This report covers the period from Feb 1 to 28. 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.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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 550 members and growing, providing valuable input on issues facing the council as well as general issues. Please join.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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.
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.
- Get Village Pond Park renovation under way
- Bids are in. We are waiting for them to come to Council.
- Establish a Traffic Commission to deal with traffic and parking problems
- See below
- Develop comprehensive plan for older parks in the City
- 4 workshops held. Final workshop on Mar 4.
- Get animal adoption efforts off the ground
- Develop a comprehensive plan for revitalization of retail space so we can compete with all the progress being made in our neighboring cities.
- Get a new City Manager who can assist with these priorities.
SPECIFIC ISSUES
Crime – Two years ago major crimes were up nearly 30% but last year they were down 16%. So far this year we are down 20%. The biggest decreases are in rape (-67%) and larceny/thefts (-48%) but robbery (+300%) and aggravated assaults (+250%) are up. In Jan 2017 there were 1 rape and 9 aggravated assaults in the City. To check it out for yourself, Click Here.
Community Preparedness Academy – Registration is now open. Classes begin March 1 and are held for 6 consecutive weeks at 6 pm on Wednesdays at City Hall. Sign up now. 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. We will consider adding a Parking Officer at our next budget meeting.
Parks. The upgrade to our existing parks will begin soon. Click Here to learn more. The City is holding a series of workshops for each of the parks. We had our first four workshops in January/February and the next one is scheduled for Mar 4. Click here and here to see how they went.
Bids are in and being evaluated for Village Pond Park. Hopefully we will start before Summer.
Animal Care – The head of the department of Community Services, Steve Franks, quit and has been replaced. I asked staff to arrange a meeting with his replacement to share our concerns about OC Animal Care. I also asked that citizens be allowed to attend the secret meetings of City Managers where, heretofore, no minutes are kept and no member of the public is allowed.
BTW - The Dog-a-Palooza will be Saturday March 11 from 10 am to 2 pm.
Gateway Center Hotel – The Council voted 5 to 0 to approve building a 102 room hotel on the grounds of the Gateway Center. The hotel owner and the center owner agreed to work diligently to improve the traffic and parking issues.
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.
Waiting for Godot – We are still waiting for the staff to agendize the following items
- Council compensation
- Filling Council vacancies
- Election of Mayor
- District voting
- Housing for veterans
- Land for the Boys and Girls Club
NETWORKING
Last month I attended the following meetings/events.
- Feb 6 – Parade Committee
- Feb 7 – Office Hours
- Feb 7 - City Council Meeting
- Feb 11 – Park Workshop (
- Feb 11 – ETHS Erin Joyce Fund Raiser
- Feb 14 – Office Hours
- Feb 21 – Office Hours
- Feb 21 - City Council Meeting
- Feb 22 – Meet the Mayor
- Feb 25 – Park Workshop
- Feb 25 – Town Hall meeting
- Feb 28 – Office Hours
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Mar 2 – Teen Committee (6 pm – City Hall)
- Mar 3 – Leah Basile at Kiwanis (7:15 am – Mimi's Café)
- Mar 4 – Park Workshop (10 am – Sports Park)
- Mar 6 – Parade Committee (6 to 7 pm – Sports Park)
- Mar 7 – Roundtable on Homelessness (7:30 am to 8:30 am – Irvine)
- Mar 7 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
- Mar 7 - City Council Meeting (7 pm – City Hall)
- Mar 9 – Planning Commission (7 pm – City Hall)
- Mar 10 – So OC Economic Coalition (11:30 to 1:30 - Saddleback College)
- Mar 11 – Lake Forest Pet Event (10 am to 2 pm – Sports Park)
- Mar 14 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
- Mar 16 – Teen Committee (6 pm – Sports Park)
- Mar 16 – Parks and Recreation Commission (7 pm – City Hall)
- Mar 17 – Patti Farina at Kiwanis (7:15 am – Mimi's Café)
- Mar 17 – Women Entrepreneur Forum (8:30 to 11:30 – City Hall)
- Mar 17 – Lake Forest Garden Club (9:30 am – Lake 1 clubhouse)
- Mar 17 – Women’s Club St Patrick’s Day (7 pm Lake 2 Clubhouse)
- Mar 21 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
- Mar 21 - City Council Meeting (7 pm – City Hall)
- Mar 22 – Soroptimists (6:30 pm – Lake 1 Clubhouse)
- Mar 28 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
- Mar 31 – Scott Wasserman at Kiwanis (7:15 am – Mimi’s Café).
Most of the events are FREE but some may charge admission. Be sure to check.
CONTACT
You can discuss issues at the Facebook page Lake Forest Town Square.
