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Townsend Public Affairs: $500,000 secured for Oso Creek Trail; $2 million request in appropriations process
Summary
Townsend Public Affairs told Mission Viejo council Congresswoman Young Kim secured $500,000 for Oso Creek Trail accessibility improvements and the city has submitted a $2 million FY27 request for additional phase‑2 work. Townsend also reviewed several state housing bills and a proposed $10 billion housing bond.
Townsend Public Affairs representatives briefed the council on recent federal and state funding activity and Sacramento policy trends.
"Congresswoman Young Kim secured $500,000 for the city for the Oso Creek Trail project," Corey Tocanan told the council, and the firm said it has submitted a $2,000,000 request to the Appropriations Committee for phase‑2 improvements that would add restrooms, a snack bar and seating areas. Townsend also reminded council that the state had previously secured $1,100,000 for the trail in the last state budget.
On state policy, Townsend outlined several bills the city has taken positions on (including AB1708 to give smaller cities more voice in HAP dollars distribution, AB2517 on fire hazard severity mapping and SB490/related bills on sober living oversight). Alisa Arcidiacono described a shift in Sacramento from incentives to accountability and toward mandatory statewide zoning baselines, noting the legislature's growing focus on housing as infrastructure. Townsend also briefed the council on a likely on‑the‑horizon housing bond of about $10 billion under consideration at the state level.
Why it matters: the funds and positions Townsend described could materially speed local trail improvements and influence how housing and fire‑safety standards are applied to Mission Viejo projects. Staff said the city coordinates with Townsend on drafting platform language and advocacy letters for state and federal legislators.
