Council honors volunteer Bill Mays; South Coast Conservatory invites public to Winter Festival; city welcomes new public works director

The San Juan Capistrano City Council opened its Nov. 4 meeting by recognizing longtime community volunteer Bill Mays for more than a decade of service to the San Juan Capistrano Community Volunteer Program. The council presented Mays with a plaque and standing ovation; Mays credited volunteers and staff for the program's success and said volunteers help the kiosk and patrols and assist roughly 20,000 visitors annually. "I wouldn't have been able to do any of this work without the team that is mostly sitting right outside in front," Mays said.

During oral communications, Jenna Minnick Bull, owner of South Coast Conservatory, invited the council and residents to SCC's Winter Festival, Dec. 13'20 at Capistrano Valley High School. She said SCC has awarded over $55,000 in scholarships this year and has provided more than $300,000 in scholarships over eight years; the festival will feature multiple productions including The Nutcracker and Olaf's Holiday Adventure. Minnick Bull said tickets and additional information are available on the organization's website.

In city-manager reports, Ben Sigel introduced Belinda Dines as the new director of Public Works and Community Services, noting she previously served in similar roles in La Palma and other area cities and has already begun work on local projects. Sigel also announced work on the Alapaz Street improvement project, describing repaving, sidewalk lighting and raised landscape medians as part of the pavement rehabilitation plan with expected completion by year-end.

The meeting then moved on to the consent calendar and other agenda items.