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A discussion over whether to donate to a Marine Corps aviation museum project will be postponed to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget process, per a San Clemente City Council vote on Dec. 6. Photo: Courtesy of Clemens Vasters/Wikimedia Commons

Council Tables Talks of Donating to Marine Aviation Museum Project

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

The San Clemente City Council unanimously voted on Dec. 6 to postpone discussions of donating to a Marine Corps-related historical foundation until the budgeting process for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 begins.

At the council’s Nov. 15 meeting, Brig. Gen. Michael Aguilar had spoken to councilmembers on behalf of the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation (FLHF), dedicated to returning a museum centered on the former Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro and Marine Corps aviation to Irvine’s Great Park.

“Vision without funding is hallucination,” Aguilar said. “We recognize that in order to bring this project to reality, we need a lot of money, and we’re actively involved.”

Aguilar stated that the foundation quickly achieved its initial fundraising goal of $5 million for the project. It has since been in contact with numerous cities and organizations in hopes of reaching a new minimum of $10 million for project costs.

City staff presented the options of waiting to begin the budget process, or donating an undetermined amount either from the council’s contingency fund of $16,600 or from the General Fund unassigned fund balance.

Interim City Manager Sean Joyce spoke to the staff’s first choice.

“We would recommend that you take up consideration of that suggestion in the context of the budget so you can give relative weight to the unending number of worthwhile and arguably similar meritorious proposals that exist among your nonprofit community,” Joyce said.

Councilmember Gene James said he concurred with the staff’s conclusion to table the item, especially until the project is officially in motion and has a concept design.

Newly seated Councilmember Mark Enmeier suggested that the council direct staff to set aside funding specifically to address requests, such as the FLHF’s, that can emerge at any point in a given year.

He added that reviewing each proposal in a “piecemeal” manner when they arise instead of during the budgetary process could send a message of wanting to open the city’s wallet to anyone.

In response to Enmeier, James said the proper channel for looking at such items begins with the Human Affairs Committee.

“Once a year, they look at those types of things particularly as it relates to Community Development Block Grants,” said James. “I think we have a venue to do that, and I don’t think we should get out in front of the Human Affairs Committee.”

After the former Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum operated for more than 20 years at the MCAS Miramar in San Diego, the museum permanently closed in April 2021 due to a lack of funding. FLHF has since sought ways to keep historic aircraft, artifacts and displays in the area.

Aguilar noted in November that the foundation facilitated talks with the City of Irvine and the U.S. Marine Corps regarding separate Memorandums of Understanding for the museum. The foundation also stopped the Marine Corps from unloading historic artifacts and contracted a firm to design the “interactive” and “immersive” space.

FLHF has eyed Hangar 296 at the Great Park’s southern end as the home of the museum. Aguilar’s presentation included a full layout of where the aircraft would be placed within the hangar and renderings of possible exhibits such as archive pods, an art gallery, and projection graphics.

“Originally, we were looking to open the door late next year, August 2023, but for a variety of reasons, that’s now slipped to early 2024,” said Aguilar. “We’re still working with the City (of Irvine) to have some sort of, at least (a) soft opening for the museum, but we’re pretty much on track with our timeline right now.”

FLHF’s next desired steps include completing a design concept and fundraising campaign, hiring museum staff, and transporting all artifacts and equipment.

Local Author Looks to Give Away 100,000 Personal Development Books to Teenagers

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

A San Clemente-based author seeks to help teenagers succeed in the classroom, in athletics, and against mental health struggles by giving away 100,000 copies of his new book, The Mental Edge for Teens.

Ken Baum, who has trained people for success in various fields since the 1980s, curated The Mental Edge program decades ago and now wants to change the trajectory of thousands of young lives for the better.

“This is not hocus pocus; this is not ‘Be Positive Paul’ or ‘Sunshine Sally,’ ” Baum told San Clemente Times. “This stuff is teaching you how to program the most sophisticated, powerful computer in the world—your brain.”

When social justice movements for equality and fairness emerged nationwide in 2020 after the death of George Floyd, he felt the need to tangibly bring positive change to the world by exposing his teachings to underprivileged populations.

“That was my driver to get this book in the hands of as many underserved kids as I possibly could,” Baum said. (Cont. on page 6) COMMUNITY MEETINGS

SATURDAY, DEC. 17 Challenging Cancer 10-11:30 a.m. The Challenging Cancer group is conducting weekly meetings through Zoom video conferences. The meetings are open to caregivers, people who have a compromised immune system, and people dealing with cancer. To join, email donnavigil2@gmail.com or linda_crdv@yahoo.com. heritagesc.org.

TUESDAY, DEC. 20 San Clemente City Council 5 p.m. The San Clemente City Council will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting in person at the Council Chambers at City Hall, as well as virtually. The meeting will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel. 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

Because I Love You (BILY) 6:30-8:30 p.m. The organization Because I Love You (BILY) will continue conducting its weekly meetings on Tuesdays via Zoom and in person/Zoom the first Tuesday of each month at The Noble Path Foundation. For detailed instructions on how to participate, email bilysanclemente@gmail.com. Noble Path Foundation, 420 N El Camino Real, San Clemente.

San Clemente Toastmasters 7-8:40 p.m. The Toastmasters Club invites people to lose their fear of public speaking and have fun at the same time. Join them in person on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Baha’i Center, at 3316 Avenida del Presidente. Visitors welcomed. Call or text Laura Yang at 949.547.6558 with questions. 6463.toastmastersclubs.org.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21 VA Disabled Claims Clinic 2-4 p.m. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 9934 will sponsor a Veterans Affairs Disability Claims Clinic at the Dana Point Community Center the first and third Wednesday of each month. Veterans can walk in and meet with a VFW Service Officer and receive information on how to file a claim for service-related medical issues. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point.

Planning Commission 5-10 p.m. The city’s Planning Commission will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting at the Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting will be livestreamed through the city’s YouTube channel. 910 Calle Negocio. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.