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Residents urge caution on alcohol at city festival, patio cover at Montanosa, and ask questions about Oso Creek Trail funds
Summary
Multiple residents addressed council during public comment, including calls to keep alcohol restrictions at community events, a request to fund a full patio cover at Montanosa Rec Center, and concerns about Oso Creek Trail grant use.
Several members of the public spoke to the council on Nov. 11, raising community concerns and invitations.
Goliath Ferrer, a 22-year Mission Viejo resident in District 5, urged the council not to exempt the city's proposed two-year barbecue/music festival from the no-alcohol rule. Ferrer said he supported community family events but warned of alcohol and drug impacts on children and cited statewide health statistics: "Almost half of Californians aged 12 and older reported using alcohol in the past month," he said, arguing the city should not prioritize revenue over community health.
Laura Ostrom, a Mission Viejo resident, asked council to allocate funds for a full patio cover at Montanosa Recreation Center to avoid cancellations of classes (including TRX) during rain and to improve shade and usable floor space in summer heat. "A covered patio could also improve programming," Ostrom said, and she requested staff cost estimates.
Tom Moore asked for transparency on state and federal grants for the Oso Creek Trail and expressed concern that funds intended for trail maintenance or improvements might be used elsewhere; he said residents deserve input if work is proposed south of La Paz. Councilmembers and staff later confirmed grants tied to trailhead and northern-end improvements and said some grants would cover certain trail-related work while other amenities (buildings/restrooms) would require additional funding.
Jenna Menick Bull, owner of South Coast Conservatory, invited council and residents to the SCC 2025 Winter Festival Dec. 13-20 at Capo Valley High and described the organization's scholarship work and community partnerships.
What the council did: councilmembers thanked speakers, asked staff to provide cost information where appropriate (for a patio cover and for trailhead project scope), and included consideration of a patio cover option when discussing one-time allocations. Staff were asked to return with estimates and options.
No formal action was taken directly as a result of these comments; several items (Montanosa patio cover, trailhead scope) were included in later council direction and requests for follow-up.
