DANA POINT : Regional Panel’s 1st Phase Completed

On its one-year anniversary Thursday, officials attending the South Orange County Leadership Conference said they think the fledgling organization of 18 government agencies is ready to make some bigger moves.

Although some criticized the group as being nothing more than a forum to discuss regional issues, most officials said the conference has helped create a unified voice from a mishmash of agencies from El Toro to San Clemente, which include city councils, water districts, park districts, school districts and sanitary districts.

“It gives us more strength when we can react to an issue in unison rather than from our fragmented views,” said Marlene Draper, trustee of the Capistrano Unified School District.

Issues discussed during four meetings held in 1989 at the Dana Point Resort included immigration, transportation, a school-construction bond issue and growth management. Topics scheduled for this year include: a regional curbside recycling plan, police services, rail and monorail service, roads, traffic congestion and housing.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year,” said the conference vice chairman, Dana Point Councilman Mike Eggers.

“I think we’re going to be a strong force in 1990 because we didn’t rush out last year and try to build a giant soapbox. Now I’d like to see us do some cooperative agreements to solve the problems that are only going to get worse if we ignore them.”