The New Lake Forest - Part 2

Yesterday we looked at the top three issues people on Lake Forest Town Square voted for the Council to look into in 2018. Here are the next two top reasons and the votes -

• Create new Traffic commission – 30
• Pass an ordinance to “put lake forest first” in all spending. – 14

TRAFFIC COMMISSION

Adam Nick and I proposed a Traffic Commission. Hamilton-Voigts-Robinson turned it down. Instead they created a “Traffic Advisory Group” that was so fruitless even they abolished it. Leah Basile and I proposed a Traffic Commission. Hamilton-Voigts-Robinson turned it down. Instead they added “Traffic” to the “Planning Commission” and in nearly a year they too have been fruitless.

Thank goodness someone was elected who campaigned publicly for a Traffic Commission. I’m pretty sure that when I recommend this once again, this time it will pass. Then starts the hard work of actually making a dent in our Parking and Traffic problems. By itself a Commission solves nothing. But it is a good beginning for a New Lake Forest.

PUT LAKE FOREST FIRST

I spent 3 frustrating years trying to convince my colleagues that we should be spending more of our money here in this city on our own people and companies. I got support from Adam Nick when he was in office and from Leah Basile last year, but I couldn’t get support from the other 3 council people. Is it because most of their campaign contributions come from people and companies outside Lake Forest?

I will re-introduce this idea again. We can approach the issue in several ways.

• Create an ordinance that gives preference to local companies on all contract bids, up to a certain percent. Other cities do this. Usually a local company is given preference if their bid is within 3% to 7% of the lowest bid. The rationale for allowing this is that sales tax revenue and jobs stay in the city.
• Hold workshops for local people and companies telling them how and where we spend our money and helping them apply for it. We hold workshops now, but anyone from any city can attend. How dumb is that?
• Have a place on our website where all proposed expenditures are listed with links for people to apply.

I’ll look forward to more ideas about how we can do this.

SUMMARY

In addition to everything else we are already committed to doing, I will propose that we

• Create ordinance outlawing donations from contract agencies
• Create code of ethics with independent oversight and real teeth
• Create a local no-kill animal shelter
• Create new Traffic commission
• Pass an ordinance to “put lake forest first” in all spending.

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 twitter handle is @DrJimGardner. 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 quarter. The next meeting will be Thursday Feb 15 at 7 pm at the Beach and Tennis Club.