The Aliso Viejo City Council unanimously voted Wednesday against discussing and evaluating alisoviejoexchange.com.
The website was built to connect volunteers with volunteer opportunities. The site has been criticized by Councilman Ross Chun for its cost and for potentially exposing volunteers to security risks.
On top of an initial $40,000 to have the site built, the city spends up to $1,000 each month on AVX's maintenance. Another $7,700 have been earmarked in the current budget to market the site.
That marketing budget will be spent on ads in magazines, newspapers and fliers, along with notes on utility bills, according to a staff report.
City staff say "over 25 different organizations" have registered to post events on the site during its first six months of operation. Some like the library say they have seen an increase in volunteerism after posting events on AVX, while others such as Soka University and the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter were unsure the site helped connect them to volunteers. The Aliso Viejo Community Association said it has no need to identify more volunteers.
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