Resident Seeks Mayor’s Support of Gay Marriage. What Do You Think?

Alex Gill-Gerards addressed the City Council on Wednesday night with a request—'s signature in support of gay marriage.

So far, 175 mayors across the nation have joined the Mayors for the Freedom to Marry pledge. Gill-Gerards hopes Garcia will be the next.

“I’m here because we need more support in Orange County,” Gill-Gerards said after the meeting.

Gill-Gerards and his husband, Rick Gill-Gerards, have lived in Aliso Viejo since 2008. Last year they were finally married, Alex said. They traveled to Canada to make their ceremony legal.

Since Alex Gill-Gerards’ request was made during the community input portion of the City Council meeting, Garcia said he could not respond to the request. Councilwoman Carmen Cave followed up with the couple and invited them to submit the request to be placed on the agenda of a future meeting.

Alex Gill-Gerards said they “definitely would.”

OTHER CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS:

— Daisy Girl Scout Troop 2237 led the Pledge of Allegiance.

— The council looked at the proposed funding for a community volunteer website called The Aliso Viejo Exchange (AVX).

The idea, by Council Member during the Feb. 1 meeting, is a means for locals to find volunteer opportunities with city community groups. Tsunoda has called it a “match.com” for those trying to join up with city community groups.

  expressed a concern with the estimated price to create the website—a one time estimated cost of $50,000, plus a $350 per month fee.

Resident Elizabeth Goldsmith addressed the council with a similar concern for the price. She also hared her desire for a city website that functioned more as a “central hub” with all information in one place, adding her hope to see AVX as part of the main website and not a separate site. The city council made a motion to move forward with the project and begin looking for proposals for the project.

— All American Asphalt was awarded the contract for a Pacific Park Drive rehabilitation project (La Paz Road to Moulton Parkway) and a La Paz Road rehabilitation project (Pacific Park Drive to the North city limit).

— All American Asphalt South was awarded the contract for the annual Slurry Seal and rehabilitation project.

— The next Aliso Viejo City Council meeting is scheduled for March 21.