South County : Mission Viejo to Hear From Cityhood Group

Supporters of a plan to mold several unincorporated south Orange County areas into a city will go before Mission Viejo officials today in an attempt to convince them to join the effort.

Mary Hinkle, president of the Saddleback Valley Cityhood Study Committee, said a feasibility report on the plan is nearing completion and has won support from the areas of Lake Forest-El Toro, Aegean Hills, South Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel and Laguna Terrace. In addition to Mission Viejo, the areas of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, South Laguna and Capistrano Beach have yet to show support, she said.

Hinkle will speak before the Mission Viejo Municipal Advisory Council Monday at 7:30 p.m. In 1982, Mission Viejo declined an invitation to join the committee, which has been in operation for five years, but decided to consider incorporation after the county voted to cut off an important revenue source last February.

The Board of Supervisors voted to stop providing augmentation funds, which have been used to pay for parks and recreation, street sweeping and other local services in unincorporated areas, said advisory council chairman Chris Keena.

He said some interest had been shown in incorporation, but many residents had indicated they didn’t want to join the Saddleback group. “A lot of people have told us they like the idea of cityhood but they want to retain the name Mission Viejo,” he said. “Maybe that sounds a little provincial but we have many of the features of a city already.”