Report to the People - May 2018

This report covers the period from April 1 to 30. 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 700 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.

Town Hall Meetings – Last meeting was Feb 15. Next meeting will be May 17 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. 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.

PROJECTS UNDERWAY

• Village Pond Park renovation under way. Expected Fall 2018.
• Upgrading 10 parks in the City - Comes to Council Summer 2018. Construction 2019.
• Mobile App 2.0. Beta version available Summer 2018. Release Winter 2018.
• Ethics Committee – Approved 2/6. Expected Summer 2018.
• Real Term limits - Approved 4/3. 2 term total recommended. On Ballot in Nov.
• Traffic and Parking Commission – Approved 2/20. Expected to begin July 2018.
• Search for no-kill shelter options – Approved 2/20. Now looking.
• Search for Meals on Wheels Location – Approved Feb 2018. Col Cagley and I are busy looking.
• Exploring Buses for FHR Elementary – Mayor Pro Tem Basile and Col. Tom Cagley are working on this. SVUSD will not provide buses.
• Revision to street sweeping – Underway. Mayor Pro Tem Basile and I are working with staff. Proposal expected in July.

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 Feb) we are up 53 %. The biggest increases in 2018 are in stolen vehicles (+121%), Larceny/Theft (+86%), and robbery (+33%). In Jan-Feb 2018 there were 1 homicide, 1 rape and 8 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. 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.

ISSUES

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).

Sanctuary City – The Council voted unanimously to support the federal government position.

Net Neutrality - The issue was referred to our City Attorney who is preparing a response and we expect to address this issue at a future meeting.

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.

NETWORKING

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

• Apr 2 – Parade Committee (Gardner)
• Apr 3 – Meeting with Judge Carter on Homeless (Gardner, Robinson)
• Apr 3 - City Council Meeting (All)
• Apr 10 – Economic Development Sub-Committee (Gardner)
• Apr 10 - Office Hours (Gardner)
• Apr 11 – Meet the Mayor (All)
• Apr 12 – Homeless Sub-Committee (Gardner)
• Apr 12 – Ribbon cutting - Y-Tel (All)
• Apr 14 – Pop Up City Hall (Gardner)
• Apr 17 – Office Hours (Gardner)
• Apr 17 - City Council Meeting (All)
• Apr 18 – Grab and Go (Gardner)
• Apr 19 – Assoc. of Mayors (Gardner)
• Apr 20 – Ribbon cutting – Landsea (Gardner, Basile, Voigts)
• Apr 20 – Gun Safety (Gardner)
• Apr 21 – Grab and Go (Gardner, Basile)
• Apr 23 – Advanced Child Safety classes begin (Gardner)
• Apr 24 – Office Hours (Gardner)
• Apr 25 – Board of Supervisors (Gardner)
• Apr 25 – Ribbon Cutting – HV Pharmacy (Gardner, Basile, Voigts)
• Apr 26 – Ride Along with Homeless Liaison Officer (Gardner)
• Apr 26 – Senior Awards (Gardner, Basile, Robinson)
• Apr 27 – Medal of Valor (Gardner, Basile, Voigts, Robinson)
• Apr 28 – Special Needs Resource Faire (Gardner, Cagley, Voigts)
• Apr 28 – Ribbon Cutting – McDonalds (Gardner, Basile, Voigts)
• Apr 29 – Retirement for Rev. Lobb (Gardner)

That’s a total of more than 20 events and more than 60 hours during the month of April attending more than 20 meetings/events. This doesn’t include any preparation and/or follow-up as a result of the meetings/events.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• May 1 - Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• May 1 - City Council Meeting (6:30, City Hall)
• May 4 – Leadership Luncheon (11:30, City Hall)
• May 5 – Ranch Fiesta Days (9 am, Heritage Hill)
• May 5 – Serrano Creek Riverbed cleanup (9 am, Etnies Skate Park)
• May 7 – Parade Committee (6:00, Sports Park)
• May 8 - Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• May 10 – Budget workshop (6:00, City Hall)
• May 11 – Lake Forest Farmers Market (4:30, Sports Park)
• May 11 – Secrets and Strategies of Business Success (8:30 am, Sports Park)
• May 15 – Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• May 15 - City Council Meeting (6:30, City Hall)
• May 17 – Town Hall (7 pm, Lake 1 clubhouse)
• May 19 – Aliso Creek Riverbed Cleanup (9 am)
• May 22 – Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• May 25 – Lake Forest Farmers Market (4:30, Sports Park)
• May 29 – Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)

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.