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Politics & Government

Report to the People - September 2017

Here's what happened in August

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Jim Gardner, Neighbor
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This report covers the period from August 1 to 31. 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.

Find out what's happening in Lake Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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. Your votes and opinions are used to guide my decisions. Please join.

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.

Find out what's happening in Lake Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Town Hall Meetings – Last meeting was June 10 (Click here). Next meeting will be Sept 9 at 2 pm at E l Toro Library.

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 issues that are well in motion -

  • The Civic/Senior Center project is on schedule. Ground breaking was May 12.
  • Village Pond Park renovation is under way
  • Comprehensive plans for upgrading 10 parks in the City achieved through 5 workshops. I attended all meetings. RFPs expected shortly
  • Pet Adoption Center opened on April 24. At my instigation data about Lake Forest animals now available online (Click Here). Fees for seniors and for neutered dogs reduced. New public education officer started.
  • Developed 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 and efforts being made to enforce.

Here are the issues I am currently working on

  • Adoption Center to take on more responsibilities (e.g., counselling for owner surrender and owner requested euthanasia). Monthly data to be coordinated with County data. Discussions under way to handle strays in the future (probably next year)
  • Retail. 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. Working with Councilman Robinson on this issue.
  • District Elections. 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. This process began August 1 and we held public meetings on Aug 10 and 17. City Council to discuss again on Sept 5.
  • Honoring Veterans. With Councilman Robinson and Mayor Pro Tem Basile we proposed re-purposing Village Pond Park to Veterans Park and also honoring Police, firefighters, and others who gave their lives in the service of the community by updating Heroes Park. Click Here
  • Mobile App. With City Manager have bids on the most innovative and far-ranging mobile app to improve communications between residents and the City. Coming to Council soon.
  • SVUSD. With Mayor Voigts we are trying to improve services by SVUSD and also improve traffic around some of the schools with the possibility of re-introducing buses in some areas (e.g., FHR, Serrano)
  • General Plan. With the help of Councilman Robinson and Mayor Pro Team Basile, the Council unanimously agreed to restructure the General Plan to make it quicker, less expensive, and more focused. Click Here
  • Crime – Two years ago major crimes were up nearly 30% but last year they were down 16%. So far this year we are up 9%. The biggest increases are in robbery (+56%), aggravated assault (+53%) ,burglary (+40%), and rape (+27%). In Jan thru July 2017 there were 14 rapes and 58 aggravated assaults in the City. To check it out for yourself, Click Here.

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’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.
  • Ordinance to regulate drones (7/11/17) – Basile abstained
  • Allow Council members one minute to respond to public speakers immediately after the presentation (7/11/17) – Basile opposed.
  • Change public meeting time to 6:30 pm (7/18/17) – Voigts opposed
  • Delay proposed lane change at Bake/Trabuco until other options were explored (7/18/17) – Voigts, Robinson opposed.
  • Transition to district elections (8/1/17) – Hamilton opposed
  • Reject turning transitional homes into affordable homes (8/1/17) – Robinson abstained
  • Consider paying off our unfunded pension liability (8/15/17) – Robinson abstained
  • Pay $30K to lawyers who are threatening the City with a lawsuit about district elections, but leave ourselves open to more and more $30K charges so that we don’t have to move to district elections (8/15/17) – Voigts and Hamilton in favor, Gardner and Robinson opposed, Basile abstained.

NETWORKING

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Sept 1 - WalMart Grand Re-opening (7:30 am - Foothill Ranch)
  • Sept 5 – SVUSD Meeting (3 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 5 - Office Hours (4 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 5 - City Council Meeting (6:30 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 6 – Veterans Park meeting (6:30 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 9 – Town Hall meeting (2 to 4 pm – El Toro Library)
  • Sept 11 – Get Safe Child Academy (6 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 12 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 14 – Planning/Traffic Commission (7 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 17 - Shop and Dine (12 to 3 – Sports Park)
  • Sept 19 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 19 - City Council Meeting (6:30 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 20 – Chamber of Commerce (5:30 – Outback)
  • Sept 20 – Leadership Academy (6:30 – City Hall)
  • Sept 21 – Parks Commission (7 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 24 – Taste of Lake Forest (12 to 4 pm – Town Centre)
  • Sept 26 – Office Hours (4 to 6 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 26 – Strategic Planning (9 am to 3 pm – City Hall)
  • Sept 28 – Planning/Traffic Commission (7 pm – 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.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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