Wednesday, May 26, 2010

** Last Reminder about the Term Limits for the Laguna Hills City Council Petition: We must turn in all our Term Limits signatures this week, so if you have any signatures that you have collected or if you have a petition with your own signature please e-mail your name address to Jean Bland at BlandMJ@AOL.com. Jean will come to your house and collect your petitions this week. If you have not yet signed also contact Jean Bland who will bring you a petition to sign. Please do not mail your petitions now as they may not reach their destination in time.

05/25/10 Laguna Hills City Council Meeting
All Members were present

PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS – None

PUBLIC COMMENTS - Kelly Kreen (sp?), Laguna Hills Citizen spoke about the new business she and her partner have established in Laguna Hills which is very similar to an Auto Club for Bicycles. It is called OC Bicycle Service + Garage, and is located at 23011 # E7 Moulton Pkwy.,or go to orangecountybicycleservicegarage.com/ for additional information. Phone is 949-916-0960. They will be providing Roadside Service for cyclists as well as a full service garage with maintenance, repair, workshops and many other services at their store location.

LHHS STUDENT LIAISON REPORT by Jason Brower - Jason said this would be an "all positive" report tonight. Besides the Valedictorian the other 2 speakers who have been chosen to speak at graduation this year for LHHS are Cassidy La Fee and Jason Brower. There was much applause for Jason whose LHHS Liaison reports this semester have been outstanding. Jason thanked Council Member Carruth for writing an excellent letter of recommendation for him. He said that made him so proud and he is honored to be one of the 2 speakers from a group of 9 who tried out for the 2 speaker positions. Jason went on to say this is a winding down of the school year with senior finals approaching in mid June followed by graduation in late June. The crime and attendance problems are experiencing a reversal now and that is good to see because it is the job of the students to show up for class.

MINUTES - Recommendation that the City Council Approve the Minutes of the previous, City Council meeting for publication on the city web site. The Minutes from tonight's meeting will not be approved for publication on the city web site until the next City Council Meeting. *Editor's Note - Citizens can find more current information as well as historical information from Laguna Hills City Council Meetings on the Laguna Hills Watch Dog site at: http://lhwatchdog.blogspot.com

CONSENT CALENDAR *(The Consent Calendar consists of multiple items, including the Warrant Register, on which the city council votes as a whole, with no public discussion, unless an item is pulled for individual consideration )

Item 4.2 - Warrant Register = $936,660.15

Includes the following items of interest:

$2,500 to US Postal Service for CITY VIEWS Summer 2010 issue
$14,781.88 to Faubel Public Affairs for CITY VIEWS Summer 2010 issue
*Editor's note - A total of $17, 281.88 for one edition of City Views Magazine which contains information for the Public and Public Relations for the City Council.

$ 853.00 to Bounce House Company for 1/2 Marathon & 5K Event
$1403.50 to First Student - Program Expense for 1/2 Marathon & 5K Event
$ 734.25 to KF Studios - Event Promotional Services for 1/2 Marathon & 5K Event

*Editor's Note - We still don't still don't know how many Laguna Hills Residents participate in this event that has historically lost money first for Saddleback Hospital and then for this city, and is expected, according to the city, to lose $10,000 this year. From the Minutes of the August 5, 2009 Meeting of the Laguna Hills Parks and Recreation Commission (now available online on the City of Laguna Hills website) Superintendent Meehan reported to the Parks and Recreation Commission that approx. 2,700 participants registered for the Memorial Day Half Marathon and 5K Event. Commissioner Noenickx asked Superintendent Meehan how many residents participated in the event. Mr. Meehan stated that he would research the participation figures with Renegade Racing and provide this information to the Commission. Commisioner Noenick asked Superintendent Meehan why Saddleback hospital pulled out of running this event. Mr. Meehan states that Saddleback Hospital opted to eliminate this event from their budget due to financial losses in the past. We hope that this year city staff will finally count and report the # of Laguna Hills Residents who participate in this event and the amount of the losses.

$2,900.00 to Joe A. Gonsalves & Son - A Lobbying Firm that represents Clients before the State Legislature. Editor's Note - Lobbying for what? - No explanation given by the city?

$50,175.00 to the Florence Sylvester Senior Services Rehab. Project. This is a Grant received through the County. *Editor's Note - At the May 11, 2010 City Council meeting we were told it was $52,000 with no fiscal impact to the city so what happened to the other $1,825.00 that was supposed to be in the grant for the Senior Center?

We thank City Council Member Melody Carruth for answering this question for the public and explaining how the grant system works in this case as follows: "I have the answer to your question about the warrant register not matching the billboard size check for Marilyn. The warrant register amount is for the grant we received last year. The 2009 construction has been completed, Marilyn submits her bill and we send her a check in May 2010 for the amount listed in tonight's warrant register. Next year, when the next phase at the senior center is completed, we will send her the second check....it should be for the $52,000 we all saw during Randy's presentation two weeks ago." (Council Member Carruth is referring here to Marilyn Ditty, Chief Executive Officer, of Age Well Senior Services, for the Florence Sylvester Senior Center) We also note from the September 22, 2009 Laguna Hills City Council Meeting that the amount of money actually received will be dependent upon US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) appropriations. There is No Fiscal Impact to the City

Item 4.3 - Law Enforcement Services Agreement - The City Agenda states the city has a total staff of 43.22 (but many of those positions are Shared Staff as follows, per the city's information):

10.2% of 1/2 of one (.5) Sergeant - Traffic
10.2% of 4 Deputy Sheriff IIs - Traffic
10.2% of 1 Investigative Assistant - Traffic
10.2% of 1 Office Specialist - Traffic
6% of 1/4 of one (.25) Sergeant Auto Theft
6% of 2 Investigators - Auto Theft
6% of 1 Investigative Assistant - Auto Theft
6% of 1 Office Specialist - Auto Theft
10.32% of 3 Investigative Assistants - Court
12.12% of 1/2 of 1 (.5) Motorcycle Sergeant

The Law Enforcement Staff the City has full time totals 27.97 as follows:

1 Lieutenant at 40 hours per week - Management
2.97 Sergeants - each full time sergeant position is 40 hours per week - Supervision
2 Investigators - each 40 hours per week - Investigation Services
14 designated 1 deputy units each at 40 hours per week - deployment to be determined by Sheriff in cooperation with City Manager. - Patrol Services
1 School Resource Officer at 40 hours per week - deployment to be determined by Sheriff in cooperation with city manager
4 designated motorcycle units each at 40 hours per week - deployment to be determined by Sheriff in cooperation with city manager for Traffic Services
2 community Service Officers each at 40 hours per week for Parking Control
1 Crime Prevention Specialist at 40 hours per week.

The total cost for Laguna Hills is listed as $6,457,708 for FY 2010-11

*Editor's Note - It is important to note here that the term "position" refers to all of the fractions of a position as well as to what we would normally think of as a full time position related to a total staff of 43.22. So, Laguna Hills actually has 27.97 full time staff positions plus 1 and a small fraction of a full time position of shared staff. Laguna Hills does justify their statement in the online staff report that they have 0.75 Sworn Staff per 1000 residents which they say places them 3rd from the top in So. OC Cities, just under Dana Point (with 0.92 per 1000 residents) and San Juan Capistrano (with 0.76 per 1000 residents), but to say they have a total staff of 43.22 they'd have to S - T - R- E - T - C-H their numbers considerably, so we asked Laguna Hills Police Chief Steve Doan about the shared staff and he clarified for us that the fractions of positions are County Auto Theft and Traffic Officers in Shared Regional Positions that are cost allocated to all the contracting cities.

We also want to note that on Tues. 5/25/10 the Project 999, 630 mile Annual Memorial Bicycle Ride from Sacramento, to assist the family of any Orange County POST Certified Deputy or Officer who is injured or killed in the line of duty culminated at the Peace Officers Memorial Monument in Santa Ana. Please go to http://www.project999ride.org/?page_id=4
to learn more about this annual event and how to become a donor or sponsor for future events.

Staff Recommendation is - Authorize the Law Enforcement Services Agreement.

Item 4.5 - California Jobs Initiative -

Staff Report says The California Jobs initiative is an effort to suspend AB 32 (State Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Act for Alternative Energy Development www.ElementMarkets.com to protect the environment, until the State's employment rate decreases to 5.5% for a year.

Staff Recommendation - Support the California Jobs Initiative.

ITEMS PULLED from CONSENT CALENDAR - NONE

VOTE - All items on the consent calendar were approved 5 - 0 without comment.

** See more detail for most of the Items noted in the Consent Calendar on the city web site at www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us under City Council Agendas, the Date of the City Council Meeting and the Item # on the agenda.

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS

Item 5.1 - 2010 Weed Abatement Program

City says on 4/29/10 it sent notices to all property owners affected giving them until June 5, to remove the weeds, rubbish or refuse, etc. or the city will do the removal and bill the property owner. Fiscal Impact for the City for Weed Abatement is $55,000

Kenneth H. Rosenfield, Director of Public Services, City Engineer noted that starting next week and over the next 30 days the City Property's weeds will be removed and the community is responding to removal of weed notifications.

Public Comments - None

Staff Recommendation - Issue an Abatement Order

VOTE - This item was passed 5 - 0

PLANNING AGENCY PUBLIC HEARINGS

PUBLIC COMMENTS - None

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS - Update on Memorial Day 1/2 Marathon and 5K from David Reynolds, Deputy City Manager - Staff will be onsite at 3:30 AM on Monday preparing for this event and the event will begin at 7 am. Over 1600 race participants signed up to date which is 60 to 70 more than last year, so staff is anticipating 2800 to 3000 runners. There will also be a diaper dash and a kid's run. A new addition this year will be the Food Drive for So. County Outreach so the staff is encouraging race participants and spectators to bring canned food and non perishable goods to donate.

MATTERS PRESENTED by MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Council Member Melody Carruth stated interviews for new LHHS Student Liaisons were held last Friday with Principal Boulton and Mary King, who served on the General Planning Committee, and new students were chosen for the first semester of next year from a group of exceptionally strong students.

Council Member Melody Carruth stated there have been a number of calls received about the new construction for a cell phone tower on Beckenham across from Sunset. She asked for clarification of when residents are informed of a project like this one and how the residents are allowed an opportunity to voice their concerns. Mayor Randal Bressette responded the problem is that this item is not agendized for tonight so can't discuss it now but if the council wishes to agendize the item for the next meeting for Mr. Jones that would be appropriate. Council Member Carruth stated she would like to do that. There was a consensus to agendize this item for the next council meeting.
*Editor's Note - see more about this item + a photo below under "Information, Questions, Concerns and Comments from Watch Dog Readers"

Council Member Melody Carruth called for a report from City Manager Channing on Term Limits for the next City Council Meeting. City Manager Channing agreed.

Council Member Lautenschleger confirmed the excellence of the LHHS student pool from which the student liaisons for next year were chosen.

Mayor Randal Bressette stated the city received a memo from the Parks and Recreation Commission recommending the implementation of a citizen volunteer program to assist with enforcement of the municipal code in parks and to serve in other volunteer capacities. He asked the city council for acknowledgement of this memo and a response to the Parks and Recreation Commission that the most appropriate time for this to be brought back to the council would be at the budget session this year.

Mayor Randal Bressette announced that tomorrow is the Peace Officer's Memorial Ceremony in Santa Ana, an opportunity for us to remember and give thanks to those men and women of law enforcement and specifically our Sheriff's Department for the jobs they do and the sacrifices that many of their fellow officers have made. There will be a ceremony, a luncheon at the Original Mikes Restaurant and then a fund raiser even by the OC Traffic Officer's Association.

CLOSED SESSION - None

====================================
The "Laguna Hills Crime Watch" has been removed from the OC Register Newspaper on-line. To find out about crime in Laguna Hills and how it affects your neighborhood go to www.ocsd.org (for the OC Sheriff's Dept.) then click on "E-Services" for the pull down menu, next click on "Sheriff's Blotter" then click "Laguna Hills" for the 7 or 30 day view. There is also information in the Saddleback Valley News on Fridays Under "Crime in your Neighborhood" under Laguna Hills.

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

The following is a list of web addresses and titles are for 1 editorial + 6 recent stories in the OC Register Newspaper by the OC Watchdog about and revolving around Candidate for City Council Barbara Kogerman's discovery from city records pulled from every OC City that the City Manager of Laguna Hills makes more in salary and benefits than any of the City Managers in any of the other cities in all of Orange County, although he manages only 27 full time employees including himself, his Assistant City Manager and his Deputy City Manager, in a very small city of almost 34,000 residents.

Editorial in the Orange County Register on Friday, May 21, 2010 - Managing some big pay packages begins with "If you require a fresh source of indignation over public employees' perks, look no further than Laguna Hills,"..... Go to: http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/compensation-249743-city-public.html

News Story in OC Register online about the Laguna Hills' City Manager's salary and benefits compared with other city managers in OC. The most highly compensated City Manager in Orange County is from one of the smallest cities - Laguna Hills - at $460,809.00. In a City of only about 34,000, he has a full time staff of only 27 to manage including himself and his Assistant City Manager and his Deputy City Manager. Go to: http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2010/05/17/top-city-manager-compensation-460809-report-says/57287/ -Top city manager compensation: $460,809, report says

http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2010/05/17/controversial-city-comp-report-now-online/57357/ - Controversial city manager compensation report now online

http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2010/05/20/average-pay-for-big-city-city-managers-292651/57549/ - Average pay for big-city city managers: $292,651

http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2010/05/21/mid-sized-city-manager-compensation-272573/57643/ - Midsized city manager compensation: $272,573

http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2010/05/22/small-city-managers-average-pay-262196/57737/ - Small city managers average pay: $262,196

http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2010/05/26/frustration-lack-of-transparency-mar-quest-for-city-pay-data/57991/ Frustration, lack of transparency mar quest for city pay data

The Laguna Hills Watch dog has received several e-mails from citizens regarding a scaffolding that has been erected on the medical building on Beckenham across the street from the neighborhood on Sunset. The Watch Dog was told that the final height of this addition will be around 42 feet and will house a cell phone tower. We were also told that no public notice was given by the city so the neighbors were not given a chance to object. Besides the third floor edition being an eyesore, the neighbors expressed concern about radiation produced from the tower with no guarantees that it is not harmful to their health.

I don't get how the City can spend $457,000 on painting murals on the City Hall walls, building a gaudy (in my humble opinion), Vegas type entry to Laguna Hills off El Toro Road by City hall, and let two deputy positions go and let the Code Enforcement position go. Something is wrong with this picture. Annon.

The answer to the frequently asked question about how the city council members have remained in office for nearly 20 years is that the Laguna Hills City Council doesn't want outside interference in what they consider their private domain. It is basically a transparency issue. Give the citizens the Mushroom Treatment - keep them in the dark
and cover them with bullshit! Tom

Yes, bring in a big glossy check that reads "Big Production" so the City Council's family members can use it for self serving purposes. How about asking the Florence Sylvester Senior Center what they need and how the city can help? Since the city has reserves and should take seriously the needs of its seniors who have been long time contributors to this city, is it not reasonable that maybe the council members should each take a day of internship at the Senior Center to really see what is needed, what goes on there and how well the Florence Sylvester Senior Center helps with what little funding they have? Mr C.

How to Support the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Division Adopted by the City of Laguna Hills We continue to question this but we never get an answer from the City Council?? Editor's Note - On Aug. 25, 2009 in a LHCC Meeting - Council Member Craig Scott stated there was an article in the Register within the last week where it was reported that the city was trying to reconstitute the 3/5 Support Committee. Craig Scott went on to say the council has taken a very clear position that there will be no official city support by this council for the 3/5 Committee. Doesn't the city that adopted a Marine Division have duty to support them in some way or why did the City of Laguna Hills adopt them? Many other cities have done a great job of this why not this one?

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.

Council Member Craig Scott seems confused about this considering that a career is a course or progress through life, or a distinct portion of life and a Bureaucrat is a term that usually connotes someone within an institution of a government. Council Member 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 has achieved Career Bureaucrat status and he achieved that without Term Limits. Congratulations Mr. Scott!

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? Council Member Craig Scott is speaking about Nellie Gail Moulton (1878-1972) Born in Kansas in 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 a summer trip to visit her family in Southern California she met Lewis Moulton whom she married in 1908. They 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 in the lobby at City Hall!

June 10, 2008 - 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 Council Member Songstad, that is exactly what we have been trying to tell you about the Laguna Hills City Council "sticking " the residents with the same bad vendor - The Orange County Animal Shelter for the past 19 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 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 19 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.

August 19, 1994 - LHCC Member Allan Songstad - From the Los Angeles Times Newspaper Article Collections - Orange County Focus August 19, 1994LYNN FRANEY - Laguna Hills Councilman Declines to Run for Reelection With Councilman L. Allan Songstad Jr. declining to run for reelection, at least one newcomer will gain a seat on the City Council this fall. Songstad said he never intended to run for a second council term and that he is not a "career politician." That leaves space for at least one of the challengers, Cindy Greengold, Saeid Hariri, Grant R. Marcus or Charmane Riggs.

Now, in 2010 with 18 years on the Laguna Hills City Council we are guessing Council Member Songstad has changed his mind about being not being a "career politician" .

Reminders & Letters to the Editor

To write letters to the editor of the Orange county register newspaper: letters@ocregister.com 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

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