TUSTIN : Advisory Committee Votes to Meet Locally

In its first meeting, the North Tustin Advisory Committee selected officers and voted to meet at in North Tustin instead of Santa Ana as county officials had requested.

The five-member committee appointed by the Board of Supervisors is responsible for advising the county on proposed land development projects in North Tustin. In a cost-cutting measure, the committee was created to replace an elected body, the North Tustin Municipal Advisory Council.

At the meeting Wednesday in Santa Ana, committee members unanimously selected Michael Gray as chairman, Mark D. Held as vice chairman and Alexander Carrassi as recording secretary.

The group also voted to add another alternate, who would be appointed by the Foothill Communities Assn. At present, four members of the committee and two alternates are appointed by the Board of Supervisors and the remaining member is appointed by the FCA.

The alternates have voting privileges if committee members are absent, and FCA appointee Irene Brace said an absence would put her in an awkward position because nobody would be representing the association’s viewpoint.

The supervisors, who must approve the group’s procedures and policies, had recommended that it meet at the Santa Ana Civic Center. But committee members said they preferred to meet at a school in North Tustin, although they have yet to determine the exact site.

Meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, beginning November 7.

Committee members also wrangled with the issue of financial interest statements. Although advisory group members are not generally required to disclose their sources of income, several residents questioned members’ ties to the development industry. County staff and committee members said they would consider the issue.