Atop Council Agenda: Get Along

Now that weeks of bitter campaigning have ended, the five newly elected members of the Aliso Viejo City Council are preparing for the monumental task of creating a city government from scratch.

Aliso Viejo voters Tuesday passed cityhood with a staggering 93% approval, making the sprawling community of 45,000 residents the county’s 34th city. Its first City Council, also elected Tuesday, will be sworn in July 1, when incorporation becomes official. But there’s a lot of work to do between now and then.

Council members will have to hire an interim city manager and city attorney, and find a place to conduct city business. Perhaps most important, they hope to find a way to put their differences aside.

While cityhood was decided handily, the candidates’ journey to the dais was raucous, marked by mudslinging and accusations of campaign violations between two slates of candidates. Now members of the opposing slates who won will have to figure out if they can function as a team.

“I plan on working for the benefit of the residents of Aliso Viejo, and as long as we remain focused on that necessity and requirement there should be minimal conflict,” said Councilman-elect Greg Ficke, who ran on a slate of four candidates.

Two of Ficke’s running mates, including member-elect Karl P. Warkomski, became locked in a ferocious battle with fellow council members-elect Carmen L. Vali, Cynthia Pickett and William Phillips over allegations such as improper reporting of campaign contributions and pulling up each other’s campaign signs.

Ficke, however, managed to steer clear of controversy. Because of that, the newly elected leaders say they are confident they can mend fences.

“If you listened to [Ficke’s] message when he spoke as an individual, he was talking about group harmony,” Vali said.

Phillips said he’s optimistic the group will be able to air their differences and “get on with life.”

“I don’t think the community wants to see us all up there fighting,” Phillips said.

All five council members-elect want to join the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, a coalition of South County cities fighting plans for an international airport at the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. It will cost the city $500,000 to secure a spot--an expense not listed in the draft budget submitted to the Local Agency Formation Commission, the agency that decides on cityhood feasibility. However, the new city leaders say they will find the funds.

“We’ve got plenty of money,” said Vali, who worked on the draft budget of $7.4 million.

While gaining a stronger voice in the airport fight was the driving force behind cityhood, residents also said they want to gain local control over public safety, development issues and how to spend sales tax dollars. Through June, those responsibilities will stay with the county.

The new city leaders hope to meet within the next two weeks. Some have suggested using the library at Journey and Pacific Park Drive, or the Glenwood Recreation Center on Cedarbrook until they can decide on a location for City Hall.

“People expect that on the day of incorporation, there will be an operational City Hall,” said Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Neil C. Blais, whose city was incorporated a year ago. “The county will help out a great deal, but getting a great staff to get through the transition from the county is key.”

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The March to Cityhood

On July 1 Aliso Viejo will become Orange County’s 34th city and the eighth to incorporate since 1988. According to county officials, the incorporation of Aliso Veijo might mark the end of the cityhood flurry that began in the early 1950’s.