Bits and Pieces

Here’s an update on items crossing my desk in the last few weeks.

MUSICK JAIL

Reports from the Sheriff’s Dept. indicate that the documentation necessary to proceed with building the new jail are now 95% complete.

VILLAGE POND PARK

The reason VPP has overflowed and now occupies nearly half of the park is that the City plugged the overflow in order to prevent pond water from entering the storm drain system. The HOA uses a blue dye in the pond to prevent algae growth. The HOA claims that the dye is harmless. The City claims that the El Toro Water District ordered the City to prevent this dye from entering the storm system. Neither the City nor the Water District has tested the dye.

Bids to renovate the park are due by Feb 14 and staff are hopeful that construction will begin by May.

OC AUDITOR’S ANNUAL REPORT

Some interesting facts:

• Median age - 37.8.
• People over 60 – 19%
• People under 10 – 13%
• 51% are women
• 39% have college degree
• 52% are married
• 583,186 own homes
• 122,998 are veterans

ASK LAKE FOREST QUARTERLY REVIEW

From Oct 1 through Dec 31, ALF received 273 requests. The highest categories (and major issues) were:

• Parking - 14% (72 hour limit)
• Code enforcement – 10% (noise and smoke, use of garages)
• Street maintenance – 9% (objects in streets, repair)
• Tree/landscape maintenance – 9% (hazardous trees)
• Park maintenance – 8%
• Public safety – 7%
• Message to Council – 6%
• Traffic/parking – 4%

Most parking issues were concerned with the 72 hour limit

During this same period of time, I received 50 requests for attention. The major issues were:

• Council behavior – 10%
• Traffic – 10%
• Animal issues – 10%
• Problems in parks – 5%
• Homeless – 5%
• Crime – 5%
• Programs for kids – 3%
• Noise – 3%

The comparisons are interesting. People writing to the City and to me are all concerned with traffic, crime, and noise, but after that they diverge considerably.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Jim Gardner is on the City Council for Lake Forest. You can check him out on LinkedIn and/or Facebook and you can share your thoughts about the City at Lake Forest Town Square on Facebook. His comments are not meant to reflect official City Policy.

Dr. Gardner has office hours every Tuesday from 4 pm to 6 pm at the City Hall. In addition, he holds a Town Hall meeting every quarter. The next meeting will be February 25 at the Lake 1 Clubhouse from 2 pm to 4 pm