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Mayor Kelly outlines fiscal health, trail and park projects in State of the City
Summary
In her Dec. 10 State of the City address, Mayor Trish Kelly said Mission Viejo closed FY23–24 with a $3.7 million operating surplus, reported $38.4 million in general‑fund reserves and highlighted federally funded trail, bridge and park projects slated to start next year.
Mayor Trish Kelly opened the City Council meeting with a State of the City address reporting positive fiscal results and multiple capital projects. "We ended the fiscal year with a $3,700,000 operating surplus," Kelly said, and noted the city's general fund reserves grew to $38,400,000, roughly 49.3% of general fund revenue. She said the council adopted a balanced FY24–25 operating budget of $90,600,000 and a $7,100,000 capital improvement budget.
Kelly detailed several grant‑funded projects that the city expects to advance next year, including a federally funded first phase of the North Oso Creek bike and pedestrian trail (initial trail, east‑side improvements, new drive access off Costa Del Sol Road, fencing, a public restroom and a food stand) and the Los Osos project connecting the civic core to Oso Creek with a North Paseo event area and parking. She also highlighted the La Paz bridge and roadway widening project — largely paid for through a federal highway bridge program — to add travel lanes, improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and rehabilitate two bridges built in 1965.
Public‑safety investments and grants were also a focus. Kelly said the city and Congresswoman Young Kim secured a grant to deploy automated license plate reader cameras to support the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and the city obtained a $2,000,000 CAL FIRE fuel reduction grant to prioritize wildfire prevention work with OCFA and consultant biologists. She described a youth Narcan training event run with police services and local youth groups as a county first.
The mayor closed by citing community engagement and tourism gains: an expanded Mission Viejo YouTube channel and social media reach, a surge in recreation program participation, library grant awards exceeding $150,000 for early‑learning and teen programs, and ongoing outreach to attract Olympic and international training delegations ahead of LA 2028. The city manager will provide further budget materials and project updates at subsequent council meetings.
