Mission Viejo told it has a $500,000 earmark for Oso Creek Trail; final funding depends on federal budget deal

Townsend Public Affairs representatives told the Mission Viejo City Council on Sept. 24 that Congresswoman Young Kim prioritized the city’s Oso Creek Trail Improvement Project for $500,000 in community project funding. Corey Taconan said the money would go toward parking improvements and enhanced trail access for residents. "Congresswoman Kim prioritized that project as 1 of her top projects for her district and selected the city to receive $500,000 for Oso Creek Trail," Taconan said.

Taconan cautioned that the earmark has cleared subcommittee markup but still requires inclusion in a final federal appropriations bill. He explained that the federal budget expires Sept. 30 and that, while a continuing resolution is expected to keep the government funded, a short-term CR typically does not include earmark funds. "We are in the best place that we can be," he said, but added the city will learn more as Congress negotiates a year-end budget deal.

Alisa Arcidiacono of Townsend reviewed state activity affecting cities, summarizing housing and public-safety bills that have moved through or remain on the governor’s desk. She cited AB 3093 (new income categories for people at risk of homelessness), AB 1886 (eliminating certain local self-certifications with more state oversight), expansions of SB 9 via SB 450, and SB 1037 (authorizing AG fines up to $50,000 for failure to adopt a compliant housing element) as measures of local consequence.

Council members thanked the presenters and asked staff to continue monitoring the federal and state processes. The city noted an additional federal award to a regional water district that could indirectly benefit Mission Viejo. The council will watch appropriations activity in the coming weeks to confirm whether the earmark is included in a final bill.