This report covers the period from Mar 1 to 31. It represents the views of Councilman Gardner and does not reflect official City policy. These reports are produced monthly. Past copies are available on request.
INVOLVING PEOPLE
One of my main concerns is to involve more people in our local government.
Office hours are every Tuesday from 4 pm to 6 pm. Inquire at the Clerk’s office. Occasionally things change, so be sure to check first.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Town Square – Lake Forest Town Square has nearly 600 members and growing, providing valuable input on issues facing the council as well as general issues. Please join.
Listen and Learn – To date I’ve met with nearly a dozen groups around the City. If you have a group and want to share your concerns, let’s get together.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Town Hall Meetings – Last meeting was Feb 25 (Click here). Next meeting will be in May.
The Patch – In case you were unaware, I post a column in the Lake Forest Patch, usually 3 to 5 times a week (to date there are over 1,000 up there), and you should feel free to comment there.
MY PRIORITIES
Here are my priorities for the next few months and an update on what’s happening.
- Ensure the Civic/Senior Center project does not stall.
- It is moving ahead on schedule.
- Get Village Pond Park renovation under way
- achieved – now let’s get it re-opened by year’s end
- Establish a Traffic Commission to deal with traffic and parking problems
- partially achieved – now let’s see what they actually get done
- Develop comprehensive plan for older parks in the City
- 5 workshops held. Waiting for staff report. I attended all meetings.
- Get animal adoption efforts off the ground
- Reptile Rescue is up and active, but the Adoption Center is still not opened. They did help sponsor Pet Adoption day on March 11.
- Develop a comprehensive plan for revitalization of retail space so we can compete with all the progress being made in our neighboring cities.
- Hopefully part of strategic planning next month
- Get a new City Manager who can assist with these priorities.
- Interviewed candidates on March 24. Narrowed down to 2.
SPECIFIC ISSUES
Traffic. Our traffic and parking problems only seem to grow and we’re building up quite a backlog of issues that should be addressed. I asked for a Traffic and Parking Commission but Voigts-Hamilton-Robinson voted instead to put the traffic/parking issues inside the Planning Commission. Click Here
Mayor Pro Tem Basile agreed to head up a committee that will work with the Police Chief to see what can be done to deal with existing problems in some areas. We will consider adding a Parking Officer at our next budget meeting.
Crime – Two years ago major crimes were up nearly 30% but last year they were down 16%. So far this year we are down 28%. The biggest decreases are in rape (-50%) and larceny/thefts (-50%) but robbery (+500%) is up. In Jan/Feb 2017 there were 3 rapes and 11 aggravated assaults in the City. To check it out for yourself, Click Here.
Parks. Village Pond Park has been closed, is under construction, and should be re-opened in early 2018. Thanks to former Councilman Nick and Mayor Pro Tem Basile. Without them this would have never happened!
Animal Care – We co-sponsored an animal adoption day on March 11. (Click Here)
City Hall – Mayor Pro Tem and I asked that the City agendize a discussion of opening City Hall 5 days a week, every week. Right now City Hall shuts down every other Friday. Most cities are open every day and some cities are even open on Saturdays.
RESIDENT CONCERNS
Recall – Councilman Andrew Hamilton is being recalled. When Hamilton, Voigts, and Robinson were recalled last year, Hamilton got the most votes against him. Hamilton was criticized as being the worst Mayor in Lake Forest history by two independent sources. (Click here and here). I recently posted some data about Hamilton’s lack of attendance at city events (Click here), his lack of participation in legislative actions (Click here), and his lack of achievements (Click Here). If you want to get involved in the recall, go to FB. (Click here)
Aliso Creek – I got the City involved in lobbying the County to make repairs to Aliso Creek (Click here). Mayor Pro Tem Basile was a big help in this, and actually did more than I did.
Parking – I got the City to enforce parking code violations on City streets.
Parking – I helped get a proposal to create a parking area near Regency Park (off Osterman) for soccer players to relieve the overflow to homes in that area.
Traffic – I got extra Police attention to an area near Towne Center where dangerous driving was noted.
Village Pond Park – I updated a group on the wildlife relocation plans. Also helped put the local Reptile Rescue in touch with the City to insure better treatment of the turtles at the Pond. Mayor Pro Tem Basile has taken the lead on this project.
Landscape – I got the City to finish the forgotten patch of landscape along Ridge Rte.
Old Trabuco Rd – I got an update on the progress in Old Trabuco Rd and put the Church in touch with the City to better coordinate.
Soroptimists – helped publicize their April fund raiser. Click here
Ridge Rte. – asked the city to install extra signs about limited height approaching tunnel. Problem identified on Lake Forest Town Square.
Granny Units – asked the City to investigate the new law and determine what (if any) impact it will have on the character of our neighborhoods.
Don Wagner – Don Wagner is Irvine’s Mayor. He also employs Scott Voigts as a Senior Executive Assistant and now Wagner joined BB&K, the law firm that advises the City. Wagner’s tentacles seem to be encircling Lake Forest, and Wagner is well known to be in the pockets of the developers. I’ve asked the City to get a legal opinion about this. Should Voigts resign? Should we fire BB&K? etc.
VOTING RECORDS
More than 90% of the votes by Council are unanimous and respond to ordinary business of the City. In about 10% of the votes, the issues are more complex and there are not unanimous votes. Here’s the list.
- Make $611,000 payment to County to build new shelter (1/17/2017) – Basile/Gardner opposed. We wanted a local no-kill shelter.
- Randomly decide who shall serve a 2 year Planning Commission term (1/17/17) – Gardner opposed.
- Give CR&R a 1-year extension (2/21/17) – Basile opposed
- Consider allowing residents to vote on City Council compensation (3/7/17) – Hamilton opposed.
- Getting a professional facilitator to handle Strategic Planning sessions so we can generate more effective plans (3/21/17) – Hamilton opposed
FWIW – Voigts-Hamilton-Robinson vote together more than 90% of the time when the votes are not unanimous. Former Councilman Adam Nick and I voted together about 50% of the time under the same circumstances. Mayor Pro Tem Leah Basile and I are running about 50%.
NETWORKING
Last month I attended the following meetings/events.
- Mar 3 – Leah Basile at Kiwanis
- Mar 4 – Park Workshop
- Mar 6 – Parade Committee
- Mar 7 – Office Hours
- Mar 7 - City Council Meeting
- Mar 11 – Lake Forest Pet Event
- Mar 14 – Office Hours
- Mar 17 – Patti Farina at Kiwanis
- Mar 17 – Women Entrepreneur Forum
- Mar 21 – Office Hours
- Mar 21 - City Council Meeting
- Mar 23 – Medal of Valor meeting
- Mar 24 – Selection of City Manager
- Mar 28 – Office Hours
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Apr 2 – Animal Advocates (2 pm – 3520 City Way, Orange)
- Apr 3 – Parade Committee (6 to 7 pm – Sports Park)
- Apr 4 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
- Apr 4 - City Council Meeting (7 pm – City Hall)
- Apr 5 – Commercial Broker Workshop (11:30 – Sports Park)
- Apr 8 – Bunny Blast ( 11 am – El Toro Park)
- Apr 8 – Luna Fest (1 pm – Murray Center, MV)
- Apr 11 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
- Apr 13 – Planning Commission (7 pm – City Hall)
- Apr 13 – Teen Committee (6 pm – Sports Park)
- Apr 14 – Jim Gardner at Kiwanis (7:15 am – Mimi’s Café)
- Apr 18 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
- Apr 18 - City Council Meeting (7 pm – City Hall)
- Apr 20 – Parks and Recreation Commission (7 pm – City Hall)
- Apr 25 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
- Apr 27 – Excellence for Seniors Luncheon (11:30 – City Hall)
- Apr 28 – Leadership Breakfast (7:30 – Sports Park)
- Apr 28 – Business Smart Workshop (9 am –City Hall)
- Apr 29 – Special Needs Resource Fair (9 am – Sports Park)
Most of the events are FREE but some may charge admission. Be sure to check. I plan to be at most of these events so please come by and say hello.
CONTACT
You can discuss issues at the Facebook page Lake Forest Town Square
