2nd Half Property Taxes Due Today…
April 10, 2009
Here’s an article from Jonathan Lansner at the OC Register that gives a quote from Chris Street at the OC Tax Collector’s Office. Mr. Street briefly covers his perception of this year’s property tax revenues being up, and his opinion of the possibility of next year’s revenues being down.
For full article, click here.
A roster of different ways to get it done quickly are provided below.
If you’re late? County charges a 10% one-time penalty plus 1.5% a month in interest on the unpaid balance.
If you’re wondering when you’d lose your house? Traditionally, it takes five years of unpaid tax bills before a home can be taken by the county for non-payment of taxes and sold to pay the skipped bills.
In Person…
For a map, click here.
12 Civic Center Plaza Room G-58 in Santa Ana 92701
By Mail…
If by mail, you need a post office postmark as of today….
Orange County Tax Collector, P.O. Box 1438, Santa Ana, CA 92702-1438.
By Phone…
714-834-3411.
By Internet…
Click here.
Hope This Helps!
17 Ridgeline, Newport Beach…
April 6, 2009
Located in prestigious and private guard gated Harbor Ridge, this Southern Colonial mansion is an ocean view entertainer’s delight! Estate home offers 7 bedrooms, and a darling guesthouse! Approx. 11,800 sqft., this home boasts exquisite appointments including a lovely Strauss crystal chandelier in the large foyer, and a 2nd full kitchen adjacent to the formal dining room seating 24 guests. Awesome panoramic ocean views from many rooms and verandas, 40-foot pool and spa, entertainment center and BBQ/cooking area outdoors, elevator to all 3 levels, and full gym w/ sauna, spa tub, and bathroom with massaging steam shower. State-of-the-art home theatre, gentleman’s game room w/ bar, large home office/library, w/ additional playroom which can be used as another guest suite. Designer Stark carpeting throughout, hand-hewn birchwood flooring, w/ travertine, marble, and granite in various rooms and bathrooms. Full amenities list available. To see this home is to fall in love!
Offered at… $7,995,000
MLS # S570028
San Juan Capistrano Starts Five Week Gas Line Project…
March 31, 2009
The City of San Juan Capistrano announced late last week that work begins Sunday on a roughly 5-week Southern California Gas Co. project to replace a gas line on Ortega Highway, resulting in lane closures and some nighttime traffic delays.
The work, which starts at 10 p.m. March 27, entails excavating to replace roughly 1,200 feet of gas line on Ortega Highway from the I-5 Freeway ramps to El Camino Real and on El Camino Real from Ortega Highway south roughly 250 feet.
Traffic control will be set up on Ortega Highway from Rancho Viejo Road over the freeway to El Camino Real. Travel lanes on Ortega and El Camino Real will reopen daily at 5 a.m.
For a map of the area’s referenced above, click here…
For more information, contact…
Ken Carlson
909-947-8940.
City of San Juan Capistrano/ Railroad Work & Street Closings in April…
March 26, 2009
Metrolink will perform maintenance work at three railroad crossings in April, forcing the closure of Oso Road, La Zanja and Avenida Aeropuerto intersections and requiring motorists to take alternate routes. Detours will be posted for the streets, which are located on the west side of town, and Metrolink will notify residents of the closures.
Avenida Aeropuerto
Avenida Aeropuerto, which is a single-access street, will be closed from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Friday, April 3. It will reopen through a temporary construction lane from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 4, before closing that night from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. The street reopens at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 5. Businesses and residents on the west side of the railroad tracks should expect traffic delays. Metrolink officials will take measures to ensure emergency access is available during construction.
For a map of the Aeropuerto work, click here…
Oso Road
Oso Road will be closed from 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18 through 9 p.m. Sunday, April 19. The Oso Road closure will detour weekend traffic along Avenida De La Vista to La Zanja Street.
For a map of this area, click here…
La Zanja Street
La Zanja Street will close at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 25 and reopen at 9 p.m. Sunday, April 26. Motorists will be diverted to Oso Road through Avenida De La Vista.
For a map of this area, click here…
For information about the closures, contact…
Metrolink
213-452-0288
lopezl@scrra.net
City of Dana Point Coast Highway Improvements/ Public Invited…
March 25, 2009
The City of Dana Point City will hold a Study Session to review progress on Town Center and obtain public comment on the preliminary design of the proposed PCH/Del Prado Street Improvements. Members of the community are invited to attend this open meeting on…
Tuesday, March 31, at 6:00 pm.
Dana Point Community Center
34052 Del Obispo Street
Dana Point, CA 92629
For a brochure with contact information, click here…
For a dedicated webpage on Town Center improvements, click here…
For a fact-finding quick reference, click here…
For the formal plan with policies and goals in mind, click here…
The Town Center Plan was adopted by City Council in November 2006 to encourage the revitalization of the Dana Point Town Center. The plan establishes a framework of public improvements and new development standards to support private reinvestment, while rebalancing activities to encourage a pedestrian friendly environment for shopping, dining, and entertainment. The California Coastal Commission certified the final plan on September 10, 2008.
At this meeting, Public Works and ROMA Design will present the proposed PCH/Del Prado Street Improvement Project including the Town Center Parking Study and the potential cost estimates and financing options.
For more information on the City Council Study Session, please contact…
Public Works
(949) 248-3554.
Buy New Construction in California, Receive $10,000 State Tax Credit…
March 16, 2009
New Tax Credit for New Construction Purchases between March 1, 2009, and March 1, 2010
For full description of program, click here…
For a copy of Form 3528-A, click here…
Per the California Franchise Tax Board…
California allocated $100,000,000 for this tax credit. Buyers must apply for credit allocation from us. Applications will be reviewed and credit allocations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Once $100,000,000 has been allocated, the tax credit will no longer be available.
For updates on the allocated and remaining credits available, click here…
Starting March 1, 2009, we will accept applications for allocation of credit by fax only… (916) 845.9754… however, we will not send notifications of credit allocation until we have developed procedures. Once we begin processing allocation applications, credits will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We will update this page as soon as we begin mailing credit allocation letters. We plan to begin mailing credit allocation letters no later than May 1, 2009. This delay is necessary to allow us time to develop a system to capture and verify the application information, allocate the credits, and send the credit allocation letters. Please be patient with us and do not send applications more than one time. (Updated 03/06/09)
Long and short…
This tax credit is available for qualified buyers who on or after March 1, 2009, and before March 1, 2010, purchase a qualified principal residence that has never been occupied. The buyer must reside in the new home for a minimum of two years immediately following the purchase date.
Qualified Buyers…
A taxpayer who purchases a single-family residence, whether detached or attached, that has never been occupied, that is purchased to be the principal residence of the taxpayer for a minimum of two years, and that is eligible for the homeowner’s exemption under California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 218.
Qualified Principal Residence/New Home…
A qualified principal residence means a single-family residence, whether detached or attached, that has never been occupied and is purchased to be the principal residence of the taxpayer for a minimum of two years and is eligible for the property tax homeowner’s exemption.
Quotes from BusinessWeek…
For full Business Week article, click here…
Says Layne Marceau, President Of Shea Homes’ Northern California Division…
This is something that our industry has been desiring to have for quite some time…” “… homebuilding is an economic engine. The whole intent here is to stimulate sales activity, the ability to start housing projects again, get the state economic engine moving again. We believe the housing industry is the catalyst to do that.”
Senior VP for Government Affairs for The California Building Industry Association, Tim Coyle states…
“Already, With The News Of This Tax Credit Being Authorized, We’re Beginning To See Interest.” “What we’ve been missing in the market place for the last couple of years are people … Already, with the news of this tax credit being authorized, we’re beginning to see interest among those people who we desperately need to have confidence to return back to housing markets where they haven’t been for so long. We think this tax credit will do that.”
“Back in 1975, the U.S. Congress enacted a tax credit identical to this one and it worked. It stimulated sales, doubled sales within a year.”
City of Dana Point Proposal for Surfing Heritage Museum/ Public Invited…
March 13, 2009
The City of Dana Point Surfing Heritage Museum Task Force invites the public to attend informational Town Hall meetings regarding a potential Surfing Heritage Museum in Dana Point.
The mission of the Surfing Heritage Foundation is to preserve and showcase surfing’s heritage for future generations. The City of Dana Point and Surfing Heritage Task Force will hold these two Town Hall meetings to discuss the vision for a Surfing Heritage Museum, share information on a potential museum at Sea Terrace Park, and receive comments from the public.
The first meeting is scheduled on…
Wednesday, March 11th, at 6:00 pm at the Ocean Institute.
Ocean Institute
24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 496-2274
ocean-institute.org
For directions, click here.
The second meeting will be held on…
Wednesday, March 25th, at 6:00 pm at the Dana Point Community Center.
Dana Point Community Center
34052 Del Obispo St
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 248-3530
danapoint.org
For dirctions, click here.
The same information will be presented at both meetings.
Dana Point is rich in surfing history, which is why the Surfing Heritage Foundation has identified our community as the ideal location for its desired museum. For more information on the possibility of a Surfing Heritage Museum or the upcoming Town Hall meetings, please contact…
Christy Teague
Manager
Economic Development Department
(949) 248-3519
cteague@danapoint.org.
San Juan Capistrano Proposal for Levee Protection/ Public Invited…
March 11, 2009
The City of San Juan Capistrano has invited the public, on March 31, to attend a presentation regarding proposed flood control improvements to San Juan Creek and Trabuco Creek Channels. The presentation, hosted by the Orange County Public Works Department, will take place at 7 p.m. at…
San Juan Capistrano Community Center
25925 Camino del Avion
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting and learn more about the second and third phases of the proposed San Juan Creek and Trabuco Creek Channels Levee Protection Project. Discussion will focus on flood control levee stability; proposed steel sheet piling on the east and west embankments; and a temporary bikeway closure.
For more information, call project engineer Giatho Tran at 714-834-6042.
City of San Juan Capistrano Water Bond w/ AA Fitch Rating…
March 9, 2009
11.1 Million Dollar Water Bond…
No, says the City of San Juan Capistrano, your water bill is not going to go up.
Well jeepers, that’s great news in light of all of these mis-management stories going around on the state and national levels.
Check out this breath of fresh air, posted on the city’s website…
For full article, click here…
City officials learned this week that the City’s revenue certificates of participation (bonds) have received an AA- rating, with a stable outlook. The rating comes from Fitch Ratings, Ltd., an international credit rating agency founded in 1913. Fitch’s long-term credit ratings are set up along a scale from AAA to D.
The $11.1 million in bonds pertain to the City’s potable water system. The bonds are payable from the City’s current water system revenues based on the current rate structure and will not require any increase in rates.The ‘AA-’ rating is based on the system’s good financial performance in terms of repaying its debts, liquidity, adequate rate flexibility and stable service area. The positive rating puts the City in a favorable position for a competitive sale scheduled on March 31.
Proceeds will finance the City’s share of the Chiquita Emergency Storage Reservoir, fund additional wells and improvements associated with the City’s Groundwater Recovery Plant, and finance other system-wide capital projects, etc. As the state’s drought continues – limiting the availability of imported water to the region – the City’s Groundwater Recovery Plant is a key component of San Juan Capistrano’s local water supply, producing half of the community’s needs. Most of South County relies 100 percent on imported water supplies.
The City’s capital plan revolves around developing recycled water sources and the full operational use of the groundwater recovery plant to decrease the City’s reliability on imported water even more.
City of Dana Point 2009 Festival of Whales…
March 6, 2009
Saturday, March 7th/ Sunday March 8th
Saturday, March 14th/Sunday March 15th
It’s nice when our community comes together, and this year there is an exceptional range of activities to choose from for all ages. Here’s a brief overview of the Calendar for the 2009 Festival of Whales…
Each weekend the Street Faire will be located in the Dana Point Plaza. If you are not familiar with the location, it ’s on Pacific Coast Highway (the northbound side) between Golden Lantern and Violet Lantern, in the same location as Hennessey’s Tavern and the Chevron gas station, and across the street from the Harbor House Cafe (the red restaurant on PCH).
The Street Faire will be hosting live concerts and have an array of vendors ranging from arts and crafts to specialty foods on both weekends. Fun!
For a complete Calendar of Events click here…
Festival of Whales Parade/ Saturday March 7th, 10:AM
The theme of this year’s parade is “Magical Migration.” Participants are encouraged to use the theme creatively when designing floats, costumes, and decorations. Trophies will be awarded to the best float, best musical unit, best use of the theme, and best local entry.
If you would like to participate in this year’s parade, please complete an entry form and return to Jennifer Anderson at the City of Dana Point by Friday, February 20, 2009. All parade applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. For more information on how to participate in the Festival of Whales parade, click here… , or contact Jennifer Anderson at (949) 248-3593 or janderson@danapoint.org.
Grunion Run (5k Run) March 15th
We are pleased to announce that The Dana Point Festival of Whales has added an exciting new event to our two week celebration this year! On Sunday, March 15th, the Festival of Whales Grunion Run 5K Run/Walk and Kids’ 1K Run will take place in Doheny State Park. This will be a flat, fast, scenic 3.1 mile course through Doheny State Beach that runners, walkers, and kids are sure to enjoy. To register online or for more information click here…
Proceeds benefit the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association, and will be used to support interpretive events in the park, along with the refurbishment of the Visitor’s Center, Orange County’s largest public aquarium.
Kids at the Ocean Institute March 15th
The Ocean Institute will be holding a special educational program for children of Grunion Run participants. They will be offering this program on Sunday, March 15 from 7:00 am until 9:30 am. It is for children ages 5 and up. The cost is $10.00 if you register prior to March 7th and $15.00 if you register after that date. To register online, click here…
Parking for March 15th
We encourage participants to park in the west end lots of the Dana Point Harbor and take a FREE shuttle that will run from the Ocean Institute to and from Doheny State Beach. Parking is also available at Doheny State Beach on a first-come, first-served basis at $10.00.