Please see the following press release from the Orange County DA’s office:

SANTA ANA – The City of Rancho Santa Margarita enacted yesterday a law to create child safety zones to protect children from registered sex offenders in city parks and playgrounds after a first reading of the ordinance. Rancho Santa Margarita City Council voted unanimously to pass the ordinance adopted yesterday, Jan. 25, 2012. There will be a second reading of the Ordinance at a later date. The Ordinance becomes effective 30 days after the second reading. The City Council includes Mayor L. Anthony Beall, Mayor pro tempore Steven Baric, and Council Members Carol Gamble, Jerry Holloway, and Jesse Petrilla.

Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney Brian Fitzpatrick was present at the City Council meeting to address public concerns and advocate for the passage of the ordinance.

“Rancho Santa Margarita was one of the first cities to take on the issue of creating safety zones to protect children from sexual predators,” stated District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “The city was in a unique situation because all of its existing parks are owned by homeowner associations and coordination was needed with the entities to enforce the law.  I am happy for the children and parents of Rancho Santa Margarita that this law passed and they are empowered to keep sexual predators out of their parks at their request.”

“In Rancho Santa Margarita, public safety is our number one priority and we are dedicated to providing law enforcement every possible tool in order to ensure that our parks, neighborhoods, and homes are always kept safe,” stated Mayor L. Anthony Beall.

“The first responsibility of government is to protect its citizens. We in Rancho Santa Margarita have always taken this responsibility seriously. I would like to thank my colleagues on the City Council for supporting the ‘child safety zone ordinance,’ that I proposed,” said Mayor pro tempore Steven Baric. “I look forward to working with the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s Office to ensure that all of our parks are safe for our children.”

“We realize that sex predators are just that, predators. They prey on our children. We are doing whatever we can to provide the necessary tools to law enforcement to help protect our residents from these vicious individuals,” stated Council Member Jesse Petrilla. “I am proud of my colleagues for supporting the ordinance, and particularly Council Member Steven Baric for introducing it to our city.”

Read the entire press release here.

ACT! For America Mission Viejo Chapter,
General Meeting

The Leftist-Jihadist Alliance
Two Grave Threats to America and How We Can Stop Them

By Jesse Petrilla

WHEN: Monday, January 9, 2012
7:30 PM (Doors open at 6:45)

WHERE: Norman P. Murray Community Center
24932 Veterans Way
(Sycamore B room)
Mission Viejo, CA 92692

A $5 donation at the door is appreciated to help cover event costs

About the event:

The current administration won’t admit we’re at war with Islamic extremists overseas and stealth jihadists at home. Are leftist politicians willfully ignorant or active supporters of America’s gravest enemies, the Islamofascists?

To answer that burning question Jesse Petrilla has traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East, and has interviewed counter-jihadists and political leaders to find out first-hand how we can save America from the threats we face.

What You Will Learn:

• Warnings to America from conservative European leaders about leftists and the Islamist threat.
• The ideologies and warped thinking that drive leftist politicians and their radical Islamist friends.
• How appeasement has paved the way for jihadists in America.
• What we must to do to stop the assault on our rights, freedoms and values…before it’s too late.

As Vesna and I celebrate Christmas with our family at home, we want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year in 2012.

Jesse and Vesna Petrilla

Fireside chat
Last month we enjoyed a fantastic first town hall chat at Canyon Fireside Grille. It was a great opportunity to sit down with local residents and listen to the issues important to them which I took back to city staff. I want you to come to our next meeting this Tuesday, Dec 13th, and look forward to seeing you there. Details are in the proceeding post.

City manager selection
I am excited to announce that we have begun reviewing the many qualified applicants for the position of city manager, and will begin conducting the first interviews this week. We are very sad to see City Manager Steve Hayman retire. He has served our city well. We look forward to selecting the next city manager who will help carry on the vision that has made Rancho Santa Margarita what it is today.

Mello-Roos update
Someone asked me at our fireside chat last month when we can expect the various Mello-Roos taxes within Rancho to expire. For those interested, you can view a summary of the Community Facilities Districts within Rancho Santa Margarita on the city’s website by clicking here. The page lists when each tax is set to expire. The good news is we will start to see several of these taxes expiring within the next few years.

This is an opportunity to bring any issues to the attention of one of your city council members. I will listen to you, and will carry those issues to our city staff. I look forward to seeing you there!