Mid June Report

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Our Police Dept. is trying to fast track the new Community Service Officer (CSO) assigned as a parking enforcement officer. If we can’t fast track the position, it will take 3 or 4 months to fill. I’ll keep you posted. Meanwhile I’ve scheduled a “ride along” with one of the existing CSOs to get some idea of what happens.

ANIMAL CARE PUBLIC EDUCATION OFFICER

We authorized a new position to see if we could (a) discover more unlicensed dogs, (b) encourage people to voluntarily license their cats, (c) discourage off-leash dogs, and (d) encourage low cost spay and neuter services. We hope this position will actually pay for itself. Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) will temporarily fill the position from their existing staff, giving us time and experience to see what this position can accomplish. Hopefully it works and the position will be full-time, helping us make better selections.

ANIMAL ADOPTION CENTER (AAC)

In a related effort, we are synchronizing the reporting from the new AAC with the revised reporting from OCAS so that we’ll have an overall picture of how impactful their efforts are. Keep in mind that the City budgeted nearly $500,000 for animal care in 2017, so this is a major expense for the City. If we can save money and divert pets from having to go to the County’s horrific shelter, and save Lake Forest residents the time and costs of going to Orange, this project will be a big win-win for everyone.

By September I hope that the data from OCAS and AAC will be available on the city’s website.

MOBILE APP

Both the Parking Enforcement Officer and the Public Education Officer will do their jobs better if we have the mobile app I’ve been talking about up and running. Staff is preparing an RFP to go out shortly.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

The subject of communications came up in my Town Hall meeting last week, and it comes up periodically. Our city is not moving forward in this area at a rate commensurate with the developments in the communications field. So it was with great interest I learned from the City Manager that she is proposing a new position. The item will be on the agenda for the next City Council meeting.

SALES TAX UP

Comparing the 4th Quarter sales tax receipts from 2015 to 2016 we are up slightly more than $300,000, from $7,361,445 to $7,676,814. We made gains in every area, except “fuel and service stations” where we had a very slight decrease. Our biggest contributors are business and industry (22%), consumer goods (18%), restaurants (13%), and fuel (7%). So when you fill up your car, or go out to eat, or do your shopping, try to spend your money in Lake Forest. Sales tax revenue is the second major source of funds for the City.

CITY HALL OPENS FRIDAY JUNE 30

Mayor Pro Tem and I asked the Council to consider keeping City Hall open 5 days a week, every week. For as long as anyone can remember, City Hall has been closed every other Friday. Beginning June 30 we will once more be open every Friday.

TRAFFIC AND PARKING

The Council put together a list of action items for the new Planning and Traffic Commission to review. The list was so long and potentially so expensive that the City Manager asked us to prioritize items and we are in the process of doing that. I have a survey on Lake Forest Square where you’ll be able to vote of which items you want to see. Click Here to get involved.

HAZARDOUS WASTES

CR&R will hold a two-day free Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on Saturday, June 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday, June 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the parking lot of El Toro High School located at 25255 Toledo Way.

• ACCEPTABLE ITEMS HAZARDOUS WASTE: • Paint and painting supplies – Latex, oil based, thinners, strippers, stains and finishes • Automotive products – Oil, antifreeze, brake and transmission fluid, car batteries • Cleaning products – Drain/oven/bathroom cleaners, pool chemicals • Pesticides & Herbicides – Bug sprays, rat poison/bait, repellents • Aerosol cans
• UNIVERSAL WASTE: • Electronics, household batteries, and fluorescent tubes and bulbs
• ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED • Asbestos • Business and biological waste • Explosives, ammunition, road flares, gasoline • Radioactive materials • Medical waste and sharps • High pressure cylinders • Trash and bulky items • Pharmaceuticals • Propane and helium tanks

VILLAGE POND PARK

At the last council meeting the issue of how well the contractors were cleaning the sidewalks at Village Pond Park came up. Following the meeting I provided the City Manager with 2 videos taken of bird poop being swept into the Pond. Earlier this week, construction of the park resulted in bushes on private property being removed. I asked the City Manager to halt construction until we received plot maps for all the property adjoining the park to avoid future problems.

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 mini town meeting every month. The next meeting will be on Sept. 9 at 2 pm at the Foothill Ranch Public Library.