Report to the People - July 2018

This report covers the period from July 1 to 31. It represents the views of Mayor 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. BTW – Mayor Pro Tem Basile has office hours on Monday from 10 am to 12 pm.

Town Square – Lake Forest Town Square has over 750 members and growing, providing valuable input on issues facing the council as well as general issues. Your votes and opinions are used to guide my decisions. Please join.

Minute with the Mayor – Every week I produce a 1-minute video summary of what’s going on in the city. Check it out here.

Listen and Learn – To date I’ve met with over a dozen groups around the City. If you have a group and want to share your concerns, let’s get together. Just last week I met with folks on Cavanaugh and we formed a Neighborhood Watch for the area.

Town Hall Meetings – Last meeting was May 17. Next meeting will be Aug 16 at the Lake 1 clubhouse at 7 pm.

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.

Twitter – I now have a twitter account. Click Here. You can reach me @DrJimGardner.

Pop-Up City Hall – We had our first Pop Up on April 14 at the Beach and Tennis Club and 50 people came by. Our second one was in Portola Hills on May 6. If your group or HOA would like a Pop-Up City Hall at your next event, contact me.

PROJECTS COMPLETED 2018

On April 11 I presented the “State of the City” and information about our completed projects is included in that report. Click Here. I updated that report on July 1 in a series of articles. Click Here.

PROJECTS UNDERWAY

• Village Pond Park renovation under way. Expected Fall 2018.
• Upgrading 10 parks in the City - Approved. Construction begins 2019.
• Mobile App 2.0. Beta version available Summer 2018. Release Winter 2018.
• Real Term limits - Approved 4/3. 2 term total recommended. On Ballot in Nov.
• Search for no-kill shelter options – Approved 2/20. Now looking.
• Homeless – I was the only Mayor to vote against locating a 400-bed shelter for homeless people in Silverado Canyon. Click here and here to view my positions. The Board of Supervisors agreed and voted against locating the shelter 5 miles from Lake Forest (Click Here). Here is an update on our current program. (Click Here)

CRIME

In 2015 major crimes were up nearly 30% but in 2016 they were down 16%. Last year (2017) they were up 5%. In 2018 (Jan to June) we are up 2%. The biggest increases in 2018 are in aggravated assault (+53%) and Robbery (+55%). In Jan-June 2018 there were 1 homicide, 9 rapes and 69 aggravated assaults in the City. To check it out for yourself, Click Here.

In a related matter, last year the Council voted to join with a dozen other cities to explore ways to provide police services and we expect the report by the end of the year. Councilman Nick and I proposed this study a few years ago, but we lost 3 to 2 and the study had to wait.

Concern with school shootings prompted me to meet with the SVUSD Supt. and our Chief of Police. I asked the Chief to address the Council and we produced a separate video to share (Click Here).

Meanwhile, on April 23 we started our first “advanced” Child Safety class. The “basic” class will be offered in the Fall. Stay tuned.

On another note, OCSD has now launched the crime mapping. Click here to see what’s happening in your neighborhood.

VOTING RECORDS

More than 90% of the votes by the Council are unanimous and relate to ordinary business of the City. In about 10% of the votes, the issues are more complex and there are not unanimous votes. Here are the results for 2018 for votes that were not unanimous –

• Approve EIR contract (1/16) – Gardner opposed
• Drone ordinance (1/16) – Basile abstained
• Voigts to be on TCA committee (1/16) – Gardner opposed
• Drone ordinance (2/6) – Basile opposed
• No raise for Council members (2/6) – Cagley, Robinson “yes”, Voigts abstained
• Put Council raise on ballot (2/6) Cagley abstain, Robinson opposed.
• Campaign contribution limits (2/6) – Robinson opposed, Voigts abstained
• Campaign contribution disclosures for RFPs (2/6) – Voigts abstained
• Grant consulting contract (2/20) – Voigts abstained
• Lease park lands to private non-profit to build clubhouse and parking lot (2/20) – Gardner opposed.
• Adopt drone ordinance (2/20) – Basile opposed.
• Spend $60,000 to study community choice aggregation (2/27) – Gardner opposed
• Spend $40,000 to study no-kill shelter feasibility (2/27) – Voigts abstained
• Purchase video equipment instead of using staff’s own equipment (2/27) – Voigts abstained
• Campaign finance reform (4/3) – Cagley, Robinson opposed. Voigts absent.
• Change comment time (4/17) – Voigts, Robinson, Basile in favor.
• Allow Traffic/Parking Commission more flexibility (5/1) – Gardner, Basile in favor.
• Discontinue unsuccessful $40,000 project (5/8) – Basile, Cagley opposed.
• Pass ethics policy with no teeth (5/15) – Gardner opposed
• Allow people to vote on district elections (6/5) – Robinson opposed
• Allow candidates for Council to increase statement from 200 to 400 words to give non-incumbents a better opportunity to inform the public (June 19) – Robinson opposed, Voigts abstained.
• Ask voters whether or not they want to return to city-wide elections (June 19) – Robinson opposed.
• Ask voters if they want to spend unlimited funds to switch to city-wide elections even though every lawsuit that has attempted this has been defeated (June 19) – Gardner opposed.
• Allow consulting company that knows nothing about Lake Forest to appoint people to the General Plan Advisory Committee (July 19) – Gardner opposed.

NETWORKING

I attended the following meetings/events (along with fellow Council members)

• July 1 – Pet Adoption Center Open House (Gardner) PHOTO
• July 1 - Pet Adoption Center Fund Raiser (Gardner) PHOTO
• July 2 – Homelessness Subcommittee (Gardner, Basile)
• July 2 – Parade Committee (Gardner)
• July 3 - Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• July 4 – 5F Run/Walk (Gardner, Voigts) PHOTO
• July 4 – 4th of July Parade (Gardner, Basile, Voigts, Robinson) PHOTO
• July 5 – Ribbon Cutting – City Cleaners (Gardner) PHOTO
• July 5 – Permit Parking meeting (Gardner)
• July 10 - Office Hours (Gardner)
• July 10 – City Intern Program (Gardner)
• July 10 – Mobile app meeting (Gardner, Basile)
• July 10 – Traffic/Parking Commission Interviews (Gardner, Basile)
• July 10 – Neighborhood Parks meeting (Gardner, Basile)
• July 11 – General Plan Visioning (Gardner)
• July 14 – Grand opening Invitrix (Gardner) PHOTO
• July 17 – Office Hours (Gardner)
• July 17 - City Council Meeting (Gardner)
• July 19 – Mayor’s Business Council (Gardner, Robinson, Voigts) PHOTO
• July 19 – Animal Welfare Committee (Gardner)
• July 20 – Permit Parking (Gardner)
• July 24 – Office Hours (Gardner)
• July 24 – Neighborhood Watch for Cavanaugh (Gardner)
• July 25 – Starting a New Business (Gardner)
• July 25 – Nakase EIR meeting (Gardner)
• July 27 – City of Lake Forest Day at OC Fair (Basile, Voigts)
• July 28 – Special Needs Dance (Gardner, Basile) PHOTO
• July 30 – Parade Committee (Gardner)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Aug 5 – Women’s Club Baby Shower for US Marines (11:30, Lake 2 Clubhouse)
• Aug 6 – AB 448 Update (12 to 2, OCAR, Laguna Hills)
• Aug 7 - Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• Aug 7 - City Council Meeting (6:30, City Hall)
• Aug 7 – National Night Out (4:00, Sports Park)
• Aug 10 – Ribbon Cutting South Ocean Dental (4 pm, 22942 Ridge Rte)
• Aug 13 – Special Needs Committee (6:30, Y-Tel)
• Aug 14 - Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• Aug 16 – Town Hall Meeting (6:30, Lake 1 Clubhouse)
• Aug 17 –Homecoming ETHS (7 pm, ETHS)
• Aug 18 – Grab and Go Lunch (11:45, Bru)
• Aug 21 – Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• Aug 21 - City Council Meeting (6:30, City Hall)
• Aug 22 – South County Academy (9 to 12, Mission Viejo)
• Aug 22 – Chamber of Commerce Mixer (5:30, Lansea Homes)
• Aug 23 – Animal Welfare Committee (6:30, Pet Adoption Center)
• Aug 24 – Ribbon Cutting Infinity Kids (3:30, 22691 Lambert St)
• Aug 24 – Boys and Girls Club Fund Raiser (6 pm, Lake 2 Clubhouse)
• Aug 28 – Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)

That’s a total of more than 20 events/meetings and more than 60 hours during the month of July attending meetings/events. This doesn’t include any preparation and/or follow-up as a result of the meetings/events, nor the meetings with staff nor the Mayor’s Minutes, nor office hours and Council meetings.

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.