DANA POINT : City Agrees to Develop School’s Sports Fields

The City Council has narrowly approved an agreement with the Capistrano Unified School District over the use of Dana Hills High School.

The 3-2 vote last week came after three hours of council discussion and comment from residents in two camps: Nearby homeowners concerned about noise and traffic and parents who covet the youth sports facilities that will be developed by the city at the high school.

Council members William L. Ossenmacher and Toni Gallagher, who voted against the plan, had proposed a scaled-down version of the joint use agreement. They favored using the high school but didn’t want to spend $1.1 million to build a baseball diamond and soccer/softball field.

Under the agreement approved by the majority, the money would be earmarked for those improvements.

Tight restrictions on use of the ball fields were passed as a condition of approval.

Under the use agreement, youth leagues would be able to use the fields after 4 p.m. Field lights must be extinguished by 9 p.m., adult use will be prohibited and loudspeaker systems banned.

A mini-controversy arose in the middle of discussion over Mayor Judy Curreri’s eligibility to vote on the issue because she lives near the school. Although City Atty. Jerry Patterson ruled that Curreri doesn’t have a conflict of interest, the mayor left the podium to avoid the appearance of impropriety. After being reassured by council members and Patterson, Curreri returned to cast one of the deciding votes.