Report to the People - July 2017

This report covers the period from June 1 to 30. 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.

Town Square – Lake Forest Town Square has over 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, most recently Autumnwood HOA. If you have a group and want to share your concerns, let’s get together.

Town Hall Meetings – Last meeting was June 10 (Click here). Next meeting will be Sept.

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. Ground breaking was May 12.
• Get Village Pond Park renovation under way
  • achieved – now let’s get it re-opened by year’s end. I’ll offered a proposal to change the name to “Veteran’s Park”
• Establish a Traffic Commission to deal with traffic and parking problems
  • partially achieved – now let’s see what they actually get done
  • new ordinance passed. Click here for more information.
• 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 opened in March and the Adoption Center opened on April 24.
  • Data about Lake Forest animals now available online (Click Here)
  • Adoption Center to take on more responsibilities (e.g., owner surrender)
  • Discussions under way to handle strays in the future (probably next year)
• 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 sessions to be held in September
• Develop a comprehensive ordinance to provide balance and cohesiveness to single family residential areas.
  • Ordinance developed with City Attorney, passed through Planning Commission, and by Council. Now in effect.
• Move forward on the transition to district elections in 2018.
  • Council passed motion. Demographer hired. Sessions to start in August. (Click Here)

SPECIFIC ISSUES

District Elections. About 2 years ago Councilman Nick and I asked our colleagues to support district elections. They refused to go along. Now in the face of a lawsuit, and with legal costs mounting, Councilman Robinson joined Mayor Pro Tem Basile and me in voting to switch to district elections in 2018. For more information, Click Here.

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. Meanwhile the Council added a Parking Enforcement Officer at our last budget meeting. This will cost us $136,000 per year plus automobile costs. Hopefully we can address some core problems without adding this position as a permanent position. Meanwhile I went on a ride along with one of the officers to get a better understanding of their job.

Crime – Two years ago major crimes were up nearly 30% but last year they were down 16%. So far this year we are up 2%. The biggest increases are in robbery (+800%), burglary (+67%), aggravated assault (+56%) and rape (+14%). In Jan thru March 2017 there were 8 rapes and 25 aggravated assaults in the City. To check it out for yourself, Click Here.

Here is my discussion facing the challenge of crime moving forward. 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!

City Hall – Mayor Pro Tem and I got agreement from the City Manager and the Council to move forward to the City Hall opened every day, instead of being closed every other Friday. This will make life easier for many residents without any increase in costs. Thanks to the City Manager and our staff who are willing to adjust. Friday June 30 we were open for business after 25 years of being closed every other Friday. Councilman Robinson joined me in celebrating with the staff. Click Here

SVUSD – The district appointed a new Supt and I attended her reception. Mayor Voigts and I are on an ad hoc committee to work with Dr. Turner to improve conditions at our schools and improve traffic problems in some areas.

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 for 2017.

• 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
• Limit campaign contributions (4/18/17) – Hamilton, Voigts, Robinson opposed.
• Switch to district elections (5/2/17) – Hamilton opposed and Voigts abstained.
• Award senior bus mobility contract to AgeWell Services (6/6/17) – Hamilton opposed.
• Approve capital improvement budget (6/20/17) – Robinson opposed
• Table small cell wireless contract (6/20/17) – Voigts abstained.

NETWORKING

Last month I underwent spinal surgery so I was much less active than normal. I attended the following meetings/events.

• June 6 - City Council Meeting
• June 10 – Town Hall Meeting
• June 13 – Office Hours
• June 20 – Office Hours
• June 20 - City Council Meeting
• June 21 – Retail Reality Check
• June 25 – Summer Concert
• June 26 – Parade Committee
• June 27 – Office Hours
• June 28 – Ride along with Sheriff Dept.
• June 30 – Open house for City Hall
• June 30 – Met with Irvine Mayor Don Wagner to discuss relations between cities.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• July 4 – Parade
• July 8 – Special Needs Dance (7 pm – City Hall)
• July 11 – Shot Hole Beetle Meeting (3 to 4 pm – Sports Park)
• July 11 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
• July 11 - City Council Meeting (7 pm – City Hall)
• July 13 – Planning/Traffic Commission (7 pm – City Hall)
• July 18 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
• July 18 - City Council Meeting (7 pm – City Hall)
• July 20 – Parks Commission (7 pm – City Hall)
• July 25 - Legislative lunch (12 pm - Lake 1 Club house)
• July 25 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
• July 27 – Lake Forest Flag Day at OC Fair (12:30 pm – Costa Mesa Fair grounds)

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.