Category: San Clemente City Council

San Clemente City Council Approves Senior Housing in Split Vote

The San Clemente City Council voted 3 to 2 Nov 15, to approve new senior housing operated by the MemorialCare Health Care System to replace an abandoned hospital in the northwestern corner of the city. The project will be located at 654 Camino De Los Mares and consist of 250 apartments for residents aged 55…


San Clemente Blocks Abortion Ban Proposal

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—The San Clemente City Council voted 3–1 on Aug. 6 to remove a resolution from its Aug. 16 meeting that sought to ban abortions in the city, after hearing from mostly outraged citizens during a public comment period that lasted about two hours. The majority of residents who addressed the council during Saturday’s…


California City to Consider Banning Abortions, Declaring ‘Sanctuary for Life’

Officials in the City of San Clemente, California, will consider a resolution Aug. 16 that would ban abortion and declare the city a “sanctuary for life.” The resolution defines the beginning of human life to be the moment of conception and would make it the city’s declared duty to protect that life until natural death….


San Clemente Allows Homeless Charity to Stay at City Property for Another Year

San Clemente City Council July 19 narrowly approved extending a homeless nonprofit’s lease on a city-owned property after the group said eviction would be catastrophic. After meeting for nearly six hours, the council voted 3–2 to allow Family Assistance Ministries (FAM) to remain at 1030 Calle Negocio through spring 2024. The faith-based charity provides aid…


San Clemente Officials Call for Transparency, Cap Campaign Donations

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—The San Clemente City Council unanimously voted May 25 to bring greater campaign finance transparency to the city’s website, providing easy access to public notices and tax documents, all while capping donations for councilors up to $500. Mayor Gene James compared what he called the “cesspool” of campaign money and “dark money” in…


San Clemente Considering Law Against Bicycle ‘Chop Shops’

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—City officials agreed May 3 to explore a possible new law other Southern California cities have recently passed that prohibits the sale or repair of bikes on public property—otherwise known as “chop shops.” “Generally, my default position on public policy is not to restrict the rights of people to do what they want…


San Clemente Calls on State Lawmakers to End State of Emergency

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—San Clemente city officials voted 3–2 on a resolution April 5 that supports calling upon California lawmakers to revoke Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 State of Emergency powers. “I brought the resolution to City Council in order to express my overwhelming concern regarding Governor Newsom’s overreach of executive power,” Mayor Gene James told The…


San Clemente to Disapprove Storing Nuclear Waste From San Onofre Plant

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—San Clemente city officials are pressuring the U.S. Department of Energy to remove over 3.6 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel from the permanently retired San Onofre nuclear power plant nearby. “We don’t consent to having it here,” Mayor Pro Tem Chris Duncan said during a March 15 council meeting. “We can’t force…


San Clemente Moves to Bring Back Outdoor Dining

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—San Clemente City Council introduced an ordinance on March 15 that would resume outdoor dining in the city that was first implemented in 2020 due to COVID. The five-seat city council voted 3–1 for the ordinance with one council member absent. If passed after its second reading next month, the vote would repurpose parking…


San Clemente Looks to Withdraw from Orange County Library System

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—San Clemente city officials are considering withdrawing the city’s public library from the county’s library system, citing the city’s taxpayers has been paying hundreds of thousands more than the cost of services received from the county. Meanwhile, residents are worried that withdrawal means fewer resources and services at the San Clemente Library. “I’m…