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Mayor Bucknam frames 2026 priorities: public safety, infrastructure, trails and economic projects
Summary
In a mayoral address, Bucknam prioritized public safety, street and facility maintenance, several park and trail projects (including North Oso Creek trail Phase 1 and Barbara Dane playground rehab), economic development initiatives (Shoppe Mission Viejo, Mission Hospital expansion, Costco gas station) and follow-through on the housing element and Surplus Land Act processes.
Mayor Bucknam opened the meeting with a year-ahead overview, naming public safety as the top priority and emphasizing continued support for police, fire and emergency services alongside neighborhood-watch efforts.
He listed infrastructure and street maintenance as a second priority and identified multiple near-term projects: advancing engineering and construction documents for phase 1 of the North Oso Creek bike-and-pedestrian trail with the goal of starting construction in 2026; preparing conceptual drawings and public input for Barbara Dane playground rehabilitation with construction to start late spring 2026; and planning rehabilitation at the Sierra Recreation Center pool and tennis courts.
On economic development, Bucknam highlighted several local projects the city hopes to help advance without unnecessary delay: the Shoppe Mission Viejo expansion (about 50,000 square feet), the Mission Hospital/Providence expansion (phased over 5–6 years), and a Costco gas station project on the other side of the freeway (demolition underway, construction to start early spring, planned opening summer 2026). He also noted work to address underperforming shopping centers and to prepare for potential public-private partnerships and property sales that would support revitalization.
The mayor tied those priorities to complying with the state Surplus Land Act and continued implementation of the city’s housing element, and said staff would pursue business attraction and retention strategies to maintain a stable tax base. He framed the overall goal as running the city well, protecting residents, maintaining assets and building community connection in Mission Viejo’s 50th-year celebration activities.
Council and staff later added operational detail during the meeting (see city-manager project updates). Several councilmembers also echoed interest in public-safety updates and community-program successes during their remarks.
