Gardner on Gardner - Did I Keep My Promises?

Several people mentioned to me that since I’m holding my colleagues to a test of their promise keeping they thought it only fair to look at my own record. I was reluctant to do that since I am not up for election and I don’t want to distract. But it’s a legitimate question. Bear in mind that I’ve only been here for (less than) 2 years and that the entire time I’ve had to deal with the Gang of 3 who have been on the winning end of more than 50 contentious votes. Just as I said when looking at Councilman Nick’s record, I can be judged by what I tried to do, not necessarily what I accomplished. So here’s my analysis…

PROMISE 1 – “Actively inform and solicit responses from our residents.”

REALITY – In the history of the City no one has worked harder nor achieved more than I have to inform residents and solicit their input. Among other things

• · I produce a monthly “Report to the People” that is sent to more than 1,000 residents and posted on The Patch.
• · I sponsor a FB page where more than 500 Lake Forest residents share their opinions about civic affairs. Many of their ideas show up on the City agenda.

• · I held more than a dozen “Town Hall” meetings at public libraries where anyone can come in and discuss what’s happening in the City.
• · I instigated an overhaul of the City website to make it more responsive to residents, including access to information previously not available (e.g., crime statistics, campaign finances, volunteer opportunities).
• · For almost every single Council meeting I produce a “preview” article and a “post” article so that residents know what’s going on.
• · Twice (sometimes more) a month I produce a calendar that lists all the events in the City that have to do with city related issues.
• Once a month I go around and speak with groups (e.g., HOA) about what's happening in the City. So far I've spoken with more than 1,500 people in this manner.

I think it’s safe to say I fulfilled this promise. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve done more to involve and inform citizens than every other Council member combined in the 25 year history of the City.

PROMISE 2 – “Regular hours for people to come in and meet officials.”

REALITY – I’ve held more than 150 office hours at the City Hall where anyone can stop by and discuss City issues or their individual issues. I’m there practically every week, and in nearly two years I think I missed two sessions. When I started I was having several people each time, but more recently people e-mail or call. Still it’s good to know that once a week someone is waiting there for you if you need him. Promise fulfilled.

PROMISE 3 – “I’ll Put Lake Forest First by giving preference to Lake Forest residents when we spend city dollars.”

REALITY – I asked for an ordinance to give Lake Forest businesses a preference in making contracts, but the Gang of 3 defeated it. I tried to set up a local Animal shelter to funnel $600,000 a year into local businesses instead of going to the County, but the Gang of 3 defeated it (April 19, 2016). I got the Council to approve $15,000 to assist a local agency to reduce admissions to the County shelter (May 10, 2016). At my instigation we now have displays for local artists during events at the Sports Park (Mar 31, 2015). Come to the Family Carnival at the Sports Park on Sept 17 and get an example.

I attended more meetings of the Chamber of Commerce, Chamber-City workshops, and ribbon opening events than every other City Council member combined.

I’ve met with senior staff trying to get them more involved in using local people and businesses in how we spend our City money. Sad to say, no one on the staff is interested in doing this, and because I can’t get the Gang of 3 to sign off, there is no pressure on them to do this. Getting this done is beyond my abilities unless I have some help.

I believe I tried to do what I promised to do, and had I had the support from Robinson, Voigts or Hamilton, we would be a lot better off today. Councilman Nick did support my efforts.

PROMISE 4 – “To deal with Traffic problems we need to temporarily halt new housing projects.”

REALITY – I voted against all new housing projects for the City (Jan 5, 2016, May 19, 2015). At my instigation we created a Traffic Advisory Group (April 7, 2015) although I tried to get a Traffic Commission, however, it was shut down by the Gang of 3.

I was unable to put a temporary halt on new housing but I believe I tried to do what I promised to do, and had I had the support from two other Council members, we would be a lot better off today.

PROMISE 5 – “We can create a local animal service that operates at a profit and saves lives.”

REALITY – I spent hundreds of hours trying to get a local animal service, but the Gang of 3 shot it down and stayed with the County (April 19, 2016). For his reward the County Supervisors endorsed Robinson. I also got the Council to approve $15,000 to assist a local agency to reduce admissions to the County shelter (May 10, 2016).

I was unable to create a new local animal shelter but I believe I tried to do what I promised to do, and had I had the support from two other Council members, we would be a lot better off today. Councilman Nick supported my efforts here and joined me for a visit at the County shelter.

PROMISE 6 – “…pocket dog parks”…:

REALITY – By my own efforts I forced the City and the developers to create the dog park next to Baker Ranch. I also fought to get a dog park into the Portola Hills park which will be built in 2017 (May 17, 2016). I tried to get a Dog Park Committee started so that residents could help plan and support the dog parks, but the Gang of 3 shot it down (Nov 3, 2015).

I fulfilled this promise.

PROMISE 7 – “I will fight for better services for seniors, teens & families.”

REALITY – I’m the only Council member to attend all senior center and civic center workshops. I tried to get “Meals on Wheels” operating out of City Hall but the Gang of 3 defeated me (June 2, 2015). I pushed to get the plans for the senior and civic center moving forward after being stalled for years (Dec 15, 2015). I pushed to get more funds spent on seniors in the CDBG grants (Sept 15, 2015).

I helped create the quarterly Special Needs dances. I voted for no fees for the Sports Park and personally got better signage for the Sports Park. At my instigation we now have displays for local artists during events at the Sports Park (Mar 31, 2015).

I’m right now working with the Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club to improve our after school programs.

I fulfilled this promise and continue to work on it.

PROMISE 8 – “Involve more citizens on new committees (Traffic, Public Safety, Dog Park).”

REALITY – I proposed a dog park committee (Nov 3, 2015), a Traffic Commission (April 7, 2015), a Community Foundation (April 1, 2014), and a Public Safety Commission (July 21, 2015), but the Gang of 3 shot them down. I argued strongly that long-time resident Bob Holtzclaw should be put on Vector Control, but the Gang of 3 put Scott Voigts on instead.

I was successful in creating the “Traffic Advisory Group”.

I fulfilled this promise and continue to work on it.

PROMISE 9 – “All postponements [of Council decisions] must have a re-consideration date. No more issues continued forever.”

REALITY – I have done this several times so that the long list of items not being covered has been reduced from more than a dozen to less than half a dozen. Most recently I did this with the Parking Permit discussions.

I fulfilled this promise and continue to work on it.

PROMISE 10 – ““Prevent companies doing business with the City from contributing to Council members’ campaigns.”

REALITY – I proposed and Councilman Nick supported me, but the Gang of 3 shot it down (Feb 3, 2015). Not surprisingly, neither Nick nor I take any money from companies doing business with the City while the Gang of 3 has taken tens of thousands of dollars this way.

SUMMARY

In my brief time in office I’ve succeeded in trying to fulfill all my promises, although not all have come to fruition. In 10 out of 10 promises I did what I said I would try to do.

My record matches Councilman Nick. We both did what we said we would do. Councilman Robinson did none of what he promised to do, and more times than not he actually did the opposite.

But let’s not get carried away with this report. I’m not running for election this year and I only did this out of concern by others that I should do with myself what I did with others.

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 is not up for re-election in 2016.

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 in November at the Foothill Ranch Public Library.