Here are some updates on City projects -
DOG PARK
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
There are still some i’s to dot and t’s to cross, but the current estimate is that construction will start in the Summer and it will take 90 days to complete. IOW – before the end of the year. Bear in mind this is a tiny park for the 18,000 dogs in the City, but it’s a start.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
PUBLIC WIRELESS
Free public wireless is now available at the Sports Park and on average 150 people a day use it. By the end of the Summer we will have free wireless at Etnies Skate Park and at the City Hall.
CIVIC CENTER/SENIOR CENTER
Negotiations are still tied up with red tape, but moving slowly forward with no major stumbling blocks. In the near future we’ll look at architectural and design proposals, and construction management proposals. Meantime I’ve asked the Senior Advisory Group to get involved in the design phase.
PCN
Nearly 2 years after it was requested, guidelines for assessing whether or not new stores that sell beer and wine should be approved will reach the Council, probably next month. Meanwhile the Planning Commission over-ruled the decision of the Planning Director to deny approving the sale of beer and wine to “Smoke and Cigar” at 24882 Muirlands Blvd. That decision is now subject to the appeal process at the Council level.
PORTOLA HILLS
Grading has begun on the Northwest area of the project and street improvements have started on Saddleback Ranch Rd. As approved, 930 homes will eventually be built.
The second meeting to plan Portola Park will happen on Wednesday June 3. The designer will push “active use” ideas, but bear in mind that the City belongs to you, not the designer, so we want to hear your ideas.
INVESTMENT POLICY
Councilman Hamilton and I met with City staff last month and redesigned the investment policy so that the City could earn more than the paltry 0.3% it has earned for the past few years. Our revised plan should more than double this level and add a considerable amount of income. For this to happen, the Council will need to vote on the changes in June.
AD HOC TRAFFIC GROUP
City staff was never in favor of creating a traffic committee and so they seem to be dragging their feet on this one. Nonetheless it is scheduled to come before the Council in July. This can be a big benefit to residents by digging down and correcting many of the problems causing the traffic delays in the City.
MEALS ON WHEELS
Agewell has given the City a proposal so that we can service the nearly 100 residents who are part of the Meals on Wheels program, but currently are served from our neighboring cities. The proposal should come before the Council in the near future. Agewell is looking for a space to operate from within the City. They need a room with limited storage space and a refrigerator to be used as a base for their distribution of the meals. Ideally the room would also have access to a computer and printer, and the need access from 9 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday. If you can donate this space until the Senior Center is built (2 to 3 years) this would be a big benefit for Lake Forest seniors.
ART IN THE PARK
I’ve been trying to get more focus on Art in the City to showcase the work of local artists. We already have displays at Modjeska Playhouse and this week we begin “Art in the Park” with an outdoor exhibit on Sunday during the “Prelude in the Park” concert series.
RECLAIMED WATER
I’ve been pushing the City to do a better job reducing the use of water in our City landscaping and in our approvals of new developments. We are making some limited strides forward with changing over 150,000 square feet of turf, but there is still a lot to do. Col. Tom Cagley and Bob Holzclaw are working with me to try to make a major changeover from potable to reclaimed water in the “old” part of the City. Reclaimed water is used in the newer parts, but not the older parts. Meanwhile the City is studying changes in some of the medians and at some of the parks.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Jim Gardner is on the City Council for Lake Forest. You can check him out on LinkedIn and/or Facebook and you can share your thoughts about the City at Lake Forest Town Square on Facebook. His comments are not meant to reflect official City Policy.
Dr. Gardner has office hours every Tuesday from 3 pm to 5 pm at the City Hall. In addition, he holds a mini town meeting every month. The next meeting will be on May 16 at 2 pm at the Foothill Ranch Public Library.
