Elected officials who represent Aliso Viejo at the various levels of government gathered at the Aliso Viejo Conference Center on Thursday for the Mayor’s Elected Officials Summit to discuss ways to better work together for the benefit of Aliso Viejo residents.
The first-time event – which was the brainchild of Mayor Phil Tsunoda – was designed to bring the governmental entities that represent all or part of Aliso Viejo together to encourage and foster collaborative dialogue among the group, which has in common the representation of Aliso Viejo residents and businesses.
Mayor Tsunoda was joined by Assemblyman Don Wagner, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Assistant Sheriff Mike James, Capistrano Unified School District Trustees Gary Pritchard and Ellen Addonizio and Saddleback Valley School District Board Member Don Sedgwick for the morning event. Municipal Water District of Orange County Director Susan Hinman and Moulton Niguel Directors Larry McKenney and Gary Kurtz were also in attendance along with Council Member Donald Garcia, City Manager Mark Pulone and Administrative Services Director Glenn Yasui. Rounding out the participants were representatives of Congressman John Campbell, Senator Mimi Walters, Assemblywoman Diane Harkey and Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates.
The morning summit included a round-table discussion with each official giving a brief overview about how the current economic climate is affecting their respective entity’s budget. A new high-tech map was also showcased that highlights where each of the jurisdictions geographic boundaries are within Aliso Viejo. The City plans to make this new map available on www.cityofalisoviejo.com in the coming weeks as an easy-to-use reference tool for residents and businesses.
The roughly two-hour summit was a “win-win” for the elected officials and the Aliso Viejo community as a whole, Mayor Tsunoda said.
“We gained a better understanding of the other governmental entities that serve Aliso Viejo and a commitment to work more closely together … since at the end of the day, we all have some impact on each other and the residents and businesses we represent,” he said.
Kelly Tokarski
KT Community Relations
