

s/Sherri M. Butterfield Mission Viejo Mayor and Member of the City Hall Task Force
s/Susan Withrow Mission Viejo City Council Member and Member of the City Hall Task Force

MODEST COST. A building of this size will cost $10 to $12 million. Loan payments will be less than the rent the city would pay if it continues to lease. Thus, the budget will remain balanced, municipal services will not be diminished, and there will be no additional cost to taxpayers.

IDEAL LOCATION. The city hall will be built across the courtyard from the Mission Viejo Library. Conveniently located at the heart of our community, this site was master planned to accommodate an additional office building. Constructing near the Murray Community Center instead would eliminate sports fields and leave the City unable to expand that center as planned.

PLENTY OF PARKING. The library site has 320 parking spaces, 24 more than are required for both the existing library and a city hall of the size proposed.

PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY. Mission Viejo has a cache of emergency supplies but no permanent emergency operations center (EOC). Making an EOC part of city hall will ensure that Mission Viejo is prepared to assist its 96,600 residents following an earthquake, fire, flood, or other major disaster and qualifies for state and federal disaster reimbursement.

VOTE TO CONSTRUCT A CITY HALL across the courtyard from the Mission Viejo Library on land the City already owns.

s/Sherri M. Butterfield Mission Viejo Mayor and Member of the City Hall Task Force
s/Susan Withrow Mission Viejo City Council Member and Member of the City Hall Task Force

WRONG SIZE - EXTREMELY TOO BIG! Only about 3% of a new city hall is proposed for additional employee administrative space so we don't need to nearly double space. Productivity won't be improved.We don't need more city government growth.

WRONG REASONS - TAJ MAHAL II We already have the nicest council chambers in South County in a beautiful glass building in upscale High Park. About 97% of the proposed additional space is a parlor for politicians!

Unlike homeowners, government doesn't reap equity or tax deductions on buildings.

WRONG COST The City's numbers are skewed. Still, the City's own consultant stated the least expensive 50-year option would be purchasing the current building, moderating the space increase. Even leasing our current space would cost millions less over the next 30 years.

Cash flow might then be invested helping stop the airport, alleviating traffic, and solving overcrowding in our senior & community center and recreation centers.

WRONG REASON - EARTHQUAKES The Emergency Operations Center excuse is an emotional trick on voters. We already have a permanent EOC plus a mobile EOC qualifying us for federal emergency financial assistance.

WRONG LOCATION - LEAVE LIBRARY ALONE Our library should not be dwarfed and traffic increased by a looming city hall nearly twice its size. We would do better purchasing the current building or constructing on city land near the Murray Community Center.

WRONG - VOTER MANIPULATION A consultant, paid with tax dollars, advised Council to use three so-called ballot options in such a way as to sway your vote after their survey revealed voters would reject a new city hall.

"Impartial" Analysis was done by City Attorney, hired and under "direct supervision and control of the council" (ordinance).

VOTE AGAINST THE SCHEME

s/Brad Morton, Chairman Mission Viejo Committee for Integrity in Government
s/John Paul Ledesma, City Council Member City of Mission Viejo
s/Lawrence Gilbert, Director & Past President Saddleback Republican Assembly
s/Kyle Crenshaw, Chairman South Orange County Democratic Club

Why do local leaders across the political spectrum oppose this proposal? It's because of the large size and cost and the unethical way the council majority used tax dollars marketing their scheme.

All ballot options FORCE YOU to vote for nearly doubling our space! There is no way to say NO! A political consultant devised this ballot strategy.

An Orange County Register Editorial stated, "For an example of the lengths to which some public officials will go to circumvent the will of the voters, turn your attention to Mission Viejo, where the City Council majority is trying to build a new city hall. Instead of holding a straightforward advisory vote on the plan, council members seem to be manipulating the process to achieve their desired outcome."

County Government used tax dollars having consultants produce results skewed for Airport proponents; likewise our city hired a "real estate consulting firm" to produce numbers justifying their pre-planned project.

Unfortunately, a judge couldn't stop them - ONLY YOU CAN! Last time 86% of us stopped their Taj Majal City Hall.

We currently rent 25,999 square feet, NOT 47,750! While rent is the total cost of occupancy, the principal-plus-interest for Option 3 isn't close to real costs of ownership!

Vote YES for Good Fiscal Government ... and NO to Deceptive financial projections favoring Option 3 extravagance.

VOTE FOR OPTIONS 1 OR 2 - THE

AND STOP THE OPTION 3