Laguna Hills Watch Dog

March 3, 2010 -  Laguna Hills City Council Meeting
All City Council Members were present

** Special Announcements - For Laguna Hills City Council Term Limits Petitions Contact Barbara Kogerman at www.kogerman4council.com or Jean Bland at BlandMJ@AOL.com to sign and/or circulate.

PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS – None

PUBLIC COMMENTS -

Dr. Debra Ferber from the Orange County Fairgrounds Preservation Society, thanked the City Council for their letter to the Governor of CA. supporting the County and the City of Costa Mesa in opposing the sale of the Fairgrounds by the State. She stated that the Fairgrounds contributes over $185 million throughout the local economy here in Orange County and 5000 small business owners could be shut down as a result of this sale. The facility was put on the auction block with an estimated worth of about $180 million but the high bid at the auction was only $56.5 million. The Orange County Supervisors and the City of Costa Mesa are reportedly trying now to propose a package to purchase the Fairgrounds.
* Editors Note On 1-12-2010 Councilmember Melody Carruth asked the City Council to support the County and the City of Costa Mesa in opposing the sale of the Fairgrounds by the State of CA. with a letter to the Governor. 3 of the city council members were in favor, only Councilmember Craig Scott was against it, saying he would vote to receive and file or vote against the resolution. Vote was 4 - 1 in favor of sending a letter to the Governor supporting the County and the City of Costa Mesa. The NO Vote was Craig Scott.

Public Opposition to Installation of Traffic Light at Appaloosa and La Paz, 5 citizens spoke and the group handed in numerous signed petitions against installation of the traffic light at Appaloosa and La Paz.

Ken Rosenfield, City Engineer stated that this light is part of a traffic synchronization project for the entire length of La Paz Rd. within the city. The traffic signal at this intersection was included as a condition of approval of the William Lyons' tract and has been listed in the city's master plan since 1993 as a potential signal location. Last reviewed, in a 2007 Master Plan review update, this location was one of 4 locations that was described as meeting the state standards/warrants for installation of a traffic signal. It is more cost effective to install this traffic signal as part of a larger project than as a stand alone signal. It meets at least a minimum standard and funds of about $40,000 were received for this purpose from the William Lyons Company years ago. The bid results for this project, that include this light, should be in on Thursday and this issue should be revisited at the March 23, City Council meeting.

Greg Robeson, Laguna Hills Citizen from Nellie Gail Rd. said he was taken by surprise by this announcement of installation of the traffic light. He said that in reviewing the State's Warrants Rating System he doesn't see justification for this and feels it could make things worse for the community. Greg said he rides a bicycle and has no trouble getting across traffic at that intersection, there are no pedestrians using the intersection, there is a very low accident rate, and no schools, churches or parks are in this area. He concluded that this $40,000 could be better spent in other areas.

Pam Klister, Laguna Hills Citizen from Mustang Dr. said she was missing a School Board Meeting tonight to be here and believes this signal would have a negative impact on the quality of life in the community, on privacy and the value of homes. She said she received a copy of the City's Master Plan from Ken Rosenfield, City Engineer, and read it. She then spoke to the Nellie Gail HOA board about this, and they knew nothing about it and were shocked. She also found that neighbors knew nothing about it. She contacted the Wm. Lyons Company and confirmed that $40,000 had been given to the city to ease the possible traffic flow problems when the Altamira Homes were built and it was up the City Council to decide how that was used. At peak times this traffic light could result in traffic backing up causing congestion into Mustang. She suggested that rather than spend money on a traffic signal spend it on slow and stop signs inside the community to mitigate the impact of the heavy traffic there.

Mike Klister, Laguna Hills Citizen from Mustang Dr. added more traffic leads to more pollution and loss of home values. The speed limit in this area is 50 mph but in the Master Plan it is stated as 45 mph. The City of Mission Viejo is currently lowering speed limits from 50 mph to 45 mph to decrease the danger in some areas. This area is residential not commercial. There is a high probability that real estate values would be devalued in the area due to an increase in noise levels particularly at night and early morning hours. He read part of a letter from a resident whose property backs up to Oso Pkwy. and told of the problems with the noise at that intersection. He noted that the stop and go of traffic at an intersection is much louder than the smooth flow of traffic. There has been only one injury accident in 3 years at the Appaloosa & La Paz intersection. He concluded that it is more effective and productive to put traffic lights at cross street intersections rather than T streets. This is a waste of resources.

Meg Roa, Laguna Hills Citizen from Stageline Dr. said she was here in support of her neighbors and friends and had communicated with several Realtors who advised her that the desirability of homes located in the area of this signal would decrease due to the increase in noise from traffic near an area with a traffic light in the intersection.

Rebecca Zomorodian, Laguna Hills Citizen from Mustang Dr. said she had cancer
5 years ago so this issue is personal for her. Studies show that idling cars will actually increase in the neighborhood due to the traffic light. Studies have shown repeatedly that air quality is lowered when a light is installed, and lung capacity decreases 1.8% a year due to the stopping and starting up of cars. She also noted that many residents have expressed that more stop lights will cause more delays in driving so they don't want any more stop lights. She said residents also suggested that the money from Lyon Homes should be used for traffic abatement within the community of Nellie Gail. She noted that La Paz is pretty much built out so traffic should not be increasing significantly in that area as it is mostly local traffic not commercial.

Mayor Randal Bressette thanked the citizens for their input and explained that this issue cannot be discussed at this meeting because it is not on the agenda but can be agendized and discussed on March 23, 2010.

Councilmember Melody Carruth asked the City Engineer if this area of the street could be restriped for a left turn pocket. Councilmember Joel Lautenschleger asked the City Engineer if it is permissible for the $40,000 from the William Lyons Company to be used in other areas.

Ken Rosenfield, City Engineer, responded that he would look into these questions but does not anticipate a level of detail in the report for March 23 that would include restriping of the road for a left turn pocket.

LHHS STUDENT LIAISON REPORT - by Jason Brower - 4 LHHS students were inducted into the OC Hall of Fame, Joey Bonutto, Drew Corley, Matt Martindale and Jeffrey Mc Craney for their performance on the field as well as in the classroom. They received the title of Scholar Athlete. Monday morning was the conclusion of the school's extracurricular MUN (Model United Nations) Program which is a 3 day conference over Friday, Saturday and Sunday during which Jason and 16 other members of the MUN Club traveled to UC Berkeley to compete in a debate with 1600 other students from around the nation as well as Canada and possibly one from Mexico. LHHS took home 2 research awards 2 students (including Jason) took home outstanding awards and 2 other students took home commendations. Mayor Bressette and Councilmember Melody Carruth congratulated Jason and LHHS on the extraordinary accomplishments of the class that will graduate in June. Jason noted that Joey Bonutto, Drew Corley and Jeff McCraney are all in the MUN program as well as being Scholar Athletes.

CONSENT CALENDAR *(The Consent Calendar consists of multiple items, including the Warrant Register, on which the city council votes as a whole unless an item is pulled for individual consideration )

The Warrant Register = $503,487.51

Postage for 1/2 Marathon and 5K Event - $1,764.21 + Event Promotional Services for 1/2 Marathon and 5K Event paid to Competitor SC - $800.00

*Editor's note - This event loses money for the city and the city never seems to be able to figure out how many Laguna Hills residents actually participate in this 13.1 mile run. Saddleback Hospital stopped sponsoring the event in 2008 because it lost money. From the 2/23/10 Warrant Register - we see additional fees for the event for 2010 totaling $16,357.25 - K F Studios - $1,357.25 Event Promotional Services 1/2 Marathon & 5K Event May, 2009 Renegade Racing - $15,000.00 for Event mgmt. Services to 1/2 marathon & 5K Event May, 2010. Published total expenses this year = $18,921.46 so far.

ITEMS PULLED from CONSENT CALENDAR - None, Consent Calendar Passed 5-0.

PLANNING AGENCY PUBLIC HEAINGS - NONE

Comments - Mike Klister, Laguna Hills Citizen from Mustang Dr. added to his previous comments that he spent a lot of time going through the Traffic Signal Master Plan update and noted 2 additional important items: on p.13 a notation states that the 2007 case results show that none of the candidate intersections are warranted via their accident experience and a warning on p.8 states should a signal be unjustified or poorly maintained one or more of the following may result, increased accident frequency, excess delay, driver frustration, disregard of signal indications, and circuitous travel by alternate routes.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS -

Item 6.1 - Request to prepare Letter from City of Laguna Hills to SCAG (Southern CA. Association of Governments) informing them of the city's disagreement with their recommendations for land use and suggesting that SCAG cease further efforts to propose reform of the way local governments are financed.
The Laguna Hills Staff Report states - the foundation for this letter to SCAG is reportedly a belief that local governments have become overly dependent upon existing sales tax revenue or perversely focused on generating new sales tax revenues to support their local programs and services. "As a consequence, local agencies are presumed to be making undesirable and/or illogical land use decisions that are, in turn, creating traffic congestion on our freeways, air pollution, unaffordable residential home prices and multiple other negative impacts on the environment." **See the full staff report on the City of Laguna Hills web site under Agenda's and Minutes for 3-9-10 Item 6.1
City Manager Bruce Channing recommended from his experience that this letter be sent. Mayor Bressette stated that he received a letter form the City of Lake Forest that they are sending a similar letter. VOTE - This item passed 5 - 0

Item 6.2 - Request for Community Assistance Funding for the 2010 Project 999 Memorial Ride - Request for a donation of $1,000 to the Project 999 Fund that provides assistance to families of Orange County Peace Officers who are injured or killed in the line of duty.
Staff Recommendation - Authorize the funding.
Chief Steve Doan spoke on this, at times with some difficulty, explaining that the Project 999 fund was formed in 1979 for the purpose of supporting OC Law Enforcement, particularly raising funds to assist officers killed or injured in the line of duty in OC. The Project 999 Memorial Ride is the major fund raiser that began in 2000 and has raised and contributed more than one million dollars to assist peace officers and their families. Each May, OC law enforcement officers participate in a 5 day, 630 mile bicycle ride, on their own time, from the Peace Officer Memorial in the State Capital to the OC County Peace Officer Memorial in Santa Ana. They each ride in the name of a fallen officer. Laguna Hills Police Services Sgt. Stewart Rawlings is riding for the second year in honor of Deputy Steve Parsons, killed in the line of duty while serving in the City of Laguna Hills. Another deputy Christina Brown is riding for the first time in the name of Deputy Brad Richards who was murdered, in Lake Forest in 2000. Councilmember Carruth added that 100% of the funds raised go directly to support the Peace Officers and their families.
**Editor's note - **Deputy Steve Parsons died at the age of 36 on June 24, 2000 as a result of a traffic collusion in Laguna Hills while on motorcycle patrol. See a brief bio. of Deputy Parsons and his accomplishments at: http://www.ocsd.org/about_ocsd/fallen_officers/stevenparsons/
VOTE - This Item passed 5 - 0

Comments: None

MATTERS PRESENTED by MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Councilmember Melody Carruth said it appeared the Saddleback Valley Unified School District Trustees would resolve the optional attendance area (generally OSO toward La Paz) that for years has been a problem for Laguna Hills High School. There are a number of LHHS parents at that board meeting who are going to ask that this issue be brought up again. If the boundary stays where it is Laguna Hills could lose 40 - 50 kids and that means loss of faculty and classes as well.

Mayor Bressette stated he has the privilege of being Principal for the Day at Valencia Elem. School tomorrow. He also noted that he and Councilmember Carruth attended the 1940s USO dance which was wonderfully successful and Mayor Randy had the opportunity of throwing the first pitch at the Little League Opening Day on Saturday.

Councilmember Joel Lautenschleger asked us all to sign his petition from the California League of Cities " to Protect Local Taxpayers and Funding for Public Safety, Transportation & Other Vital Local Services from State Raids." ** Editors Note - Much more "local" is the question - Who is protecting the Laguna Hills Taxpayers from the Laguna Hills City Council who is giving nearly $ one million a year to the top 3 positions in City Management, City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Deputy City Manager for managing a permanent staff of only 27 including themselves in a city of only about 34,000 residents? The City Manager and is paid approx. $400,000 a year in salary and benefits plus in 2009 the City Council gave him a $60,000 car and a $23,000+ bonus while they eliminated 2 Sheriffs Deputy Positions for the people. The only councilmember who has formally protested the City Manager's benefits was Melody Carruth. Randal Bressette later stated that if he had it to do over again he would not have voted for the City Manager's bonus for 2009 and both Randy and Melody protested the elimination of the 2 deputy Sheriff's positions. Scott, Lautenschleger, and Songstad have consistently supported the City Manager's salary, benefits and bonuses and both Craig Scott and Joel Lautenschleger have been instrumental in awarding them to the City Manager. On 12-8-09 Joel pointed to this last year as "the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression" but as the negotiator for the city manager's salary and benefits still awarded the city manager a $23,000+ bonus. We asked Joel to sign our petition for Term Limits for the Laguna Hills City Council Members and he declined saying he didn't believe in it.

CLOSED SESSION - NONE
====================================

Laguna Hills Crime Watch
Laguna Hills Crime Watch for the past 3 weeks go to:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/police-crime-blotter-2087713-arrest-burglary?City=LagunaHills Laguna Hills Crime, What's Happening in your Neighborhood by
Alejandra Molina, Reporter, Orange County Register. Keep up with crime in Laguna Hills, where it's happening and how it might affect you. This column is continuously updated.

Information, Questions, Concerns and Comments from Watch Dog Readers -

Question - Why doesn't the Laguna Hills City Manager live in Laguna Hills, so maybe he would care more about the citizens and the way the city is run?

** This is a question we have received from many Laguna Hills Citizens following the information published in the Newspapers and in the LH Watch Dog related to - The Laguna Hills City Manager got a $60,000 car & $23,000+bonus in 2009 paid for by the taxpayers. He got another $23,000+ bonus this year. He receives salary + benefits of $400,000+ annually to manage a full time staff of 27 in a city of about 34,000, while last year the city eliminated 2 Sheriff's deputy positions to "save money".

Answer - There is no requirement for a City Manager to live in the city he manages. As far as we know Bruce Channing, the City Manager for Laguna Hills, still lives in Yorba Linda. If a city manager did live in the city he or she manages priorities would not necessarily change. The City Manager is accountable to the City Council Members, not to the citizens. The City Manager actually runs the city but needs only 3 City Council Members to consistently support what he does and what his salary and benefits are. He follows their dictates for running the city. In a city like Laguna Hills where most of the city council members remain the same for almost 20 years and the city manager is so well rewarded for managing such a small city there is no incentive for change. The City Council Members are accountable to the citizens so be sure to hold them accountable when you vote.

How to Support the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Division Adopted by the City of Laguna Hills - We don't know??

OC Register News Stories and blogs

Laguna Hills term limits proposal kicks off
http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-232184-council-hills.html

City manager who got car now gets performance bonus http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-223526-bonus-manager.html

City Manager Benefits top $170,000 November 06, 2009
http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-218145-insurance-salary.html

City manager won't comment on $60,000 car
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-channing-car-2635479-year-hills

Laguna Hills buys its city manager a $60,000 car - in Tustin
http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2009/10/30/laguna-hills-buys-its-city-manager-a-60000-car-in-tustin/41479/

It's the Health Insurance, Stupid
http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2009/11/05/its-the-health-insurance-stupid/42089/

Full benefits for part-time elected officials are reasonable, mayor says
http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2009/11/05/full-benefits-for-part-time-elected-officials-are-reasonable-mayor-says/42213/

Laguna Hills City manager gets $23,000 bonus over objections
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bonus-council-channing-2253011-scott-city


Laguna Hills City Council Members Say the Darndest Things in Public

Feb. 1, 2010 - Laguna Hills Mayor Pro-Tem. Craig Scott commented on KOCE TV that Term Limits are undemocratic and shift power to Career Bureaucrats, campaign consultants and those who have other than our best interests at heart.

Mr. Scott seems confused about this considering that a career is a field for or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement especially in public, professional, or business life and a Bureaucrat is a term that usually connotes someone within an institution of a government. Craig Scott has been a Laguna Hills City Council Member without a break for 19 years so far and is expected to run again in 2010. So, by definition he is already a Career Bureaucrat and he achieved that without Term Limits!

Dec. 4, 2008 - LHCC Member - Craig Scott stated ".... based on what is recited here I think it is fair comment to say that Nellie Gail was not remarkable. "We did some research on this issue and if that's the best we can do, a school teacher, 2 daughters and ran the ranch until turning it over to her children, I submit that's not necessarily remarkable."

Really, Mr. Scott, would you say you are a "remarkable" city council member and how would you define that? ***Craig Scott is speaking about Nellie Gail Moulton (1878-1972) who was born in Irving, KS on Dec. 8, 1878. Nellie Gail spent her childhood in Nebraska and came to California with her family in 1893. Upon receiving her teaching credentials, she taught school in the state of Washington near Seattle at the turn of the century. On one of her summer trips to visit her family in southern California she met Lewis Moulton whom she married in 1908. The couple settled on a ranch of 22,000 acres. When her husband died she ran the 22,000 acre ranch while raising 2 daughters. She was also a school teacher, and an artist. Most of her paintings appear to have been done in and around Laguna Beach. Nellie Gail Ranch, in Laguna Hills, is named for her. Be sure to see the exhibit of her Remarkable life at City Hall!

June 10, 2008 - LHCC Member - Mayor Allan Songstad said - "We have to go through a bidding process and sometimes the low bidder is not always the best contractor, but sometimes that's what we're stuck with."

Thank you Mr. Songstad, that is exactly what we have been trying to tell you about the Laguna Hills City Council "sticking us" with the same bad vendor - The Orange County Animal Shelter for the past 18 years.

On May 27, 2008 - LHCC Member Craig Scott stated, "I am on the toll road every day and I don't want the tolls to go down, I want them to stay where they are or go higher and I'm ready to pay that price and I'd prefer NOT to have others do the same."

Are there any volunteers willing to support a resolution proclaiming that the 73 Toll Road be set aside for the Exclusive Use of Laguna Hills City Council Member Craig Scott until such time that this pesky congestion problem caused by less entitled people, like the rest of us, is brought under control? OR - maybe people would like to e-mail Mr. Scott at ccouncil@ci.laguna-hills.ca.us to encourage him to broaden his perspective. He has been a Laguna Hills City Council Member for 18 years)

October 25, 2005 - Mayor Allan Songstad, speaking about the Laguna Hills City Council said, "When you've been doing business in a certain way for 13 years you're not likely to change that."

So true, Allan, so unfortunately true.

Reminders & Letters to the Editor

To write letters to the editor of the Orange County Register Newspaper: letters@ocregister.com Please provide your name and telephone number (telephone numbers will not be published). Letters of about 200 words will be given preference. Letters will be edited for length, grammar and clarity.

You can contact all of the Laguna Hills City Council Members at:
ccouncil@ci.laguna-hills.ca.us phone: 949-707-2610 fax: 949-707-2614