08/24/10 Laguna Hills City Council Meeting
Council Member Craig Scott was absent
No reason for his absence was stated

PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS – None

LHHS STUDENT LIAISON REPORT by Mike Spain will begin in Sept. 2010

PUBLIC COMMENTS - None

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 current as and 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 )

Warrant Register: $2,459,448.43

Items of interest - Total of $16,196.33 for "City Views" Fall 2010 ($13, 696.33 to Faubel Public Affairs + $2,500.00 for postage) Another fee of $2,900.00 to Joe A. Gonsalves & Son Lobby Firm that lobbies the CA. State Legislature - lobbying for what undisclosed issue? $10,182.50 to Oros Consulting for Computer consulting services,

4.10 Establishment of a NO PARKING ANYTIME ZONE on a portion of Alcade Dr. easterly of Verdugo Dr. The Property Manager of Lakeside Business Center requested the no parking zone due to large vehicles parked on the street for extended periods of time and mobile detailers using the street to wash cars, etc. Staff recommends the no parking zone.

4.11 Expenditures totaled $48,642.00 for the City's 2010 4th of July Celebration. Net costs were $44,930.00 due to ticket sales of $3,742.00

ITEMS PULLED from CONSENT CALENDAR - Item 4.6 - Change of banks for the city from Bank of America to Union Bank was pulled by Mayor Bressette to thank the staff for their investigation into better banking benefits for the city.
Vote - Consent Calendar passed 4 - 0 in favor

** See more details for Items 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. Look Quickly, because they are removed from the web site shortly after city council meetings.

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS - Item 5.1 - COPS Funds (Citizens' Option for Public Safety Funds) As in previous years the city hopes to receive approximately $100,000 from the 2009/10 State Budget this year. This money is exclusively for front line law enforcement and requires a public hearing. Funding may be reduced this year due to the state of the economy in California.
Staff Recommendation - Apply the funding to partially offset one Lieutenant position for FY 2010/11 for the Laguna Hills Chief of Police Position. Vote - Passed 4 - 0 in favor

Public Comments - None

PLANNING AGENCY PUBLIC HEARINGS - None

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS - 6.2 A - Lease Agreement with South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce to relocate their present offices to the Laguna Hills Civic Center. The lease is for 3 years and would provide about $10,000 annually. The terms are No security deposit, 2 months free rent, the 1st 2 years rental fees are $1.80 per square foot per month and last year is $2.00 per square foot. Lease will begin Sept 1, 2010 and lessee will be permitted the use of other rooms in City Hall including the Council Chamber at designated times. Assist. City Manager Don White reported the city has 33,000 square feet to lease out and occupies 20,000 sq. feet in the Civic Center/City Hall. Mayor Bressette welcomed the Chamber.
Staff Recommendation - Authorize the Lease. Vote - Passed 4 - 0 in favor

Public Comments - Barbara Kogerman, Candidate for Laguna Hills City Council 2010, welcomed the South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce as former President in a volunteer position and CEO of the Regional Chamber of Commerce, as well as a resident of Laguna Hills and added that she hopes their presence in Laguna Hills will strengthen the bonds between the city and the business community. Jim Leach, the Chairman of the Board of the Chamber expressed that they were glad to be here.

6.3 A - Evaluation of Traffic Speeds on Mustang Drive in Nellie Gail Ranch between Nellie Gail Rd and Buckskin Dr. A resident expressed concern about the speeding in this area. The city conducted a study which resulted in an average speed of 35 mph so 25 mph speed limit signs and pavement legends were recommended. Estimated cost to the city of about $1,000.00.
Staff Recommendation - Authorize addition of 25 mph speed limit signs and pavement legends. Vote - Passed 4 - 0 in favor

Public Comments - None

MATTERS PRESENTED by MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Mayor Randal Bressette requested the following 3 items:

Item 8.1 A - Amendment to Laguna Hills Municipal Code Title 3 Chapt. 3-08 Purchasing System.

Mayor Bressette stated the city's purchasing policy needs to be amended to allow for the City Council to approve the purchase of all city vehicles, with the exception of public safety vehicles, prior to their purchase. He said the purchase in July of 2009 of the city manager's vehicle was a complete surprise to him until it was noted in the warrant register after the purchase. He said this $60,000 purchase was questionable to him after the council's discussion of the depth and breadth of the budget cuts the city was required to make to balance the biennial budget including the elimination of 2 sheriff's deputy positions.

Mayor Bressette made a motion that the City Council direct the City Attorney to return to the Council meeting of Sept. 14, 2010 with 1st reading of an ordinance amending the Laguna Hills Municipal Code Purchasing system to require city council prior approval for the acquisition of a city vehicle with the exception of public safety vehicles.

Council Member Melody Carruth seconded the motion and stated she was also not aware of the purchase until it appeared in the Warrant Register and stated this car was a symbol of excessive spending in bad financial times. She said if the city council had been informed she would have considered things like fuel efficiency.

Public Comments - Barbara Kogerman, Candidate for City Council 2010, stated these matters represent the reason why Laguna Hills is being referred to as baby Bell. She continued that it was this kind of embarrassing excess that led to her work on the study and report of City Manager's compensation in Orange County that started a State and National movement for transparency and accountability in local government. She proposed the ordinances be tightened and that for items with a total value under $50,000 an approved budget and written approval of the purchasing supervisor be required and for items with a total value over $50,000 a formal bid process. The city manager exceeded the total value clause in either case with his 2009 $60,000 car purchase. His $10,000 trade in was city property which required council prior approval that according to records was never obtained.

Council Member Allan Songstad said he took great exception to Ms. Kogerman's remarks and this is an argument about the trade in value of the 2004 Chevy Surburban was. He said, "I see nothing that was wrong, acquisitions like any other budget item are taken care of during the budget process and that's where this should be addressed." He went on to say the code is clear, no reason for any change what-so-ever, makes no sense and is political pandering so he is voting against it. Council Member Joel Lautenschleger said nobody pulled this item from the Consent Calendar, it didn't appear inappropriate until now in an election year. We are talking about $10,000. He said, "The city has a purchasing policy and has abided by it." The city manager needs a car, is on call 24 hours a day this is political pandering.
Vote - Motion did Not pass 2 vs. 2 with Craig Scott not voting due to absence

Editor's note - To clarify the discussion is aimed at transparency and accountability to taxpayers through checks and balances and a city manager's on call status would require a reliable car. A luxury car is a choice.

Item 8.1 B - Define the term "Total Value" in the City's Purchasing Policy

Mayor Bresette stated the term "Total Value" has caused concern because it was misunderstood by many of us. The term "Total Value" triggers a determination about which purchasing method is used - Open Market or Formal Bids. The term "Total Value" is an ambiguous phrase that needs definition.

Mayor Bressette made a motion that the City Council direct the City Attorney to return to the Council meeting of Sept.14, 2010 with the definition of "Total Value" so we can avoid any ambiguity related to its meaning in the future. Council Member Melody Carruth asked the City Attorney for a legal definition of "Total Value." City Attorney Greg Simonian responded that there are numerous definitions from business dictionaries such as the sum of all expenditures liable to be incurred, total retail purchase price, etc. He said he would need to be advised of the City Council's vision of "Total Value" to assist them further. He suggested addressing this in a purchasing ordinance. Mayor Bressette injected that the city council had just failed in an effort to do that.

Council Member Songstad said defining "Total Value" could be a problem related to other vehicles and everybody knows you negotiate with a car dealer to get a price and he sees no problem with the way "Total Value" has been interpreted to date. He then stated that it seems odd to him the maker of the motion can't define "Total Value".

Mayor Bressette responded, "the purchase price is the total value, the price you agree to pay."

Council Member Lautenschleger essentially repeated his prior statements above adding that the city manager has been getting a car about every 5 years for 20 years and this is political pandering. Mayor Bressette added that the point appears to have been missed, the point is the imperfection in the code and the car is the vehicle used to address the need to repair the process. He said this is not about the car or what we've done in the past it is about providing clear and concise definitions for the future.
Vote - Motion did Not pass 2 vs. 2 with Craig Scott not voting due to absence

Item 8.1 C - City Staff Compensation

Mayor Bressette stated Provide in an easily understandable format, full and complete details as to what the taxpayers are paying in salaries and benefits to the City Council and City Management. City Staff Published on the City's web site a report entitled 'Public Official's Compensation Report' that is neither complete in content or detail nor is it necessarily easy to understand all of the figures presented. It contains excess information such as job descriptions that lengthen it. It should be revised to provide understandable and complete disclosure of salaries and benefits.

Public Comments - Barbara Kogerman, Candidate for Laguna Hills City Council 2010, stated in her report she used each item approved by the city council in the employment contract of a city manager and considered that compensation paid for by the taxpayers similar to what the Mayor is proposing. She said she is grateful that legislation is now being considered by the State of CA. and was told that by the State Controller, by the President of the Senate by Lou Correa and Chris Norby. She said that she is please that after 19 years this council may use that too and consider more useful straight forward definition of compensation that will be more accountable to the taxpayers.

Mayor Bressette stated that in the interest of clarity his recommendations had nothing to do with Ms. Kogerman (a brief argument ensued including a reference to being unethical that Ms.Kogerman denied) and Mayor Bressette continued to stress that he is acting independently. Council Member Melody Carruth added that the City of Laguna Hills has now provided the most detailed and truthful information of any city in Orange County and she said our city will ultimately comply with the request to provide full disclosure. She said she wants to do more and be representing a city that would never withhold information from the public, and that places it on a web site that is easy and understandable for citizens to process. She said the message is loud and clear now that people want that information for every city official in the State of CA. The struggle here may be about what defines business expense vs. what defines compensation. If we post this information the public becomes a shareholder and part of the process. They can then understand what is costs, how their money is being spent and how services are provided. The citizens deserve this information.

Council Member Lautenschleger said he totally disagrees with Ms. Carruth's remarks about us possibly withholding information and this city has put more information out there than any other city in Orange County. He goes on to say we have had this stuff available for anyone to look at and there will never be agreement on "compensation". He began yelling that you don't call the maintenance of a car compensation and that you don't call the benefits that employers are required to pay compensation. He said the information they have already posted is just fine.

Council Member Songstad said the concepts of compensation and cost are confused so a vital distinction is lost there. He revisited Lautenschleger's comments on the retirement benefits without mentioning that the city pays both the employee as well as the employers contributions. He also said excess vacation that is cashed out is not a compensation and this is so clear that how could anyone not know that? He concluded that the report on the city web site should be left alone no need to include anymore, then yelled, "Just read it". Council Member Carruth added she believes there is great interest in determining vacation buyouts and this is compensation and citizens have a right to know about that. She said she believes all of this falls back to the city manager's contract which is at the core of all this disagreement and she hopes the city will revisit at that contract.

Mayor Bressettes' motion included - seeking City Council approval to direct the City Manager to provide complete and accurate City Council and City staff compensation, which would show and include but is not limited to all taxable vacation pay and Employer's portion of PERS and a detailed table of salaries and benefits in the Public Employees Compensation Report that's published on the city web site and elsewhere. Council Member Carruth gave a 2nd for the motion.
Vote - Motion did Not pass 2 vs. 2 with Craig Scott not voting due to absence

*Editor's Note - Stonewalling of transparency and accountability issues is a repeat of prior behaviors for Craig Scott, Lautenschleger & Songstad who at the at the 6/23/09 City Council Meeting voted against requiring approval from the city council and against even advising the city council when the city manager gives raises and bonuses to staff. They neglected to mention that the city pays both the employee and employer contributions to retirement funds and neglected to mention that the one transparency document they posted on the city web site was posted on 8-18-10 after 19 years without any similar transparency. Regarding "Political Pandering", the Laguna Hills Watch Dog has never received an answer from Craig Scott, Songstad or Lautenschleger to repeated requests for documentation of "her stated objective" their 7-19-10 campaign contribution request letter for Craig Scott stating, "Sadly, one city council challenger is amassing a large war chest of out-of-town money she's already begun spending in a vicious misinformation campaign. Her stated objective in running for City Council is to "remove from the Council all males over the age of 50." We're appalled by this discriminatory and divisive statement. Ugly politics have no place in Laguna Hills, and must not be allowed to take over our fine city."

Editor's Note - In Feb. 2010 the Laguna Hills Watch Dog Investigated City Records and learned that the City of Laguna Hills' Purchasing System was loose, at best, related to the purchase in July, 2009 of the City Manager's $60,000 car. We discovered NO evidence to indicate that the City Manger fully complied with the city's purchasing procedures.

(1)- the city's "Purchasing System" - Chapter 3-08 of Ordinance No. 2004-5,
(2)- the city's "Disposition of Personal Property of the City"- Chapter 3-32 of Ordinance No. 2004-5
There are only 2 purchasing Systems recorded for the City of Laguna Hills - Open Market and the Formal Bids Procedures. We did not find full compliance with either Purchasing System.

Open Market Procedure - only for the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment with a Total Value NOT exceeding $50,000, inclusive of taxes, and delivery costs, for which there is an Approved Budget, may be acquired through the open market process with the written approval of the Purchasing Supervisor. Whenever possible, the using department shall obtain three (3) informal bids or quotations. Solicitation of informal bids may be dispensed with for practical reasons, and with the approval of the Purchasing Supervisor. This is the procedure Channing apparently loosely used although this was a $60,000 car purchase.

Formal Bids Procedure: The purchase of materials, supplies and equipment with a total value of $50,000 or more, inclusive of taxes, and delivery cost, must be acquired through a formal bid process, within the following guidelines - Notice Inviting Bids, Published Notice, Bidder's list, Bidder's Security, etc. Clearly, Channing did not use this process.

1. There is NO definition from the city for the term "Total Value" in the Open Market Process - I requested city records that define "Total Value" but was not given any and was told there were none. The total cost of the 2010 Toyota was $60,000 and was paid with a trade in of Channing's 2004 Chevy Suburban for which a $10,000 trade in allowance was given plus $49,999.80 to be paid at 0% interest in 59 payments. If the Total Value of this Car was $60,000 Channing exceeded the Total Value clause in the Open Market Procedure so should not have used that procedure.

2. There was also no record of the $50,000 or $60,000 for this car in any Approved Budget or any other budget for the City of Laguna Hills. I requested this information 3 times, 3 different ways and was told there was nothing. However there is a definition in Section 3-08.020 of the Purchasing System that states: "Approved Budget" refers to the adopted appropriation for the procurement of materials, supplies and equipment"- vehicles are reportedly included in equipment. So, the car could have been lumped into this budget for supplies where it could not be identified.

3. I requested records and was told there was no record of any written approval of the Purchasing Supervisor. I was also told there was no record of who the Purchasing Supervisor was at the time of this purchase. There is a definition of Purchasing Supervisor in Section 3-08.020 on the Purchasing System that states: "Purchasing Supervisor shall refer to the City Controller, as the person designated by the City Manager to implement this Ordinance." Maybe Channing designated himself?

4. Channing did obtain 3 informal bids that were NOT "required". The language reads - "Whenever possible, the using department shall obtain three (3) informal bids or quotations"
There were records of 4 quotations/bids as follows:
1) From Cars Direct on 6/30/09 sent a bid marked Final Price - $61,342.86 for a 2010 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 5.7 LV8 (A6) 4x4 and no mention of a trade in?
2) From Cerritos on 6/29/09 there is a fax stating 4 WD 2010 Toyota Sequoia total price shown as $59,940.00 and a written note that states $56,371+fees+free oil change. Also no mention of a trade in.
3) From Capistrano Toyota on 6/25/09 there is a fax stating 2010 Toyota Sequoia 2WD total - $56,796.00 and again no mention of any trade in.**This one was the cheapest but was a 2 wheel not 4 wheel drive.
4) From Tustin Toyota - 4x4 4DR Plat. V8 total $59,940.00 , it states "Trade 9,500 - 10,000"
Apparently Channing chose the car he wanted and there is nothing in his employment contract with the City of Laguna Hills to restrict the cost of a car or the frequency of the purchase of a new car for him.

5. I obtained a copy of the purchase contract for the 2004 Chevy Suburban, purchased on 5/28/04 for Channing by the City of Laguna Hills in Anaheim Hills at Classic Chevrolet for $47,614.85. The payments for this car continued until 6/09 when the new $60,000 Toyota was purchased. It was interesting to note that on the contract for the 2004 car under "Primary Use for which Purchased" the box that reads - business or commercial was checked and on the 2009 Toyota purchase the box that reads - Primary Use is "personal, family or household" was checked? Channing's employment contract with the City of Laguna Hills states under Equipment A - City shall provide Channing with a City leased or owned Automobile for the term of this Agreement. City shall be responsible for all operating costs of such automobile including insurance, maintenance and repair, and gasoline. As part of his compensation, Channing shall be allowed unrestricted personal use of the automobile when Not Engaged in City Business subject to appropriate IRS reporting requirements. I requested records to show a reason why the 2010 Toyota was purchased Primarily for Personal, family or household use. I received no records and was told there were none.

6. There is also the issue of the Trade In of the 2004 Chevy Suburban purchased by the City. Channing disposed of City Property in trading in the Chevy Suburban. Approval of the city council is required to "dispose of any obsolete, unserviceable or surplus property having an estimated value of five thousand dollars ($5000.00)". "The Purchasing Officer shall inform the Council of the nature of the property proposed for disposition and the proposed sales price. Such disposition shall be subject to the City Council's approval." I requested a copy of records of approval from the city council for disposal of the Chevy Suburban and received none and was told there were none. It is also interesting to note that on the Sale Contract for the Chevy Suburban, Channing signed everything including "Buyer" as "City of Laguna Hills by Bruce Channing," but on the Toyota he signed everything including "Buyer" solely as "Bruce Channing"? So that begs the question - who legally owns the Toyota?

8/25/10 Response by Council Member Melody Carruth - The 2009 city manager car purchase violated the City of Laguna Hills' Purchasing System Code Section-Chapter 3-08 under Ordinance No. 2004-5.

The $10,000 city-owned automobile (used car) used in the purchase of the $60,000 car is a city asset. The true value of the Toyota was $60,000. The City used the $10,000 city asset and the $50,000 check to purchase the car. Placing the transaction on the warrant register as a $50,000 item circumvented a city council approved process designed to create a check and balance system. Through the use of a city asset (assessed value determined by Blue Book and auto dealership) and the $50,000, the car purchase fell below the threshold established by the code section.

Closing the loophole is important. A $80,000 Mercedes could be purchased using $49,999 cash and a 2 year old used car valued at $31,000. This transaction would comply with the Purchasing System Code Section yet violate the spirit of the ordinance and bypass the city council check and balance system. The $50,000 car purchase appeared to be fall under the guidelines established, however, further inquiries revealed a $60,000 purchase.
Conclusion:
1) city manager ought to communicate with all of the city councilmembers
2) city council needs to approve all city auto purchases (excluding law enforcement vehicles)
3) designated city purchasing supervisor should be following city council purchasing policy guidelines-direction given to acquire non-luxury, fuel-efficient city vehicles
4) city purchasing supervisor must follow the process for the disposal of city owned property valued at $5,000 or over
5) city manager contract ought to be reevaluated by the city council in an effort to eliminate open-ended provisions including car purchase, vacation buy-outs and to clarify other aspects of city manager compensation

CLOSED SESSION - None
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For "CRIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD" *** Update - go to

OCREGISTER: Crime in your neighborhood - http://www.ocregister.com/news/reported-257761-block-road.html Also: www.ocregister.com/saddleback scroll down to "Local Maps" move the map to your area, and click on the crime icons for details that show calls to the OC Sheriff's Department. You can also see stats for Crime in Lake Forest & Laguna Hills on Fridays in the Saddleback Valley News that is delivered to our area. There is also more information at www.ocsd.org (the OC Sheriff's Dept.) 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.

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

Direct from Laguna Bell (formerly Laguna Hills) - An attempt by the minority members of the Laguna Bell City Council to improve transparency with respect to purchasing documentation and employee and staff compensation met with defeat last night, at the City Council meeting, by a very vocal (and sometimes rude) majority. It is interesting to note that one of the tried and true members of the majority (Craig Scott) was strangely absent. Could his absence possibly have been so he would not have been forced to speak and/or vote against transparency: particularly because he is the only member of the tried and true majority that is standing for re-election in November?

The debacle in the real city of Bell should point out to all government officials that transparency with public funds is the watchword that is ringing throughout the state. It is not enough to sprinkle figures and percentages throughout reports and budgets and let the taxpayers fend for themselves. It behooves all levels of government to embrace transparency if they choose to remain in office. The old charter member of the majority ways of the past 19 years will no longer work for Laguna Hills (Oops, Laguna Bell). The city fathers of Laguna Hills should take heed of John Donne’s words, “Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee”. Tom Epperson

Laguna Hills Attack Dogs Turned Loose on City Council Candidate. - The attack dogs of Laguna Hills, Allan Songstad and Joel Lautenschleger were turned loose by council candidate Craig Scott to discredit city council candidate Barbara, “stir the pot”, Kogerman. These two “upstanding” city council members who, by the way, are not up for re-election issued a letter falsely smearing Ms. Kogerman. This just days after councilman Songstad called for a fair campaign stating in open council session, “An election shouldn't be won on falsehoods. It needs to be won on truth. If you can't win it on truth you don't deserve to win."......"Let's lay the facts out there and let the voter's decide, let's not put false statements out there and mislead people into believing things that aren't true." It appears Ms. Kogerman made the grievous error of exposing how little transparency exists in Laguna Hills city government. Please Ms. Kogerman, everyone knows that common citizens should not know what their City Manager’s compensation is! No wonder the attack dogs are on the loose. - Male Over 50 in Laguna Hills voting for Kogerman

I got this message on 7/23/10 from the Nellie Gail Ranch HOA - We are getting more reports of daytime break-ins usually occurring during the morning hours, 9 - 11 am. The most recent was in the vicinity of Glen Canyon & Bridlewood. We do have a description of the car, a Burgundy Dodge Durango. In this incident, there were 3 individuals involved. Please take care to ensure that your doors and windows are locked, and if you have an alarm system, please activate it even during daylight hours. In 2009 the Laguna Hills City Council eliminated 2 deputies from the Laguna Hills Police Services to save money and thank goodness I get crime warnings from my HOA but what about everyone else in Laguna Hills? Is the city sending crime warnings to citizens? Concerned Citizen

I noticed, that according to the terms of his contract dated 2003, the city desired that Mr. Channning live in Laguna Hills...since as far as we know he never complied with that, is he in violation? If so, can't we at least demand that he pay his own way from home to work and back again? I calculated his daily round trip would be 51.6 miles. According to fuel economy sites the gas cost to drive 25 miles is $4.61, so the daily cost would be $9.20. I projected the annual sum spent just on work-to-home gas costs for 5 days a week and subtracted 4 weeks of vacation yielding a figure of 240 driving to work days per year multiplied by the daily cost figure of $9.20. The total would be $2,208/year ONLY for trips to work and home. If you multiply $2,208 times the 19 years we've been paying his gas bill our cost is $41,952, but who's counting? Two other things I found interesting were that his previous car, the Chevy Suburban and the current car the Toyota Sequoia had nearly identical MPG highway, 17 and 16 respectively AND both had a base price between $39,080 and $39,500 new. I recall the Sequoia's final price was $60,000 by my reckoning that is more than 50% over the base price. Pretty fancy upgrades! I found Valerie's calculation that the City Manager costs the LH taxpayers almost $2000 every day (great math, Valerie!). In that case I'd like to apply for a refund because I don't feel I've gotten my money's worth. How about citizens Demand No More Bonuses or Raises for the City Manager until we get back the 2 police positions the city took away in 2009? Mary Park

How to Support the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Division Adopted by the City of Laguna Hills

OCREGISTER: Marines given royal sendoff by Mariners Church
http://www.ocregister.com/news/mariners-255221-families-regiment.html - Thankfully the Mariner's Church has come through in helping the 3/5 Marines that the City of Laguna Hills took credit for adopting and then apparently abandoned. This article says the 3/5 will be going back to Afghanistan in September. - 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

OC Register News Stories & blogs re: Laguna Hills

OCREGISTER: Jon Coupal: Warning bell can't be unrung
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/bell-263524-city-officials.html

Southern California's decay goes way beyond Bell - Sacramento Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/13/2955848/dan-walters-southern-californias.html

OC Register Editorial: City pay data belongs in daylight
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/city-261556-compensation-cities.html

Proposed California law would sanction cities that pay excessive salaries
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-bell-legislation-20100812,0,4204782,email.story

Mad scramble to yank veil off city salaries begins http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2010/08/05/mad-scramble-to-yank-veil-off-city-salaries-begins/62215/

California's city officials scramble to limit damage from Bell scandal
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bell-impact-20100729,0,6243085.story

OCREGISTER: Editorial: Maybe call it the city of Alarm Bell
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/city-258416-bell-county.html

Is a city manager worth $800,000?
www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bell-salary-20100715,0,7352605.story

Editorial - 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," http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/compensation-249743-city-public.html

Top city manager compensation: $460,809, report says
http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2010/05/17/top-city-manager-compensation-460809-report-says/57287/

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

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

Prof defends students, study, in wake of city manager attacks
http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2010/06/01/prof-defends-students-study-in-wake-of-city-manager-attacks/58291/

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

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

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