The City Council meets this week. Most of the items are normal business items, but there are some items of interest in the City Manager's report.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
Last year we required the City Manager to produce a written quarterly report. The previous City Manager almost never had anything to report, and even the current City Manager was accustomed to saying “No” when asked. Yet much is going on and that was the rationale behind the required written report. Here’s a brief synopsis of the latest report –
- Local animal shelter – Irvine refused the proposed agreement to partner. Progress in MV has been waiting for a new Director to be appointed.
- Affordable housing – the company hired to find sites still hasn’t done anything. In more than a year they have only gotten to the point of “preparing letters of intent for up to five potential sites.” Very disappointing.
- Safe neighborhoods – Staff have made no progress in getting the Ring rebate program operational. Hopefully will happen by the end of the month.
- Civic Center – moving along as scheduled, although it appears the opening has been moved back slightly to “fall of 2019”.
- Boys & Girls Club – no progress. Waiting for applicant’s response.
- Veteran’s Park Geese problem – no progress. Still working on it. No information about the number of fines given out.
- Homeless – no real report. Staff say Mercy House provided “55 services of various nature” but no specifics.
At least we heard about these projects. Here are some of the items on which there is no report –
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- Evaluating the effectiveness of the possible changeover from Homeless Liaison Officer (HLO) to Agency management (Mercy House) and absorbing HLO duties into Deputy Sheriffs’ ranks (and get better results and save $100,000 a year).
- Evaluating the changeover from using Police for parking enforcement to using civilian enforcement (and save $250,000 a year)
- Establishing multi-city street sweeping program (and save $50,000 a year or more)
- Establishing Online Neighborhood Watch and wider surveillance programs.
- Solving the “stink” from Muirlands Water Recycling plan.
- Implementing Police cost savings ideas from the multi-city study undertaken some time ago.
- Making Optimal Use of the Performing Arts Center and getting events scheduled now.
- Implementing an Equitable Fee Schedule.
It's good to see that we are still getting a City Manager report, but the report itself is incomplete and where we do have information, it is disappointing to say the most. Personally I don't see this as a reflection of the City Manager or on the staff, but rather what happens when you have a Council that is more concerned with responding to the special interests who put them in office rather than improving the quality of life for residents. More about this tomorrow.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Jim Gardner is a former City Council member and Mayor. He is one of the organizing members of Lake Forest Community Action Network. 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
