MISSION VIEJO : Mayor Vows to Curb Council ‘Bickering’

Mayor Christian W. Keena puts on a brave front whenever he hears another snide remark or joke about “the battling councilmen” of Mission Viejo.

“One of the first comments I usually hear when I walk into a room is, ‘Wow, you’re still alive,’ ” Keena said. “Like one friend told me the other day, ‘You can always tell when you’re entering Mission Viejo by the tracers exploding in the sky above City Hall.”

Torn by an ongoing recall effort against Councilman Robert A. Curtis, the council commonly spends hours in debate, closing its meetings as late as 3 a.m. Council members Norman P. Murray, Victoria C. Jaffe and Keena have accused Curtis of political grandstanding. Curtis fires back that his colleagues are pawns of the Mission Viejo Co.

Keena has vowed to end the infighting, starting with tonight’s council meeting, where he plans to introduce a resolution calling for an “anti-bickering” policy.

The policy, a slightly altered version of Roberts Rules of Order, would limit dialogue by each council member to six minutes per agenda item.

Keena, who began serving as mayor Jan. 1, says he plans to take control of council meetings.

“My goals are to get the business of the city done and to cut the political shenanigans to a minimum,” he said. “I guarantee I will recess the meeting each time the meeting gets out of hand.”

Each council member will get a chance to talk, but “the bickering has got to stop,” Keena said.

Curtis said he does not oppose limiting council remarks.

“I think the rules are acceptable,” he said. “I have no problem with them as long as all points of view are expressed and as long as no council majority could prevent discussion of an issue of concern to Mission Viejo residents.”