Mission Viejo Council adopts 2025–27 budget after public comment and discussion

The Mission Viejo City Council unanimously adopted the city’s 2025–27 budget on June 24 after a staff presentation outlining revenue projections, capital projects and administrative edits.

Staff told the council the budget process included multiple public steps — pre-budget meetings, revenue-projection presentations and a June 10 workshop — and recommended adoption of the final resolution. The staff presentation noted a reallocation of a $3,500 non-city events committee item to the Marine Adoption Committee and an administrative funding-source change of $201,383 for the Alicia Parkway/Olympiad intersection project from Measure M2 to gas tax support. “It is recommended that city council hold public discussion on the proposed budget as necessary, conduct city council deliberation, and approve the resolution adopting the finally established budget,” staff said during the presentation.

Councilmember Vasquez sought reconsideration of the previously discussed $3,500 allocation but the motion died for lack of a second. Mayor moved to adopt the budget and Councilmember Kelly seconded; the Mayor announced the motion passed unanimously. Public commenters urged clearer motion language and transparency around amendments, with one resident asking for clearer readings of amendments added during votes. Council discussion also touched on flexibility in the landscape budget for fire mitigation and potential midyear adjustments for economic-development initiatives.

City staff provided several clarifications during the meeting: a footnote in the budget includes $20,000 for urban–wildland interface clearing to address fire risks, and staff said the budget can accommodate flexible mitigation actions such as pilot grazing vendors (goats) if needed. The staff update on housing noted the city’s certified housing element identifies approximately 2,217 affordable units that have been zoned and that there are two active housing applications and another pending application in process.

Next steps: the adopted budget will be incorporated into the published budget document with the administrative edits staff promised prior to publication.