Mission Viejo Council Will Study Term Limits Again

The issue of term limits will be resurrected by the City Council on Monday.

The council sought information about term limits last summer, but facing a 30-day deadline to place the issue on the November ballot, decided to postpone the matter.

“There just wasn’t sufficient time to raise the issue and come to a consensus that made sense,” said Councilman Larry Smith, who asked for the issue to be placed on Monday’s agenda.

The council has been criticized for not acting on term limits by Milt Jacobsen, a resident who is forming a local citizens watchdog group.

Although the city has almost two years before the next municipal election, Smith said it’s time to reignite the debate.

“I don’t plan on bringing this to closure on Monday,” he said, “but I wanted to bring it to the council’s attention.”

Smith, who said he doesn’t favor a special election on the issue, said he supports term limits as a way to get residents more involved in local government.

Term limits can help “encourage the pool of qualified citizens who would like to serve their community,” he said. “Instead of worrying about having to run against incumbents, it encourages them to participate.”