Monday, April 7, 2008
Mission Viejo keeps day labor law under study
City attorney meets with business owners to determine how ordinance is working at Jeronimo Plaza.
By LINDSEY BAGUIO
The Orange County Register
Comments 5| Recommend 2

MISSION VIEJO – The City Attorney told the council on Monday that he did not recommend changes to the city's anti-trespassing ordinance that it approved last year to reduce day laborer traffic at businesses at Jeronimo Road and Los Alisos Boulevard.


Three weeks ago, the council had asked City Attorney Bill Curley and Sheriff's Department Lt. Steve Bernardi to meet with owners of Jeronimo Plaza businesses and talk about how the ordinance was working.


Curley recommended continued meetings with business owners, but recommended no changes to the ordinance.

Business owners were uncertain about enforcement, signage issues, and the Sheriff's Department's willingness to respond, said Curley.

Yvonne Duhl, the property manager of Jeronimo Plaza said she was pleased with the outcome of the meeting on Thursday and found it helpful.

"I have no qualms walking up to a group and asking them to leave," Duhl told the council. "I've always been treated politely, but they come right back."

Curley advised the City Council that he is looking into discouraging the day laborers who park in tenant spaces, and drink and urinate in public.

"The city has the responsibility to respond to the circumstances we were hearing," said Curley. "You (would) think you were hearing about a third world country."

"There is a level of boldness that needs responding to with a show of force," Curley said, noting that the city and business owners are working together.



Curley and Bernardi say they will meet with business owners in a month to see if the plan is working.

Contact the writer: lbaguio@ocregister.com 949-454-7363

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/curl ... ss-council