RSM e-newsletter masthead
October 2106

In this Issue


 

City Manager's Message

Election Information
Voting Information
AlertOC Registration Information
State of the City Address
Low-Cost Pet Vaccination Clinic
Transportation Public Forum
OCTA Bus Service Changes
Safely Dispose of Unwanted Medication
Crime Prevention - Drug Abuse Awareness
Veterans Day Recognition
General Plan Update
Chamber of Commerce News
Military Support Opportunities
October Recreation Highlights

Fall leaves graphic
Jennifer Cervantez, City Manager

City Manager's Message

Fall is a very busy season in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita. As you read through the October edition of our e-newsletter, you'll find information to assist you and your family in a variety of ways - from confirming your voter registration status to navigating through the latest in Orange County's transportation infrastructure. 

We are enthusiastically preparing for our 2nd Annual Veterans Day Recognition reception and ceremony and our goal is to triple our attendance from last year. If you are a veteran, or have a friend or family member who is serving or has served in the Armed Forces, I hope you'll consider joining us at the November 9th City Council meeting. It's a gesture of appreciation that is so meaningful to each generation and we want to meet you and thank you for your service.

Finally, in addition to providing our residents with another Prescription Medication Take-Back Day, the Orange County Sheriff's Department is to be commended for their award-winning efforts to educate parents and the general public on the trends in drug use throughout the County. I encourage you to take a moment to read about their comprehensive approach to keeping our children healthy and drug-free.

 
Sincerely,

Jennifer M. Cervantez

Municipal Election Information


 

A General Municipal Election is scheduled to be held in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita on November 8, 2016 for two (2) members of the City Council for a full term of four (4) years.

 

The finalized list of qualified candidates is listed in the order as dictated by the Secretary of State randomized alphabet drawing. The order of candidate’s names on the ballot is as follows:
 
Shawn Gordon
Carol Gamble
Tony Beall

Contact Amy Diaz, City Clerk, at (949) 635-1806 for additional election information.

Vote graphic

Voter Registration Information


The deadline to register for the November 8, 2016 General Municipal Election is Monday, October 24, 2016. The last day to request a "Vote by Mail" ballot is November 1, 2016.
  
To confirm your registration status, visit the Orange County Registrar of Voters at ocvote.com.
 

AlertOC banner

AlertOC Notification System Update

AlertOC is a mass notification system designed to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed of emergencies and certain community events.
 

By registering with AlertOC, time-sensitive voice messages from the County or City in which you live or work may be sent to your home, cell or business phone. 

Text messages may also be sent to cell phones, e-mail accounts and hearing impaired receiving devices.  AlertOC is operated by the County of Orange in collaboration with local cities.

Alert OC recently changed vendors and is encouraging all users to update their accounts. Click here to confirm your registration.

Please take the time to update your registration. If you've not previously registered on Alert OC, now is a great time to sign up to make sure you receive notifications in the event of a large-scale disaster. 

 

Mayor Delivers State of the City Address



The State of the City address is an annual presentation by the Mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita bringing residents, city staff, and civic leaders together to reflect on the  accomplishments from the past year and to review plans for the future.  The evening includes a review of City departmental activities, citizen honors and an opportunity for the Mayor to present information to the community on regional issues and projects affecting our community in the future. 

This year's event, presented by the Rancho Santa Margarita Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, was held on Friday September 23rd. Mayor L. Anthony "Tony" Beall reported on the City’s economic, public safety, community development status. A video recording will be published for public viewing on the City's website within the next two weeks.
Mayor Beall delivers speech at podium
Mayor L. Anthony "Tony" Beall
Dogg  and cat

Low-Cost Pet Vaccination Clinic

Wednesday, October 5th
Bell Tower Regional Community Center
22232 El Paseo



6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Cats only)
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (Dogs & Cats)

 
INFO: (714) 993-9193
www.scvvc.org
 
Bring your cat or dog for their life-saving vaccinations provided by the Society for California Veterinary & Vaccine Care (SCVVC)'s low-cost clinic. OC Animal Care will provide pet licensing services, including AVID micro identification chips (price includes registration and continuous, 24/7 lifetime monitoring).
Cash or credit card ($3 processing fee) only; checks are not accepted.
 
Important Rabies Information
If you have a prior rabies vaccine certificate, license tag or license renewal notice for your pet, please bring it with you to the clinic.
 
Vaccines for dogs include:
Rabies - $7.00
DAP/DHPP - $19.00
Bordetella - $14.00
Lyme - $22.00
Microchip - $28.00
$2.00 hazardous materials disposal fee per pet
 
Vaccines for cats include:
FVRCP "3-in-1" - $18.00
FELV - $21.00
Purevax - $20.00
Microchip - $28.00
$2.00 hazardous materials disposal fee per pet
 
Prices are subject to change. Clinic will cancel in the event of rain.

Get Moving flyer

Get Moving Orange County

Public Forum


Wednesday, October 5th
5:30 PM
St. Andrews by the Sea

2001 Calle Frontera, San Clemente

 

Get Moving Orange County, is a result of recommendations for collaboration among community members, regional transportation planners and stakeholders and is the first part in a series of next steps led by the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), along with participation from multiple transportation planning agencies throughout the region, to address transportation mobility concerns in South Orange County. These agencies include Caltrans and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).The public is invited to attend the second public forum to brainstorm ways to improve transportation in Orange County.  read on...
 

OCTA bus graphic

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Service Changes take effect October 9th

 
On October 9, OCTA will introduce improvements and roll out extensive changes to the OC Bus system including more frequent service and better connections. In some areas where ridership is low, routes have been reduced or discontinued. Resources from these low-demand areas have been reallocated to reduce travel time and to move more people. Options are available to help riders reach their destinations using other bus routes, vanpools, or new transportation alternatives such as local shuttles and buses funded by Measure M. These changes are part of OC Bus 360°, a plan to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall bus system.

Route changes that may affect riders in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita are as follows:

Route 82
  • Discontinue alignment south of Santa Margarita at Antonio due to low ridership. Alternate is Mission Viejo Circular.
  • Discontinue Saturday service.
Route 85
  • Discontinue alignment south of Alicia Parkway due to low ridership.
  • Reduce frequency to 60 minutes.
  • Discontinue Saturday service.
Route 87  will no longer provide Saturday service.

The 2016 Bus Service Plan is one component of OC Bus 360°, an ongoing strategy that examines and implements bus system improvements from every angle. read on...
 
Drug take-back graphic

National Prescription Medication Take Back Day

Saturday, October 22nd
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
RSM City Hall parking lot
22112 El Paseo



Bring your unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medication to the City Hall parking lot (NO SHARPS please) This is free and anonymous with no questions asked. Drive up, drop them off, and drive away! Event held rain or shine.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Please call (714) 647-4133 for more information. Click here to view the event flyer.
 
OCSD Badge

Crime Prevention

OCSD Addresses Teen Drug Issues 


The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) was recognized in September by the Association of California Cities Orange County (ACC-OC) with the “Golden Hub of Innovation” Award in Public Safety for their series of community presentations on the 3Gs: Guide, Guard and Govern. The presentations provide parents with the proper tools to address drug related issues among teens.
 
The abuse of opioids and heroin is an increasing problem across the United States. Teens usually obtain the prescription drugs, or opioids, from the homes of friends, family or acquaintances. However, prescription drugs are expensive and difficult to find. Therefore, drug users usually progress to heroin, which is cheaper and easier to find on the streets. Deaths from heroin have increased 248% from 2010 to 2014. According to The Partnership at DrugFree.org, 1 in 5 teens report that they have taken prescription drugs that were not prescribed to them.
 
While opioids and heroin are a huge problem, the OCSD’s presentations also focus on marijuana and alcohol abuse. Whether it be prescription drugs, marijuana, or alcohol, the OCSD equips parents with information and strategies in hopes of preventing drug use among teens.
The OCSD utilizes the Parent Tool Kit, which outlines strategies that parents can begin to teach children starting as young as 2. Parents are encouraged to teach their children life-long skills such as coping skills and social skills to decrease the likelihood of future drug use.  The tool kit also includes an “Asset Checklist” that parents can review with their child, conversation prompts, and a sample contract for their child to sign. All of these tools are designed to encourage conversations and increase awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.

For more information or questions related to drug prevention programs in Rancho Santa Margarita, please call Police Services at (949) 635-1830.
 

Veterans Day Recognition

Wednesday, November 9th
6:00 p.m. Reception
7:00 p.m. City Council Meeting and Recognition Ceremony
Rancho Santa Margarita City Hall
22112 El Paseo

 
The City of Rancho Santa Margarita would like to thank all veterans for their service, and show appreciation for their contributions to our national security. We invite the public to join us at our 2nd Annual Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony to recognize the men and women of our community for their military service.

The event begins at 6:00 p.m. in the foyer of City Hall, where light refreshments will be served, followed by a special presentation to veterans of all branches of the armed services by the Mayor and City Council. Veterans and active duty military personnel are especially encouraged to attend. 
  
If you have a photo of a veteran that you would like to see featured in our tribute, please drop off a copy at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center, or email photos to wredington@cityofrsm.org  We hope you’ll join us in honoring our Veterans on this very special evening. For more information contact the Community Services Department at (949) 216-9700.
 
2015 Veterans Day group picture
2015 Veterans Day Presentation

General Plan Update

During the Rancho Santa Margarita 2016 Summer Concert Series (July 10, July 17, July 24, and July 31), the City hosted a General Plan Update community outreach booth.  Information was presented to the community about the General Plan Update, and we asked for input and feedback from concertgoers of all ages about their values and priorities regarding the future of Rancho Santa Margarita.  Community members were asked to share their favorite thing about Rancho Santa Margarita, and to identify what they value most about the City; if there was anything that they would like to see improved, and to provide any additional comments or ideas.  Thank you to all who participated  - we appreciate your feedback.  
 
To learn more about the General Plan Update, including a complete listing of all the community’s comments received at each of the concerts, please visit the General Plan Update page on the City's website.   

RSM family
RSM Chamber logo

RSM Chamber of Commerce
Fly Me to the Moon Gala
 

Friday, October 21st
6:00 p.m.
Dove Canyon Country Club

Presented by the Rancho Santa Margarita Chamber of Commerce, the community is invited to the inaugural gala Fly Me to the Moon. The gala's theme will blend the retro cool of a 1960's cocktail party with a Las Vegas hipster edge.  Entertainment will feature Matt Mauser (lead singer of the popular SoCal rock band "The Tijuana Dogs") and the Sinatra Big Band, a tribute to the legendary singer. Gala guests will enjoy a swanky evening while mingling with iconic celebrity impersonators from the era. Wear your 60's cocktail attire and be ready for a fabulous evening!

  

Reservations and information at www.rsmchamber.com

RSM Chamber of Commerce Gala flyer
Support troops graphic

Military Support
Donations Sought

 

Opportunities abound to assist the Marines and Families of the City’s Adopted 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines 

 

TRUNK or TREAT- The City of Rancho Santa Margarita is seeking donations of individually packaged candy for the 2/5 Marines and families participating in the annual Trunk or Treat event at Camp Pendleton. Pre-packaged candy is being collected now through Monday, October 24th

DEPLOYMENT – The City of RSM is collecting donations of snacks, and homemade thank you cards for the men and women of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines (2/5) in anticipation of their six-month deployment at the end of October. Let’s help send them off with a variety of snacks and treats! Donations of items such as individually packaged nuts, protein bars, muffins, cookies, crackers, and candy bars are great choices and Gatorade and other sports drinks are always a favorite! These items are being collected now through Thursday, November 10th.  

HOLIDAY PARTY - While the Marines are deployed there is much-needed love and support for the families here at home, especially during the holidays. On Saturday, December 10th there will be Christmas Party to brighten the spirits of the 2/5 families.  There will be opportunities to volunteer; details will be forthcoming on our website and future e-newsletters. In the meantime, we will be collecting gifts such as toys (all ages and genders), spa items, and gift cards of any kind to provide holiday cheer to Marine families. Holiday gift items will be collected now through Monday, December 5th.

 
All donations may be dropped off at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center during regular business hours, Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

For more information, contact Community Services Supervisor, Wendi Redington at (949)216-9700 x1260, wredington@cityofrsm.org.   Click here to learn more about the City of Rancho Santa Margarita's Military Support Programs.
 

October Recreation Highlights


Princess Ballet

The princess series ballet session is an introduction to the fundamentals of ballet and creative movement with an element of fun and fantasy. Participants learn age appropriate beginning ballet movements through creative imagery. They will also hear their favorite princess stories, dress in princess tutus and make princess crafts. Performance for parents on last day of class. Session includes dance progression worksheets for dancers to see their accomplishments each week. Optional recital will be held in December; recital participants must be enrolled in the September and October sessions of Princess Ballet (a nominal costume fee applies). Ages: 3-6 yrs.  No class on 11/23. What to bring: $5 cash materials fee.
 

Instructor:  OC Dance Productions

$79/ 6 Classes
 
310402 02    W              Oct 26 - Dec 7                 3:30 - 4:15 pm
 

Tunes & Tales
Let’s get the wiggles out! Tunes & Tales is a music and movement class for children. Sing-a-longs and finger play songs start off this fun-filled class followed by musical activities using bean bags, rhythm sticks, instruments, a parachute and more. Children have a great time while developing their listening and social skills. Parent/adult participation required. Ages: 2-4 yrs.
 
Instructor:  Vivian Stapleton

$43/ 4 Classes*
 
310913 02*  Th             Oct 27 - Nov 17              9:45 - 10:30 am
 

Little Ninjas
This class will cover the basic development of skills, structure and coordination of a Karate class. Ages: 4-5 yrs.
 
Instructor:  Robert McDonough

$43/ 4 Classes
310235 02    T                Oct 4 - Oct 25                 3:45 - 4:15 pm
 

Beginning Guitar
Playing the guitar is an enjoyable and relaxing way to enrich your life with music. Interact with other beginning guitarists in a supportive, small group environment. The aim of the class is to transform the novice into a self-reliant musician. Learn to play easy chords, fun melodies, strum styles and many popular songs. Instructor Ron Gorman has enjoyed teaching this class for the city of RSM for 12 years. Have a blast and bring your own guitar to class. Ages: 10 yrs. & up.
 
Instructor:  Ron Gorman

$98/ 6 Classes
320901 01    T                Oct 11 - Nov 15              7 - 8 pm
Level 2
320901 02    T                Oct 11 - Nov 15              7 - 8 pm

 
Jazzercise
Do you love music? Do you love to dance? Then come check out the new Jazzercise! It’s a pulse-pounding, beat-pumping fitness program that gets you results while you dance to popular Top 40 hits. You’ll burn up to 800 calories in one fun and powerfully effective total body workout. Each class combines dance-based cardio with strength training to sculpt and tone muscles for a maximum fat burn. Everyone is welcome, no matter what your current fitness level is. So grab a water bottle, an exercise mat, and some hand weights and let’s get dancing! Ages: 18 yrs. & up. 
 
Instructor:  Maureen Stewart
 
$115/ 12 Classes
340243 02    T,W,Th    Oct 4 - Oct 27                 7:15 - 8:15 am
 
$99/ 8 Classes
340243 06    T,Th         Oct 4 - Oct 27                 7:15 - 8:15 am
 

Zumba with Tania
ZUMBA Fitness is a fusion of Latin and International music-dance themes creating a dynamic, exciting, effective fitness system. Appropriate for any fitness level. Try the first class of a session before you register.
Ages: 18 yrs. & up.
 
Instructor:  Tania Villalbazo
 
$45/ 4 Classes
340206 04    M              Oct 3 - Oct 24                 7 - 8 pm
340206 05    W              Oct 5 - Oct 26                 7 - 8 pm
 
$85/ 8 Classes
340206 06    M,W        Oct 3 - Oct 24                 7 - 8 pm
340206 09    M,W        Oct 31 - Nov 23              7 - 8 pm
 
Click here to access our online class registration system.
 

Rancho Santa Margarita City Council

Rancho Santa Margarita

City Council

 

L. Anthony Beall, Mayor

Carol Gamble, Mayor Pro Tempore
Jerry Holloway, Council Member

Brad McGirr, Council Member

Mike Vaughn, Council Member

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