Mission Viejo council approves design contracts for Marguerite parking expansion, 3–1

The Mission Viejo City Council on April 28 approved design and geotechnical contracts to advance the Marguerite Recreation Center surface parking expansion (CIP 341), a project staff says will increase the site from about 202 stalls to roughly 441.

Staff recommended awarding a contract and purchase order to RGM Design Group for design services in an amount “not to exceed $283,490” and to GMU Engineers and Geologists for geotechnical services “in an amount not to exceed $57,300,” language staff read into the record during the report. The council voted 3–1 to authorize the contracts; Councilmember Cynthia Vasquez cast the lone no vote and Councilmember Bob Riche was absent.

Why it matters: staff said the revised conceptual design responds to neighborhood concerns by eliminating a proposed public entry on Via Santa Clara and adding landscape buffering and pedestrian sidewalk. Councilmembers pressed staff about funding: the council-approved FY25–26 budget includes $2,000,000 for the project, while engineering estimates range from $6,000,000 to $6,300,000. As one council member put it during the meeting, “The adopted budget is $2,000,000 for this project. But the estimated projected the projected estimate for this project is somewhere between $6,000,000 and $6,300,000.”

Councilmember questions focused on the outstanding $4 million gap and when the council would formally authorize additional funding. Staff said it is evaluating one‑time resources and will present funding options as part of midcycle budget adjustments scheduled for May 26. Staff also told the council that if the city awards the design contracts now and later decides not to proceed, the near‑term sunk cost would be the design and geotechnical fees; final bidding and construction would come back to council for approval after summer.

Public reaction at the meeting included neighbors urging long‑term planning (one resident urged consideration of a future parking structure or mixed use) and requests for environmentally sensitive features such as permeable surfaces and solar canopies. Staff told the council that security and event staffing for managed exits during large events would be paid by the event operators (for example, the Natadores, golf course, or tennis groups) rather than by the city’s general fund.

Next steps: staff will complete drawings and bid documents and return to council on July 14 for permission to release the project for public bidding. Construction was estimated to begin in early fall with completion anticipated in early 2027.