Lake Forest 2018 Part 8 (Challenges)

This multi-part series has been concerned with the accomplishments during the past four years and the current state of the City. Today we’ll focus on the challenges facing the City.

MAINTAIN EXISTING PROGRAMS/PROJECTS

These projects are well underway and simply need to be supervised adequately so that they continue.

• Keep Civic Center on time/on budget
• Get mobile app to work effectively
• Contain homeless problem, provide better care, and perfect our prevention programs
• Get more affordable homes
• Address parking and traffic problems
• Finish General Plan and make it useful in meeting future realities

FOLLOW-THROUGH ON EXISTING PROGRAMS/PROJECTS

These projects have been started but are underway. They need to be actively managed so that they come to fruition.

• Get a local animal shelter
• Changeover from Homeless Liaison Officer (HLO) to Agency management and absorb HLO duties into Deputy Sheriffs’ ranks (and get better results and save $100,000 a year)
• Changeover from using Police for parking enforcement to using civilian enforcement (and save $250,000 a year)
• Establish multi-city street sweeping program (and save $50,000 a year or more)
• Establish Online Neighborhood Watch and wider surveillance programs.
• Get Neighborhood Park projects finished on time and on budget

These projects should move forward. One project that shouldn't move forward is the Toll Brothers' plan to create 800 new homes on the site of the Nakase Nursery. Given the enormous amount of money spent by developers to put Voigts-Robinson-Tettemer-Moatazedi in office, I expect that their plans will be passed by a grateful "Gang of 4". But the project is not 100% assured. If there is sufficient opposition from the people, the project can be forced to be placed on the ballot.

MEETING THE NEW CHALLENGES

These are issues that are likely to surface in the next year(s).

• Make Maximum Use of the Performing Arts Center
• Keep Veterans Park clean and vandal free
• Implement an Equitable Fee Schedule
• Implement Police cost savings ideas from the multi-city study
• Get Community Foundation off the ground
• Respond to the I-5 Intersection modifications
• Respond to increased expectations of residents

All the challenges listed above are project-specific. There are even greater challenges facing the City from systemic issues

FIGHTING THE CORRUPTION

For many years 100% of the Council owed their elections to the hundreds of thousands of dollars that special interests contributed to their campaign committees. In return, the Council voted 100% of the time to give the special interests what they wanted. For one brief shining moment, the special interests were held at bay, and in 2018 with Leah Basile, Tom Cagley, and I on the Council, we achieved more than any other Council has ever achieved - in fact, more than all other Councils put together had ever achieved. We did that because our special interest was the people's interest. When Politicians, Developers, Unions, and Contract companies aren't dictating what you can and cannot do, a great deal can be accomplished.

Now that the Council majority has been returned to the bosom of the special interests, the City is not merely in danger of failing to continue to perform well, we are in danger of projects that actually harm the City being pushed through.

FIGHTING THE CULTURE

For the past two decades the City has been content to "stay the course". That was the never-ending refrain from the past City Manager even when Lake Forest residents had some of the fewest amenities in the County and our service was, the say the most, adequate. In the recent past we have come a long way toward turning the culture around - to making the pursuit of excellence an everyday event. But that's only true among a few departments and among a small number of staff. Changes to culture are difficult and often require a long sustained effort. Will the new Council continue this evolution? It's doubtful. After all - consider who sits in these seats.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Jim Gardner is on the City Council for Lake Forest where he serves as Mayor. 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.