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Mission Viejo council approves $4.95 million in year-end allocations, directs $2.0M to parking design
Summary
Council approved three year‑end budget resolutions that carry over operating funds, raise reserves and allocate $4.95M for one‑time projects — including $1.2M for Barbadanes Park, $1.75M for Sierra Recreation Center, and $2.0M toward a parking expansion — in a 4–1 vote.
Mission Viejo’s City Council voted 4–1 on Nov. 11 to approve year-end budget adjustments that reallocate $4.95 million of one‑time general fund resources toward park and facility projects and $2.0 million toward a proposed parking expansion.
Finance staff told the council the city ended fiscal year 2024–25 with $12.6 million in available general fund resources and recommended three actions: carry forward $1.1 million in operating budgets, increase reserves by $5.9 million per prior policy, and allocate remaining one‑time funds to operating needs and capital projects. As staff restated on the record, “As for the Trabuco Creek Wetlands mitigation and the utilities and other operating costs, City Council, would like to fully fund Barbadanes at 1,200,000 and to fully fund Sierra at 1,750,000 and to fund $2,000,000 towards the parking expansion project, which would then reduce reserves by $900,000.” (Finance Director Alice, staff presentation.)
The motion, moved by Mayor Pro Tem Bucknam and seconded on the floor, passed with Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem Bucknam, Council Members Goodell and Kelly voting yes and Council Member Cynthia Vasquez voting no. Councilmembers debated whether to prioritize a performing arts center and other capital items over the parking work; staff said the approved $2.0 million would allow design work and partial construction phasing while preserving most reserve targets.
The council also affirmed staff’s rebudgeting of roughly $13.1 million in grant revenues to continue grant‑funded projects into FY 2025‑26. Staff emphasized that the fiscal year‑end numbers are unaudited pending the external financial statement audit.
