Report to the People - November 2018

This report covers the period from October 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.

ELECTION NEWS

The election is only a few days away. Please vote.

REAL TERM LIMITS – Right now we have a ridiculous term limit that allows people to be on the Council for 22 of 24 years. It’s like having no term limits at all. Most people agree that 8 years is enough. After that you become entrenched, if you weren’t already. We have an 8 year term on the ballot and I urge you to vote for it.

DISTRICT ELECTIONS – Obviously I urge you to vote for me in District 4. In District 2 it should be clear to everyone that Sonny Morper is the right choice. His opponent is new to the City and has done nothing constructive in her year. She belongs to no groups or committees, and shows up at few City events or workshops/seminars. Until very recently her FB page says she lives in Laguna Beach.

BREAK THE BANK – There is a resolution on the ballot asking you to spend all of the city’s money trying to fight the change to district elections. Dwight Robinson asked for this measure, but even he would not write the argument in favor of this ridiculous idea. Vote “No”

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 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. In August I met with Bennett Ranch and in September I met with Forest Gardens. If you have a group and want to share your concerns, let’s get together.

Town Hall Meetings – Next meeting will be in January.

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.

Pop-Up City Hall – We had our first Pop Up on April 14 at the Beach and Tennis Club and we’ve had several since. 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. I updated it again on October 1. Click Here. These quarterly updates on the City will keep you fully informed.

PROJECTS UNDERWAY

• Village Pond Park renovation under way. Expected soon (I hope).
• 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 August) we are down 3%. The biggest increases in 2018 are in aggravated assault (+25%) and Robbery (+38%). In Jan-August 2018 there were 1 homicide, 10 rapes and 84 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 is being offered now. It’s a great class and if your kids haven’t attended yet, be sure to plan to enroll next year.

On another note, OCSD has now launched 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.
• Try to partner with neighboring cities for animal care services (Aug 7) – Voigts abstained
• Performance increase for City Manager (Aug 7) – Robinson opposed
• Allow permit parking to two areas impacted by Saddleback Apartments (Aug 7) – Robinson opposed, Voigts abstained
• Allow permit parking to two areas impacted by Saddleback Apartments (Aug 21) – Robinson opposed.
• Avoid giving local businesses and people a preference in city contracts (Oct 2) – Voigts and Robinson in favor.
• Give local businesses and people a preference in city contracts (Oct 2) – Robinson opposed.
• Re-name Cape May to Artist’s Way (Oct 16) – Basile opposed
• Revise 2019 Council calendar (Oct 16) – Cagley abstained

Some interesting observations from the data –

• Scott Voigts abstains more than every other Council person combined.
• The highest agreement is between Robinson and Voigts, followed by Cagley/Robinson, Basile/Gardner, and Cagley/Gardner.
• Over time we are having fewer disagreements.

NETWORKING

I broke my toe and bruised a few ribs while shooting the Mayor’s Minute, so this month I have been less active than normal. Nonetheless I attended the following meetings/events (along with fellow Council members)

• Oct 2 - Office Hours (Gardner)
• Oct 2 - City Council Meeting (All)
• Oct 4 – Candidate Forum (Gardner)
• Oct 6 –Autumn Harvest (Gardner)
• Oct 7 – South County Outreach Volunteer Appreciation (Gardner)
• Oct 9 - Office Hours (Gardner)
• Oct 10 – Chamber Mixer (Gardner, Robinson)
• Oct 12 – Grand Opening – New American Funding (Cagley, Voigts)
• Oct 12 – Haunt at Heritage (Gardner)
• Oct 13 – Lake 1 Garage Sale (Gardner)
• Oct 16 – Coffee with a Cop (Gardner)
• Oct 16 – Office Hours (Gardner)
• Oct 16 - City Council Meeting (All)
• Oct 18 – Association of Mayors (Gardner)
• Oct 18 – Applied Medical Reception (Gardner, Voigts)
• Oct 18 – Town Hall (Gardner)
• Oct 22 – Public Safety Briefing (Gardner)
• Oct 22 – Public Safety Discussion (Gardner)
• Oct 22 – OCFA opening (Basile, Voigts)
• Oct 23 – Office Hours (Gardner)
• Oct 25 - General Plan review (Gardner)
• Oct 27 – Special Needs Halloween Dance (Basile)
• Oct 30 – IRWD meeting (Gardner)
• Oct 30 – Office Hours (Gardner)

That’s over a dozen events/meetings and more than 30 hours during the month of October just 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. This month, as with many other months I’ve attended more events on behalf of the City than the rest of the Council combined.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Nov 3 – Sun and Sail Women’s Club (6 pm, Lake 2 Clubhouse)
• Nov 6 - Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• Nov 6 - City Council Meeting (6:30, City Hall)
• Nov 13 - Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• Nov 20 – Office Hours (4:00, City Hall)
• Nov 20 - City Council Meeting (6:30, City Hall)
• Nov 27 – 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.