Los Alamitos Asks Rossmoor to Halt Its Community Survey

Los Alamitos Mayor Kenneth Stephens sent a letter today to the Rossmoor Community Services District asking the agency to halt its telephone survey aimed at finding out if its residents want Rossmoor to have control over police and animal control services.

In the letter on behalf of the Los Alamitos City Council, Stephens offered up to $10,300 to conduct a joint polling effort with Rossmoor to ascertain what residents in both communities want as county officials pressure Rossmoor and Los Alamitos to merge.

“It is our goal to assist in the development of a statistically valid, balanced, and scientifically defensible poll that includes the resident of Los Alamitos and Rossmoor,” wrote Stephens. “Toward that end, the City of Los Alamitos will provide up to half of the funding of the poll, up to an amount equal to the $10,300 donated to the RCSD by the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs.”

The offer underscores the Los Alamitos City Council’s distrust of the poll already under way in Rossmoor. At Monday’s City Council meeting, Councilman Troy Edgar suggested that a poll funded by the sheriff’s union would have a predetermined outcome in favor of Rossmoor taking over policing powers from the county and contracting with the sheriff’s department instead of the Los Alamitos Police Department.

It was an accusation that offended Rossmoor officials, who noted that they opted to hire an independent pollster instead of the union’s pollster in order to protect the integrity of the poll. The telephone survey of 400 randomly chosen Rossmoor residents began Tuesday and is expected to be done by Friday.

In his newsletter today, Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach echoed the Los Alamitos council’s distrust of the poll.

“Perceptions are funny animals. I would think that if the deputy sheriff’s union is subsidizing a survey, that it would be inherently biased, regardless of who is conducting the survey,” Moorlach wrote. “I would think that the survey would be a little more balanced if it was directed to both the residents of Rossmoor and Los Alamitos.  We can only wait to see what next week brings and how the survey results are perceived.”

In his letter to Rossmoor, Stephens ended on an earnest note.

“We believe this poll represents a unique opportunity to accurately gauge the sentiments of both of our communities regarding several very important and longstanding issues. There is a good deal of research and analyses to be completed in order to educate both communities and to provide a basis for legitimate results from an informed community,” wrote Stephens. “To date, this polling effort represents the most valid method available in measuring the legitimate sentiments of both Los Alamitos and Rossmoor. Our offer is sincere, and we look forward to working with you, the RCSD Board and the consultant in developing a worthwhile polling tool that will serve our communities well—now and in the future.”

The entire letter is featured in the photo gallery to the right.