Laguna Hills Watch Dog

*Special Report - All the signatures for the Citizen's Term Limits Initiative for the Laguna Hills City Council were submitted to the city on the deadline last Tuesday. This was truly a Community Effort and many many thanks to all of you who signed and/or helped or both. Go to: http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-251580-council-kogerman.html OCREGISTER: Kogerman submits term limit initiative
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Laguna Hills City Council Meeting - June 8, 2010
All Members were present

PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS – Certificate of Recognition Presented to Jason Brower for his outstanding service as student liaison from LHHS during the past semester. Major Randal Bressette thanked and congratulated Jason and noted that he set a new standard for all future Student Liaisons. He added, "We'll look forward to having you come back maybe as our city attorney some day". (Jason had previously mentioned that he plans to attend law school) Everyone laughed at this point and looked at the current City Attorney Greg Simonian who jokingly responded, "I'm upset". More laughing, followed by the announcement of the new student liaison for the fall 2010 semester Mike Spain with Lyndsey Kaan as the alternate. Mike and Lyndsay were sworn in by the City Clerk.
LHHS STUDENT LIAISON REPORT - by Jason Brower said goodbye and noted that the LHHS Principal Mr. Boulton received the UCI School of Social Sciences Award for his efforts to introduce 21st Century Topics into California Schools as well as strengthening the educational bond between LHHS and the University of CA., Irvine. Jason said we are all very proud of Principal Boulton, who has made great strides this year both in academics and in the general attitude of students toward the staff, so congratulations to him! Only 9 days of school left. Attendance is up again and theft and vandalism are down now with thanks to the Student Resource Officer Deputy Botta.
Editor's Note - We who attend city council meetings regularly will miss Jason very much. We thank him tremendously for his dedication to excellent "to the point" reporting and his wonderfully articulate manner of speaking. He won't need luck because he is well prepared but we wish him the best always.
*Correction to the May 23, Laguna Hills Watch Dog - Besides the Valedictorian the other 2 speakers who have been chosen to speak at graduation this year for LHHS are Cassidy La Fee (not Kathy de la Fee) and Jason Brower

PUBLIC COMMENTS - Barbara Kogerman, City Council Candidate for 2010, said
she was reporting, as the Chair of the Laguna Hills City Council Term Limits Initiative, that the community-wide effort to collect signatures for the ballot initiative was completed and the petitions were turned in, last Tuesday, to the City Clerk. 1935 signatures were required and 1000 additional signatures were submitted. Registered voter walksheets were used to collect signatures so there is a very high probability that most signatures collected were good ones and unlikely to be disqualified. She said, After 18 weeks of sometimes grueling weekends for all the volunteers collecting signatures our experience was typically that out of 100 people asked for signatures, 2 would say, "No way, no how", another 3 would say, "Let me think about it or I need more information", and the rest would say, "Just give me that pen". She added we believe this will be popular on the ballot and there are 30 business days for the Registrar of Voters to certify that it will be on the November ballot. We are looking forward to that and to a vigorous conversation during that time.

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 = $255,413.44
Includes the following items of interest: More fees for 1/2 Marathon/5K event - $1250.00 for 1/2 Marathon & 5K cash drawer replenishment - registration, $2. 337.36 to Ashworth Awards for program expense 1/2 Marathon & 5K Event, $1,250.00 to Competitor SC for Event Promotional Services 1/2 Marathon & 5K Event, $222.50 to KF Studios for 1/2 Marathon & 5K Event Promotional Services, $649.95 to Upside Marketing & Promotions for 1/2 Marathon & 5K event program supplies,

$6,173.62 to Studio Two Black Diamond for Printing Expense (printing for what?) Another $9,487.50 to Pixel Publishers, Inc for Professional Fees City Web site - The May 11, 2010 Warrant Register also noted $9,487.50 - to Pixel Pushers, Inc. - Professional Fees for City Web Site. *Editor's Note - We know the City's web site broke down but $18,975.00 so far, with no explanation and no one questioning this? Had the site not been maintained or what happened?

Item 4.3 - Trauma Intervention Program Agreement - the City is providing $4,007 to the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) for another year of services to victims of traumatic events. These services are provided 24 hours a day and consist of grief counseling, and referral services for shelter, food and transportation, etc.
Staff Recommendation - Authorize the Agreement.

Item 4.4 - $9796.29 - 4th progress payment for re-paving of Laguna Hills Drive

Item 4.5 - City was contacted by the executive director of New Vista School. a special needs private school for grades 6 - 12, who requested that the city install a "school" sign with flashing beacons to encourage safe and cautious driving, along Mill Creek Dr. close to the school. This was in response to a recent fatal single auto traffic collision in that area. The speed limit in Mill Creek is 30 mph and the CMUTCD (CA. Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices) states streets with speed limits greater than 25 mph shall have a "School Speed Limit" sign and a "When Children are Present" sign placed up to 500 ft. in advance of the school boundary.
Staff Recommendation - Approve the installation but without the flashing beacons because there is no justification for a flashing beacon at this time. Estimated cost to the city of $1,000 and funds available through public works maintenance budget.
*Editor's note, Why had this not been done previously when it is specified by law?

Item 4.6 - Establish a "NO Right Turn On Red" prohibition on Avenida Sevilla at the intersection of Paseo de Valencia at Beckenham St./Avenida Sevilla - The City of Laguna Woods asked the Laguna Hills Traffic Commission for this on May 19, 2010 due to limited sight distance and the request was approved by the Traffic Commission. The CMUTCD (CA. Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices) states this type of sign should be considered when an engineering study finds inadequate sight distance to vehicles approaching from the left. Current conditions allow a sight distance of approx. 140 ft which is significantly lower than the standard in the CalTrans Hwy. Design Manual.
Fiscal Impact to the City = an estimated cost of $150.00
Staff Recommendation - Approve the "NO Right Turn On Red" prohibition.

ITEMS PULLED from CONSENT CALENDAR - Item 4.2 (the Warrant Register) was pulled by Council Member Craig Scott because A-Throne, Co. Inc. was paid $114.80 for program Expense Community Services, May 10, 2010 and Council Member Scott stated this company is a Client of his but he had nothing to do with staff using their services. Council Member Scott left the dais and the Warrant Register was approved 4-0.
Vote - The remainder of the consent calendar was approved 5-0 without comment.

** See more details 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 - None

PLANNING AGENCY PUBLIC HEARINGS

Item 5.2 - Request for Conditional Use Permit by Clear Wireless LLC to construct, Operate and maintain an unmanned wireless communication facility on top of a seven story building located at 23046 Avenida de la Carlotta in the Mixed Use zoning. This will be a 6 panel antenna with 3 microwave parabolic dishes on the top of a 114 foot tall building to reduce coverage and provide better wireless internet access and speed for Clearwire customers. In total 41 antennas have been approved for this site.
Staff Report - states staff has determined that this project, subject to conditions of approval, will not result in any significant adverse impacts to the public health, safety and general welfare. The application review criteria used to determine approval for a cellular antenna site is primarily based on aesthetic quality. Staff states 22 public hearing notices were mailed to surrounding property owners within a 300 ft. radius of the subject site and 28 notices were mailed to all of the tenants on the subject site with no comments received to date.
Vern Jones, Community Development Director said the city encourages co-locations of antennas at cellular sites throughout the city.
Staff Recommendation- Conduct a public hearing and approve the CUP.
*Editor's Note - No Fiscal Impact to the city noted in this report so this antenna installation is apparently on private land? The city derives income from antenna installations that are on city property and private land holders derive income from antenna installations that are on their properties.

Council Member Melody Carruth asked if the structural Integrity of the roof of this 7 story building was sufficient to withstand all of these antennas and their equipment. Vern Jones, Community Development Director answered that the plans for the antennas were designed by engineers and were checked by the city's building and planning process.

PUBLIC COMMENTS - Suzanne Islet from Clearwater, a division of Sprint, agreed to all of the Conditions of Approval and said their engineers did a structural check for the building. Vote - This item passed 5 - 0

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Item 6.2 A - Report on Process and Procedure for possible city council initiated ballot measure limiting number of terms a member of the city council may serve.

On January 12, 2010, City Council requested this report.

Staff Report - Of the 34 cities in Orange County 21 have term limits, 67% of those have some form of a 2 term limit and 33% have some form of a 3 term limit. Pursuant to State Law a term limit ordinance applies prospectively only - meaning that any term of office that commenced prior to the effective date of a term ordinance would not count as a term served for purposes of implementing the ordinance, so the 1st term of office would be considered to be the 1st term that a council member commences following the effective date of the ordinance. (All terms served prior to the effective date of the ordinance don't count no matter how many there have been.) Fiscal Impact to the City for the city council to initiate a term limit ordinance would be approx. $8,500 which would be in addition to the consolidated election cost that would range between $26,000 and $32,000.

City Attorney Greg Simonian - added that Term Limits are a Power of the People that can be initiated by a citizen or a council and must be submitted to the voters. The City Attorney needs direction and guidelines tonight if it chooses to do it's own Term Limits initiative because the deadline is getting close.

Staff Recommendation - If the city council chooses to submit a Term Limit Initiative Measure to the Voters staff recommends that the city council direct the city attorney to draft the ballot title and question as well as an Ordinance of the People that includes specific Term Limit Provisions and direct the city clerk to return to the city council at the earliest possible date with the resolution and budget appropriation needed to submit the ballot measure to the electorate at the Nov. 2, 2010 general election. Under State Law any proposal to limit the number of terms a city council member may serve must be submitted to the voters as a ballot measure at a regularly scheduled election. Term limit ordinances can be added to the ballot by vote of the majority of the city council or by the residents of the city through a ballot initiative process. The law allows competing ballot measures covering the same subject matter to be placed before the voters at the same election. When identical provision in 2 initiatives measures are in conflict the measure receiving the most votes takes precedence when both are approved by the voters.

Council Member Carruth asked if the council could do anything to move the Citizen's Term Limits Initiative forward. City Attorney, Greg Simonian answered that the citizen's initiative has been filed and delivered to the County Election Department and that petition cannot be modified, withdrawn or accelerated. Council Member Carruth asked about the ballot arguments and when they need to be submitted and what about competing Initiatives. City Attorney, Greg Simonian answered that the ballot arguments would come before the council when and if the initiative signatures are certified by the County Elections Dept. If they are certified, by law, the City Clerk is required to present that certification to the City Council at the next regularly scheduled council meeting. The County Elections Dept. has 30 business days or about 6 weeks. Depending upon what is heard from the County Elections Dept. we could be returning to the city council on June 22 with a staff report a resolution and all the election materials that are necessary for the council to call an election on the Resident Initiated Term Limits Proposal. If we do not receive word in time for the printing of the Agenda on the 22nd, the next opportunity would be July 13, 2010. The decision on when this council would make a decision on a ballot argument against the Resident Initiative Proposal would come on the evening that the city council is required to call the election - on June 22 or more likely July 13. The Proponents make the argument for the initiative (this info. was clarified with city attorney after the meeting) If there is more than one competing initiative there is a need to insure no voter confusion.

Mayor Randal Bressette said he had no interest in Term Limits previously but would make the "sit out" period 4 years since he sees council members in other cities frequently returning to the council after a 2 year sit out time. He stressed that he would also like to see a Campaign Finance Reform Policy attached to a Term Limits Initiative to make elections more open and fair, because for all practical purposes some candidates and/or incumbents have the opportunity to buy an election. Council Member Carruth congratulated Barbara Kogerman and all the volunteers for working so hard with all the walking and education of voters, contacting everyone, etc. with the Citizen's Initiative. She added that she has brought the Term Limits issue to the City Council every 2 years since 2002 and been turned down. She said Mrs. Kogerman's initiative was well crafted, clear, consistent with the code and simple. She said if the city wanted to make an initiative of their own they could work from that one. They could elect 3 terms and more years off or end the opportunity to serve after the number of terms stated, etc.
Editor's Note - Council Member Carruth has been true to her word regarding Term Limits. She has stated for years that she is in favor of term limits for the city council, she took 6 years off as a council member, she brought up the issue of Term Limits for the City Council, 3 times since 2002, at city council meetings and was always been turned down by the other council members, often with disdain. She also signed the Citizens Term Limits Initiative and her adult resident family members signed as well.

Council Member Joel Lautenschleger said in 2008 this issue came up and it never went anywhere. He said he doesn't know if the Citizen's Initiative will be successful. He said you can get anything done if all you need is 10% of the signatures. Editor's Note - Council Member Joel Lautenschleger has always said he believes in the intelligence of the voters and trusts them, but now says that 10% of them would agree to anything, however it was 15% of the voter's signatures that were actually collected for the Citizen's Term Limits Initiative not 10%.

Council Member Lautenschleger continued, "If you recall when we did Cityhood in 2 weekends or 4 days we got almost 28% of the registered voters in this city, and that was when we were battling Mrs. Kogerman because she was against Laguna Hills City." Editor's Note - When Joel was collecting signatures for cityhood the registered voters were in the county not the city, there were less of them 20 years ago, and he didn't say how many people were collecting or if they had hired help which the Citizens Term Limits initiative volunteers did not have.
** Laguna Hills Watch Dog asked Barbara Kogerman about Council Member Lautenschleger's statement that she was against cityhood for Laguna Hills - here is her response - He said that I ("Mrs. Kogerman") opposed Laguna Hills incorporation, when the fact is that I served on the original Steering Committee to incorporate Laguna Hills. That effort failed, and the second effort failed, but the third effort succeeded. I wasn't involved in the second or third efforts, though I did endorse each of the successful candidates for City Council, as President of the Saddleback Regional Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee, back in 1991, during the successful incorporation process.

Council Member Lautenschleger also said he questions that the citizens, "Worked so hard" and that the people he talked to told him they were being told, "Their city manager makes a $400,000 salary and they gave him a $125,000 bonus".
Editor's Note - Regarding Council Member Lautenschleger's accusation that citizen's gathering signatures told people the City Manager gets a $400,000 salary and $125,000 bonus, again we asked Barbara Kogerman's and her response was
Wha-a-a-t??? Joel claims that term limits proponents told signers that the City Manager
got "$400,000 in salary and $125,000 in bonuses last year." Nobody I know said any such thing. It was enough to let people know that he got $400,000 in total compensation including a $23,000 in bonuses last year, plus a $60,000 car "for his own personal use." Editor's Note - continued, We agree, with Mrs. Kogerman. We would not lie about this and there was absolutely no reason to exaggerate, this City Manager's total compensation.

Council Member Lautenschleger ended by returning to his previously and frequently stated Term Limits arguments that we already have Term Limits called elections, so why deny somebody doing a good job from serving, and the people are smart enough to decide. Lastly he noted again that Term Limits have not been good for the State. He added he is not in favor of adding another Term Limits Initiative that would just confuse people.
Editor's Note - Joel repeated his term limits arguments and again stated that the voters are smart enough to decide, but according to Joel they are apparently not smart enough to decide about a Term Limits issue, so he has always refused to put that on a ballot? His argument about Term Limits not being good for the State is frequently repeated by Joel and by Council Members Alan Songstad and Craig Scott. They are referring to the problem, at the State level, of Political Job Hopping from the State Legislature to the State Senate and back, etc. On the City Level, we do not see politicians hopping from City Councils to the County Board of Supervisors and back again, and we already have career politicians on this city council so that argument is not valid on the city level of politics.
Council Members Lautenschleger, Songstad and Scott also apparently never consider why it is inconceivable to them that there could be some potential city council members that would be as good or better than they are in the almost 34,000 citizens of Laguna Hills?
**It should also be noted that the Citizen's Term Limits Initiative Volunteers could not collect signatures in Council Member Lautenschleger's neighborhood because he lives in the only guarded and locked gate community, Falcon Hill, that according to the large signs on their gates, do not allow for collection of signatures by people who are not from Council Member Lautenschleger's community. This was the only neighborhood where citizen volunteers were prohibited from informing other citizens of the Term limit's Initiative and giving them a chance to sign.

Council Member Alan Songstad stated if the Citizen's Term Limit's measure qualifies and is voted in, he can still serve another 12 years but it is highly unlikely that he would ever do that so he does not have a personal interest. Editor's Note - On August 19, 1994 Council Member Alan Songstad - (From the Los Angeles Times Newspaper Article Collections - LYNN FRANEY ) said he never intended to run for a second council term and that he is not a "career politician." Now, in 2010 with 18 years on the Laguna Hills City Council apparently Council Member Songstad changed his mind once about his length of service aspirations so maybe he would do that again? He went on to say he believes they have a well run city, not broke, provided lots of facilities, keeping money in Laguna Hills, and has always viewed Term Limits as bad policy. He repeated Council Member Lautenschleger's comments about a failed term limits policy at the State level and mentioned things that council people do that take time to get involved in, such as League of CA. Cities and can't understand why people should not be able to vote for whoever they want to vote for. He concluded by saying we should have a debate. He said the proponent of the Initiative stated she was looking forward to a vigorous debate, and if the issue qualifies I'm sure we'll have that debate. Editor's note - Another question for debate would be, why can't any good City Manager keep track of organizations that need to be joined by any new council members and coach new members regarding those things as needed?

Council Member Craig Scott simply said he has repeatedly spoken about his philosophical opposition to Term Limits and agrees with Lautenschleger and Songstad, and doesn't favor putting it on the ballot. Council Member Melody Carruth stated she believes our voters are intelligent enough to see the differences between Term Limits related to State vs. City Governments and Institutional Memory is not required for those who serve in city government. She added, we should allow Laguna Hills voters to decide about this.

Vote - There was a vote only on a motion to Receive and File the information from the Term Limits Report. That passed 4 - 1 (Council Member Carruth was the No vote) There was no vote for or against placing a City Council Term Limits Initiative on the ballot.

Item 6.3 A - Vern Jones, Community Development Director presented the Staff Report - At the May 25 LHCC meeting, due to concerns from citizens, the council requested a status report regarding the T-Mobile Wireless communication Facility approved at the Medical Arts Center located at 24953 Paseo de Valencia/Beckenham. This project involves the installation of 12 antennas and associated equipment to improve service to T- Mobile customers. A 12 foot extension to Building A is currently under construction. What the staff report says in effect is that if the installation of antennas is hidden by screening the public does not have to be notified under the law, so any notification to citizens of any antenna installation would then never be based on any issues of safety but just of appearance. This report says staff approved the application for this antenna in Oct. of 2009 subject to all the standard cell site conditions. Staff did not consider this project to be of sufficient interest on a broader land use policy scale and therefore did not refer it to the Planning Agency for review.
Staff Recommendation - Receive and File the report.

Council Member Craig Scott quickly made a motion to Receive and File that was so rapidly seconded we could not tell who gave the second. Council Member Melody Carruth asked to speak about the concerns of the citizens in the area and was literally shut down. She was told that she could not speak about anything other than the motion because the motion had already been made and seconded. Council Member Carruth then requested that Council Member Craig Scott remove his motion so she could speak on behalf of the concerned citizens in the area and Council Member Craig Scott refused. Mayor Bressette explained that the city council is following Parliamentary Procedure in these proceedings and can't disallow a cell structure so they could have only discussed the screening. Council Member Melody Carruth protested that is item was agendized for discussion because citizens are concerned. She noted the irony involved in another roof top facility for microwave antennas just being discussed earlier this same evening. She said people in neighborhoods and city council members should always be notified of these changes in neighborhoods and people should have an opportunity to come to the city council and talk about these changes that often affect the appearance of their neighborhoods. She called for a report from Staff to examine a change procedures related to not informing city council members and citizens of these types of changes in their neighborhoods. Council Member Alan Songstad added that the 12 foot extension on the roof of this building is in keeping with the buildings in the area and the council can't approve every remodel in the city and would be accused of being overly restrictive to businesses, etc. Antennas must meet FCC guidelines and maybe there is a duty to inform but can't do anything. City Attorney Greg Simonian added a recent case was PCSS vs. Palos Verdes essentially the litigation that has gone on over wireless telecommunications over the last 5 years has been when wireless companies win, the city wins. The cities are ahead with respect to their abilities to actually deny a wireless carrier's request to locate a cell site based on aesthetics. He said when this happened he checked the city code to see if it covered aesthetics and it does so we currently have legal authority to deny based on aesthetics. He said the Sprint case gives his office a road map to advise the council of the findings and the criteria that are required for a denial based upon aesthetics. He added he was not aware of changes needed at this point in the city's code and he monitors this frequently. Council Member Craig Scott said there was no need for a report unless there is consensus of need from entire council, no need to waste staff time.

Vote - Motion to Receive and File this report passed 4 - 1. Council Member Carruth was the no vote.

Council Member Joel Lautenschleger later stated that regarding the cell tower on Beckenham the e-mails he saw were not so much about the aesthetic issue of the tower on the medical building for the wireless antennas, but concerns about the microwave transmission. He stressed that the city council has no authority on that and are governed by the FCC rules and regulations and once people understood it was going to be in an enclosed structure he didn't hear anymore questions about it. He noted that maybe sometime in the future this issue could be addressed in City Views or something. He added that some people obviously think there's a tremendous amount of microwaves going out there and if people are concerned about cell phones then don't hold the thing up to your ear, because you'll get a lot more from that than you will from the antenna. He said he saw no reason for staff to bring this antenna installation to the council and that the aesthetics of the tower were in keeping with the surrounding buildings.
Editor's Note - The issue, again, appears to be lack of transparency to citizens about what is going on in their neighborhoods and lack of attention to concerns of citizens. It's more of the same old, "because I say so" and "just trust us" mentality that we continue to hear particularly from Scott, Lautenschleger and Songstad. How would the citizens know if 12 microwave antennas are safe, especially if they have to find out about this on their own? Where is information from the city about this for the citizen's to read and if it's safe why not let citizens know where all these antennas are in the city? For now, the LH Watch Dog found a site for FCC information on this issue - Go to www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/cellpcs.html and in the future think of Council Member Joel Lautenschleger the next time you hold 12 cell phones up to your ear?!

*Editor's Note - Prior to the last City council Meeting, the Laguna Hills Watch Dog received multiple e-mails from citizens regarding scaffolding that had 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 with 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, neighbors expressed concern about radiation produced from the tower with no guarantees that it is not harmful to their health.

MATTERS PRESENTED by MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Request for Review of City's Solicitation Ordinance

Council Member Melody Carruth requested another matter regarding looking at the city ordinance regarding soliciting. She said some people have expressed the need for a change especially near Christmas time related to overly aggressive sales people who can now solicit from 8 am to 9 pm daily. Council Member Craig Scott said we have looked at this before and no need for a Staff report on this. The other council members were in favor of this staff report. There was a consensus so a staff report was requested.

Council Member Melody Carruth said she attended an OC Parks Presentation last week and learned of the Irvine Company's transfer of 20,000 acres of open space to the County of Orange. The Board of Supervisors will have an opportunity to vote on accepting that gift on June 29th. One section includes 172 acres that will be added to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and is right next to North Laguna Hills. County representatives indicated they want to promote greater public access so this might provide, in the future, a connection for our residents with the Coastal Wilderness Park. Deed restrictions will be in place and the open space will be permanent. With this, OC Parks is adding over 60,000 acres. They intend to contract with the Irvine Conservancy for 3 years at about 1.6 million a year for Park Management..

Council Member Alan Songstad said he attended a SCAG Committee last week to see what progress in implementation and procedures they are making with Senate Bill 375 (Redesigning Communities to Reduce Greenhouse Gases). They are also developing a Pilot Geographic Information System's (GIS) Program and all member cities of SCAG will be asked to submit GIS information from their cities. He said Laguna Hills needs to investigate this to see if what the city has is compatible with what SGAC has, and if not could we become part of the pilot program because this is happening quickly.

Mayor Randal Bressette stated he attended the Peace Officer's Memorial 2 weeks ago. Officer Steve Parsons gave his life for this community 10 years ago on June 24, so at the next city council meeting Randy has asked staff to prepare a brief memorial recollection of Steve Parsons who died at 36 years of age on June 24, 2000, after being involved in a traffic collision in the city of Laguna Hills while on motorcycle patrol.

CLOSED SESSION - None
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The "Laguna Hills Crime Watch" has been removed from the OC Register on-line edition. 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 -

E-mail to Laguna Hills Watch Dog says Memorial Day Celebration in Mission Viejo is very different from "Event" in Laguna Hills - link to the MV and LF celebrations - http://www.ocregister.com/articles/day-251209-memorial-viejo.html?pic=1

I just returned from the Memorial Day Ceremony in Mission Viejo. What a difference between a city that knows what this day is all about and Laguna Hills. Hundreds of people in attendance, representing various veterans groups, the Mission Viejo adopted Marines, the American Heroes Tribute Director, Congressman Gary Miller (10th time), the entire City Council, City Manager, deputy City Manager and their own photographers and videographers. The Keynote address by Colonel Michael Groen was so meaningful and well delivered that if I weren’t made of Navy Blue and Gold, I’d want to be a Marine under his command. Meanwhile, over here in Laguna Hills our Mayor is off to Hawaii, and we lose money on a race that in no way honors those veterans who gave their lives for this country, or pays tribute to those who serve in harms way today. I urge everyone to stop by the Mission Viejo City Hall/Library complex and check out the American Heroes Tribute display.
Congratulations to the Mission Viejo City Council and Staff for a job well done.
Jonathan Bromberg
Lieutenant Commander, USNR

OTHER RECENT NEWS STORIES ABOUT LAGUNA HILLS

http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-251558-manager-channing.html
Laguna Hills defends city manager pay increases

http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-251580-council-kogerman.html
OCREGISTER: Kogerman submits term limit initiative

http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2010/06/04/city-manager-strikes-back-you-want-this-job/58423/ - City manager strikes back: YOU want this job?!

Weed Abatement News - Update from the OC Register Newspaper - The 540 Property Owners, notified by the City, who do not remove their weeds, brush, and/or litter by the deadline will have the job done for them, by the city, and will be billed for the cost of the job plus a $352.00 administrative fee will be added to their property tax bill. Property owners will have one more opportunity to voice opposition to their weed abatement orders at a 2nd public hearing on July 13.

How to Support the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Division Adopted by the City of Laguna Hills
Council Member Melody Carruth told us - If you want to serve on a new Support Committee for the Adopted Marine Division and/or make a contribution contact Richard Nagle at rnagle74@cox.net
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. Council Member 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? On Sunday, May 30 the OC Register Newspaper announced 12 OC cities holding Memorial Day Ceremonies specifically to honor the military veterans, but NONE for Laguna Hills. See under www.ocregister.com/events then look for "Memorial Day".

See Below - Copied on 5-30-10 directly from the City of Laguna Hills' Web Site we found NOTHING Memorializing anyone? No remembrance of Military Veterans or the 3/5 Marine Division that the City formally adopted mentioned in the City's Memorial Day Event. The City sponsored a drive for a food bank at this event but no memorials for anyone. - "News Details - May 31, 2010" "On your marks... get set... Go! Summer kicks off each year with the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon and 5K. Currently in its 12th year, the event is expected to bring out more than 6,000 runners, walkers, spectators, and volunteers to the streets of Laguna Hills this Memorial Day – Monday May 31. Registration is available online at http://www.lagunahillshalfmarathon.com/. You can also register on race day, beginning at 5:30am. Pre-race packet pick-up will take place on Sunday, May 30 between the hours of 12:00 and 4:00pm. Half Marathon - Elite as well as recreational runners will enjoy the scenic 13.1 mile event that winds through the cities of Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, and Aliso Viejo. The race begins at 7:00am on Calle de la Louisa, between the Laguna Hills Mall and the Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, and ends at the Laguna Hills Community Center. Half Marathon awards will be available for pick-up at 10:00am. 5K Run/Walk - The 5K event also begins at 7:00am, and includes a loop through the beautiful Laguna Woods Village. The race concludes at the Laguna Hills Community Center. Awards will be available at 9:00am. Kids Half Mile Race and Diaper Dash - Let the kid’s burn off some energy in the Kids Half Mile Race. This event, which takes place at the Community Center, is for kids between the ages of 4 and 12. The participants will race in groups according to age, with each group of runners starting 3-5 minutes apart. The first race will begin at 9:30am. The Diaper Dash promises to be lots of fun for little runners 3 years of age and under. The 50 yard dash will begin at 9:45am, also at the Community Center. Community Expo - Whether you take place in the races or not, the Community Expo at the Laguna Hills Community Center and Sports Complex will be fun for all! The expo includes live entertainment and more than 40 vendor booths, and will take place from 7:30am to 11:30am. Food Drive - The City of Laguna Hills and South County Outreach will be partnering in a Food Drive. Race participants and spectators are encouraged to bring canned goods and non-perishable items which will benefit South County Outreach. South County Outreach is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping low-income families, seniors, and individuals in crisis. Drop off locations will be found at both the start and finish line on race day, along with the Laguna Hills Mall during packet pick-up on Sunday May 30."

OC Register News Stories & blogs about Laguna Hills
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

Series of 7 News Stories 5/17/10 - 6/1/10 in OC Register online about Orange County's City Manager's salaries including the Laguna Hills City Manager's salary and benefits that are higher than any of the 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 or without the new car at $400,809.00 he is still the highest paid city manager in Orange County. 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.

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 Alan 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

Laguna Hills Watch Dog

Thursday, June 10, 2010

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