Top items on this week’s public meeting agendas include Aliso Viejo updating its general plan and a report finding that Westminster’s redevelopment successor agency has more than $140 million in debt.

Aliso Viejo City Council members are scheduled this week to discuss updating the city’s general plan, which serves as a master plan for land use, traffic, public services, economic development, public space and other issues.

A series of public workshops and discussions are scheduled throughout the year, with final approval expected in December.

The city also plans to approve a new contract with Charles Abbott Associates for handling its engineering, public works, building safety and code enforcement services. Costs are expected to be $1.7 million this year, with the outsourced public works director making $137 an hour and project supervisors $170 an hour.

In Westminster, the oversight board for the city’s redevelopment successor agency will receive an accountants report showing that it has $140 million in long-term debt as of June.

The report, which is mandated by state law, also found $105 million in assets and $24 million in liabilities.

Here’s a sample of the major items coming up this week:

Aliso Viejo City Council, Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 7 p.m.

  • Swearing in Councilmen Ross Chun and Mike Munzing and selecting a mayor and mayor pro tem.
  • Reviewing the general plan update and giving direction to staff.
  • Approving a new, 4.5-year contract with Charles Abbott Associates for handling the city’s engineering, public works, building safety and code enforcement services. Costs are expected to be $1.7 million this year, with the contracted public works director earning $137 an hour and project supervisors $170 an hour.
  • Making council appointments to regional agencies and ad hoc committees.
  • Receiving the comprehensive annual financial report for fiscal year 2012.
  • Approving a $19,000, three-year contract with Konica Minolta to rent a photo copier, with additional print charges expected to be $24,000 over the same period.
  • Opening bids for construction contract for rehabilitating part of Canyon Wren Lane.
  • Lowering the speed limit on 10 sections of road by 5 miles per hour.
  • Discussing joining Association of California Cities – Orange County, at the request of Councilman Munzing.

Oversight Board of the Successor Agency to the Westminster Redevelopment Agency, Thursday, Jan. 3, at 10 a.m.

  • Receive a state-mandated accountants’ report on successor agency funds other than for low-income housing. The agency was found to have $105 million in assets in June, with $24 million in liabilities and $140 million in long-term debt.

La Palma City Council, Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 7 p.m.

  • Conducting a goal setting session.

You can reach Nick Gerda at ngerda@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter: @nicholasgerda.

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