February 22, 2011 - Laguna Hills City Council Meeting
All Council Members were present
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Presentations and Proclamations - None
Public Comments - None

LHHS Student Liaison Report by Lyndsey Kaan - The "I Can Make a Difference Conference" is Thursday in which Mayor Pro-Tem Melody Carruth is a facilitator. Meg Gorham called to be sure Win-Win-Wednesday Never Tasted So Good, the fun fund raiser for a Safe and Sane Grad. Night is mentioned again. (please see details about this and how to participate in "INFORMATION, COMMENTS QUESTIONS and CONCERNS from Watch Dog Readers" below.) This Saturday the LHHS Choir is doing a singing car wash fund raiser in the El Toro Fuddruckers' parking lot - hours for the car wash? This Saturday is also the United Nations Conference at LHHS with over 400 delegates attending. There will also be a fund raiser that day called Fallen Whistles for child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You will be able to buy whistles that are like jewelry. Wrestling won CIF. Girls basketball lost CIF. Students said "HI" to the 3/5 Marines on a Video and have been really supportive of the Marines.

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 edited and approved for publication until the next city council meeting so there is a long delay for the public related to timely information from the city.

Consent Calendar - Warrant Register = $2,078,905.69

Items of interest from the Warrant Register - $18,334.38 to Faubel Publishers for City Views Spring edition. (Editor's Note - this $ amount is just the cost for publishing this one edition of City Views. There are additional costs for each edition including postage. This publication is pushing $100,000 a year now. This time it has great information on the 3/5 adopted Marines and features a beautiful photo of the Marines' Banner on the cover but forgot to give credit for that remarkable photo to the Laguna Hills Citizen and talented photographer who created it - Dee Dee McGann-Gollwitzer Thank you Dee Dee!)

Items of Interest from the Consent Calendar: **Items on the Consent Calendar are placed there by City Staff.

Item 4.3 - Amended and Restated Purchasing Ordinance now states - Any vehicle(s) with an estimated value greater than $20,000 to be purchased by the City shall be approved in advance by the City Council prior to the commencement of the procurement process. It also now has a definition for the term "Estimated Value" - means the estimated total value as determined by the Purchasing Officer at the beginning of the procurement process for the proposed acquisition of goods and supplies, equipment, materials, and non-professional services. When making this initial threshold determination, the Purchasing Offices shall make reasonable use of all available market data and pricing information to estimate the total cost to the city, inclusive of taxes, licenses, freight charges, installation charges, fees, and other consideration for the proposed procurement. The Purchasing Officer shall not use the value of any anticipated exchange or trade-in amount to reduce the estimated value of the proposed procurement.

Item 4.4 - Second Quarter Financial and Treasurer's Report (2nd quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010) - Report states City's total fund balance as of Dec. 31, 2010 is $12,424,328

Item 4.5 - 2010 Community Services Year End Report - Staff updated department polices and procedures that address risk mgmt., financial internal control and staff expectations. They also completed a Community Center Facility Fee Study and proposed an increase in fees and changes to the reservation policy which were both approved by the city council. Changes in rental rates are reported to have generated additional revenue of $3,084 during the 1st 6 mos. of the fiscal year. A total of only 17 people have signed up for the Dial-A-Taxi program for seniors that was implemented on Aug. 1, 2010. (Editor's Note - This makes one wonder if the Dial-A-Taxi program is too difficult to use, not well enough publicized or is otherwise not meeting the needs of seniors - Is the city looking into this?) Staff is researching the development of a community garden, and use of LHHS's upper field was extended for another year. There is a listing of family oriented seasonal special events that were offered in 2010 in which the report states 14,451 people participated. The report indicates that since 2008 attendance at most of these events has generally decreased or remained the same. 2010 Attendance ranges from a lows of only 33 (down from 40 in 2008) for "A Ghostly Affair" and 35 (down from 71 in 2008) for "Mother's Day Tea" and 65 (down from 103 in 2008) for Mr. Bunny and Friends to highs of 2,600 for "Memorial Day Half Marathon & 5K" to 11,000 for "4th of July".
** Attendance numbers do not indicate how many Laguna Hills Citizens vs. "others" made use of the events.

Item 4.6 - Authorization to advertise for bids for the Energy Efficiency Projects - Report states the City received funds of $174,071 from a CA. Energy Commission Grant for installation of energy saving devices at various locations and staff has prepared project plans for this so is now ready to advertise for bids. The projects include improvements to the Civic Center building including replacement of air conditioning units, addition of occupancy sensors, low energy lights and variable frequency pumps to reduce energy consumption in the building. Projects also include replacing all the remaining incandescent lights bulbs with LED lights at traffic signal installations. Fiscal Impact to City - undetermined - a contribution from the Civic Center budget towards the project may be necessary.

Item 4.7 - Appointment of a member and an alternate to the South Orange County Watershed Management Area Executive Committee - The County has requested a representative from each city to serve on the executive committee as part of a co-operative agreement for planning and implementing water management strategies for flood, urban runoff, and watershed management as well as water use efficiency, water supply and reliability, recycled water expansion, habitat preservation, conservation and protection, and other management strategies.

Items Pulled from the Consent Calendar - Council Member Kogerman pulled Item 4.5 to inquire about the events that had poor attendance such as the Children's Spring Concert, the Bunny Breakfast and the Mother's Day Tea. Community Services Superintendent Dan Meehan responded that staff is planning to change the Mother's Day Tea from a Friday to a Saturday and change the activity to a picnic to increase attendance and the Bunny Breakfast will be reviewed for possible addition of entertainment, etc. The Children's Spring Concert is a free event held at Stockport Park and is advertised in City Views and makes use of banners, He said attendance of 150 to 175 is more typical for that event. City stats show that the event drew 240 in 2008, 150 in 2009 and 155 in 2010.

Mayor Songstad pulled Item 4.7 and Director of Public Services, Ken Rosenfield explained the need for Council to select a member to attend the Watershed Management Area Executive Committee meetings that are 2 times a year for about 2 hours. Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth was selected by the Council to attend.

Planning Agency Public Hearing - Item 5.2 - Site Development Permit, Master Sign Program update for existing office building at 24221 Calle de la Louisa

Community Development Director, Vern Jones explained that Saddleback Medical Group bought the 4 story office building in question and Citibank is on the bottom floor. The new owners are requesting 3 wall signs for Citibank including 2 high-rise ID signs, 3 wall signs for the Saddleback Medical Group including 2 high-rise ID signs, 3 monument signs reusing the existing sign areas on planter walls and ancillary signs including parking regulatory signs and small window signs. The city code allows only 1 tenant name per building to be posted and requires a master sign program for an high-rise building that proposes signage revisions. Staff recommends approval of a permit for the additional postings in this case. Council Member Kogerman inquired as to why such a lengthy and time consuming process for staff and for businesses for what appears to be simple sign revisions. Mayor Songstad and Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth responded this procedure was created to prevent a sign blight. Mr. Todd Travis spoke for the Saddleback Medical Group. After a lengthy presentation and discussion the additional signage was approved. Vote was 5-0 in favor.

Administrative Reports - **These Items are authored by City Staff
Item 6.1 - City Manager Channing spoke more about the March 12, workshop planned for the council as a primer for the budget discussions. (please see previous February 8, LH Watch Dog, for more details on this workshop) Channing said he has identified 2 facilitators (both previously city managers that he knows) to assist with the workshop. One, Mr. Bill Kelly from Urban Futures, charges $3,500 and the other Mrs. Jan Perkins from Management Partners charges $5,100 but spends more time including interviewing each city council member individually in advance of the workshop. Channing asked for comments from the council members but added that he has the authority to decide who to hire and prefers Jan Perkins. Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth said she preferred Mr. Kelly, Council Members Kogerman and Lautenschleger said they'd prefer Mrs. Perkins. Mayor Songstad and Council Member Bressette did not state a preference.

Item 6.2 A - El Toro Redevelopment Project Area Opportunities - Assistant City Manager Don White basically stated what the written report states, that since 1996 the Lake Forest Redevelopment Agency has administered 13 acres of redevelopment area within the City of Laguna Hills as part of the much larger El Toro Redevelopment Project Area that the City of Lake Forest and their redevelopment agency took over from the County of Orange. While the tax increment that is generated from the Laguna Hills portion of this area benefits Laguna Hills, the City is not encumbered with the administrative, legal and financial burdens of complying with Redevelopment Law.

Report states that in lieu of developing a Laguna Hills Redevelopment Agency there appears to be an opportunity for Laguna Hills to use the tax increment from the Laguna Hills portion of this Project Area to implement the General Plan strategy for the Via Lomas Opportunity Area. One opportunity for the City to buy units in Via Lomas on the open market as they become available for sale, bring them up to code and lease them to income-eligible tenants. Over time the City could use income from the renal properties as well as tax increment revenue to continue buying the units, then at some point in the future the City could partner with a residential developer to implement the General Plan strategy for this area.

Another idea from City Staff is that they may be able to acquire any surplus funds from the Lake Forest Redevelopment Agency to use in Laguna Hills but State Law would have to be amended to allow this to happen. Staff is recommending that the City Council develop a strategy with the City's Legislative Advocate (State legislature lobbying group) to accomplish this amendment to State Law this year with the cooperation of the Lake Forest Redevelopment Agency. It would also be necessary to amend the cooperation agreement between the City of Laguna Hills and the City of Lake Forest. Fiscal Impact to the City - is not defined but believed to be accommodated within the adopted budget.

Vote was 5-0 in favor of moving the Staff Recommendation to work with Lake Forest Redevelopment Agency to recommend amendments to the Cooperation Agreement and develop a legislative strategy to amend State law to give the Lake Forest Redevelopment Agency the discretion to transfer excess housing funds to Laguna Hills.

Item 6.2 B - Award of Contract for Comprehensive Compensation Study Consulting Services Agreement to Ralph Anderson & Associates
http://www.ralphandersen.com/executive_search.html to conduct the Comprehensive Compensation Study - Fiscal impact to the City = $24,500 for an anticipated 8 week study of compensation of approx. 26 city employees to see if the city is providing reasonable, fair and competitive compensation to its employees. The consultant will return to the City Council in March with a list of recommended comparator agencies for city council approval. The final report should be received by May 10, 2011. The City received 8 proposals and a panel consisting of City Staff including the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Community Development Director and Senior Management Analyst chose this vendor. In a 5 year client listing provided this vendor's clients in Orange County include City of Anaheim (compensation study for misc. management positions), Capistrano Unified School District (Compensation study for represented classified employees) and South Orange County Community College District (Compensation study for represented classified employees)

Council Member Kogerman said she had thoroughly studied this and thinks this recommendation and proposal goes beyond what was originally proposed at the Jan. 11, 2011 City Council Meeting. Some of the programs stated to be included in their expertise by this vendor such as pay for performance and incentive programs are today probably a thing of the past in today's austere financial environment. The City Council members should have input in this study of surveying organizations and the interviews with Staff Managers should include interviews with City Council Members. There are no assurances here of City Council Members being represented. Labor Market Surveys need to be defined by input from the City Council. Salary Plan Designs to achieve City's objectives - who decides what the City's objectives are? Who decides the City's philosophy? She said we had agreed to structure a philosophy after the study not use the current philosophy for this study. Need City Council input to Identify comparable employers, need City Council recommendations for Salary Structure, need these policy decisions prior to the study. Kogerman added that this goes too far so proposed an ad hoc committee to City Council Members to determine guidelines and report to the City Council.

Council Member Bressette stated the scope of the work is appropriate and it is appropriate to use the current policy and philosophy and practices and moved the staff recommendation reminding the City Council that it is the ultimate authority to take the data returned to them and make decisions based on that. Mayor Songstad seconded Bressette's motion and Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth said she supported it, has confidence in Ralph Anderson and Associates and encouraged Council Member Kogerman to discuss her concerns with them. Council Member Lautenschleger said he saw no problem, doesn't see the concerns raised, said he wants an independent outside agency doing this.

Council Member Kogerman added an amendment of Item 7.4 in the Consultant's Scope of Services? Work including Schedule of Performance that states - 7.4 Release of Documents - All drawings, specifications, reports, records documents and other materials prepared by Consultant in the performance of services under this Agreement shall not be released publicly without the prior written approval of the Contract Officer (who is in this case the City Manager) changed by striking the word "Publicly" and inserting the words by Consultant so it would read these items should not be released by a Consultant without the prior written approval of the Contract Officer. This wording would protect the Vendor but not interfere with the public's right to access the information once the document is produced.

None of the other council members agreed with Council Member Kogerman's proposal of an ad hoc committee to be formed prior to this study, so that never came to a vote. The vote was taken on the Staff Recommendation that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a Consulting Services Agreement with Ralph Anderson & Associates to conduct the Comprehensive Compensation Study including Council Member Kogerman's amendment to item 7.4 in the agreement. Vote passed 4 to 1 to authorize the agreement with the amendment. The only No vote was from Council Member Kogerman.

(Editor's Note - the Study Backgrounds and Objectives state they are conducting the $24,500.00 compensation study for approx. 26 full time positions. The study will include the identification of survey organizations, the selection of survey benchmark job classifications, the collection and analysis of salary and benefit data, the development of salary range recommendations for all job classes, and the development of implementation strategies and costs. The following key components are included: Conduct meetings with City representatives at project initiation to confirm the study goals, objectives and deliverables. Conduct interviews with managers and other key employees to ensure an accurate understanding of City Operations, services and jobs. Conduct a compensation workshop to identify and discuss options for the labor market survey including the selection of survey agencies and data collections needs. Recommend salary range adjustments.

The Methodology consists of identification and documentation of the City's compensation philosophies, policies and procedures. The consulting team will confirm specific policies, both implicit and explicit and assess their impact on the City's overall ability to attract, recruit, employ, advance and retain high quality personnel. These policies and practices will include the relative labor market position the City seeks to maintain in the competitive labor market, the types of employers with which the City chooses to compete and the relative importance placed on equity vs. market forces in the development of the salary plan. This assessment can be conducted through meetings with managers or with broader input using a workshop sessions that includes employee representatives, managers and city council members.

We at the LH Watch Dog along with Council Member Kogerman question many things about this study. The first is what this study is "INDEPENDENT" of other than the taxpayers? The City Council has allowed the Staff/City Manager to choose the Vendor for this study. The City Council has not agreed to participate in providing methodology information to the Vendor about the hiring and compensation policies they developed that have led to this situation. The City Council has authorized $24,500 to study the compensations of 26 employees, 2 of which are the City Manager and Assistant City Manager whose compensation is subject to previously existing contracts. The City Council Members' compensation is not included in this study - related to large sums paid for medical, dental and vision benefits for them and for their families. The City Council Members stated they are the final authority and can change the hiring practices and policies AFTER the study, but would that not invalidate the study for which the citizens just paid? As Council Member Kogerman said, and logically speaking, they are putting the horse before the cart in this matter. By not participating Council Members are divorcing themselves from accountability (willfull ignorance) for this study but citizens elected them to be Accountable.)

Item 6.3A - Request to allow strawberry stands and/or seasonal agriculture produce sales subject to a temporary use permit - Staff Recommendation - City direct staff to return with amended code that allows for temporary use permit for produce stands as are currently allowed in Mission Viejo, Lake Forest and Laguna Niguel. This item was discussed related to berries and other fruits and vegetables and locations and council agreed with a vote of (5 - 0) to request staff to come back with a proposed ordinance for Strawberries only for a limited time period annually.

Item 6.4A - Adoption of an agreement for acquisition of interests in real property for a right-of-way acquisition for the Avenida de la Carlotta widening project. *** This item was scratched from the Agenda and continued to March 8, 2011 due to the City continuing to work through some major issues with property owners per Director of Public Services, Ken Rosenfield.

Other Business - **These Items are authored by Council Members - None

Matters Presented by Mayor & City Council Members
Council Member Lautenschleger - stated he distributed material to the other council members from SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments) about RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) re. how the task force designates low cost housing, where and how many, and what it's all about.

Closed Session - 4th meeting this year to consider Public Employee Performance Evaluation for the City Manager (Editor's Note - no public reports from any of these sessions to date.)

Next regular City Council Meeting is Tuesday March 8, at 7 pm, City Hall plus there will be 3 PUBLIC BUDGET WORKSHOPS held on March 15, April 19 and May 17 and a PUBLIC HEARING on the City Budget in June.
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City Council & City Manager Report Card - Number 4 for 2011

Categories - (T) Transparency for Citizens, (A) Accountability to Citizens, (CI) Championing Citizen Related Issue, (AG) Achieving Citizen Related Goal

Grades - (P) Pass, (A) for Authoring a Citizen Friendly Item, (F) Fail, (A+) Extra Credit. City Manager will be scored related to online and agendized Staff Reports and Requests

Bressette - F - Fails Accountability to Citizens by voting for a $24,500 Comprehensive Compensation Study for 26 City Employees, excluding Council Members, based upon old city hiring and compensation policies with input from only the employees whose compensation is being studied.

Carruth - F - Fails Accountability to Citizens by voting for a $24,500 Comprehensive Compensation Study for 26 City Employees, excluding Council Members, based upon old city hiring and compensation policies with input from only the employees whose compensation is being studied.

Kogerman - P - Passes Accountability to Citizens by voting against a $24,500 Comprehensive Compensation Study for 26 City Employees based upon old city compensation policies and input from only the employees whose compensation is being studied with no assurances of City Council input for a balanced study.

Lautenschleger - F - Fails Accountability to Citizens by voting for a $24,500 Comprehensive Compensation Study for 26 City Employees, excluding Council Members, based upon old city hiring and compensation policies with input from only the employees whose compensation is being studied.

Songstad - F - Fails Accountability to Citizens by voting for a $24,500 Comprehensive Compensation Study for 26 City Employees, excluding Council Members, based upon old city hiring and compensation policies with input from only the employees whose compensation is being studied.

City Manager - F - Fails both Accountability and Transparency to Citizens by not requiring reporting of attendance at Community Service Special Events to be broken down into Laguna Hills Citizens vs others and reporting Fiscal Impact to the City, if any, for these events. Citizens deserve to know where their tax dollars are going and for what.

INFORMATION, COMMENTS QUESTIONS and CONCERNS from Watch Dog Readers:

Update from Meg Gorham, about Win-Win-Wednesdays - the Fund Raiser for LHHS 2011 Safe and Sane Grad. Night that Never Tasted So Good You Support local dining establishments AND LHHS Grad Nite AND enjoy a great meal in Laguna Hills! It’s a Win-Win for all…and your support is greatly appreciated. To learn more, see upcoming restaurants, click on http://www.svusd.org/p_subject.asp?sid=33358&sm=b19 and download the flyers of your choice to take to the dining establishments. You do need to have the flyer with you to show to the dining establishment to get the funding donated to LHHS for Grad Night.

Below is a list of the dates and dining establishments coming up soon! Wednesday, March 2 – Flamingo’s Mexican Restaurant Flamingo's Flyer
Wednesday, March 9 – Villa Roma Restaurant and Deli
Wednesday, March 16 – Mandarin Terrace AND Lulu’s Creperie
Wednesday, March 23 - Don Jose's Wednesday, March 30 - El Torito Wednesday, April 6 - Kings Fish House AND Rubios Wednesday April 13 - Lone Star Steakhouse Wednesday, April 20 - Chuck E. Cheese AND Golden Ham ** and more to come from Olive Garden, Polly's, Mitze's, BJ's, CPK and Elephant Bar...If you'd like to receive flyers, please let me know at LUV8XN@aol.com but feel free to spread the word!

City Staff chooses their own Vendor for Comprehensive City Staff Compensation Study?
This is a travesty. The consultant selected is no doubt very capable. Their specialty is really public employee recruiting and search. They have many years of immersion in the public sector and all of their staff resumes speak to many years of employment in the public sector or work for the public sector. They will do a great job of justifying the status quo. One has to wonder why we would pay as much as $30,000 for such a study? We already know that public sector employees are fighting to retain benefits packages, the likes of which were once found in the private sector; but have disappeared over the last 30-years. The question that the majority of Americans ask is, "Why is government compensation so out of line with the private sector?"

This compensation study needs to measure what an employer needs to pay for a skill set needed to accomplish a task? Police and Fire have no private sector equivalent. Their lives are on the line and as they age they can no longer perform the necessary job description. They don't have private sector comparables and deserve a compensation package not found in the private sector. Public Administration workers do have private sector equivalents. The benchmark for public administration workers should be the private sector not neighboring public entities.

It wouldn't bother me at all to fill a City of Laguna Hills' job in management, administration, engineering, customer service, information technology or other specialties with a job candidate who had zero public sector experience. In fact, I would consider such lack of public sector experience to be a good thing. When a public sector toilet backs up do we really need to respond with a public sector plumber? This is the real disconnect between entrenched public sector employees, career politicians and the rest of us. Bill

Another Opinion on the Comprehensive City Staff Compensation Study? -
I know that some may disagree with me on this, but I think these kinds of things are boondoggles to find a way for bureaucrats to justify to each other as to why they should keep spiraling upwards on the salary and compensation. What I hope Barbara does when this comes out is to say, "Anyone who thinks they are underpaid is welcome to go elsewhere and don't let the door hit you on the way out." We should pride ourselves as those who look after the taxpayers as having one of the lowest averages, not competitive.
In this economy and with so many positions being cut in government at all levels, we should look at this like the housing market as a chance to pick up someone better at a cheaper rate than we would otherwise. CUT the salaries no matter what this study says. The only reason for a study is to justify HIGHER salaries, not to lower them so why waste the money? Just my two cents. James

More Opinion on the Comprehensive City Staff Compensation Study?
Jerry Brown has the right idea. I never thought I'd be saying those words. No more cars or car allowances for management. No more cell phones for management. No more 6-weeks of vacation with the City Council granting an additional 6-weeks - in a single year. 4-weeks should be the maximum. No more accrual of vacation beyond 1-week. No more conversion of accrued sick days to cash. No toll road transponders. No annual salary increases as an entitlement. No personal time off. No self-selected continuing education seminars (Hawaii here I come.). Okay, this goes a little bit beyond Jerry. Our City Council can't fathom how any one could possibly act on any of these ideas without a "study". I say, "How did they make 20-years of compensation decisions without a study, only to decide they need one to cut?" Salary surveys are readily available from a variety of sources but are but one tool is deciding to establish benefits. Citizen who wonders, what they are thinking?

How to support the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Division Adopted by the City of Laguna Hills Checks can be made to Laguna Hills Team Dark Horse and mailed to Team Dark Horse, 27251 Lost Colt Dr., Laguna Hills, CA. 92653. Non-profit corporation status is pending. e-mail Mike Bland at 35bland@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, for information, or about donations, etc. and the city e-mail for the 3/5 is 3/5-support@ci.laguna-hills.ca.us The City Clerk Peggy Johns is the City Liaison to the 3/5 Support Committee. Go to the City web site at http://www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us/ Be sure to see the Laguna Hills 3/5 Adopted Marines Great new Facebook page created by Karen Robbins at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laguna-Hills-Team-Darkhorse/132765660119128 and share it with your friends!!
The Marine Support Committee has completed the Christmas Toy and Gift Drive, the Sock it to the Marines Drive, has sent all the School Supplies for the Marines to give to the Afghan Children, the Valentines for the Marines, many boxes of miscellaneous supplies and goodies and is currently completing the sending boxes of bags of Cocoa that were requested by the Marines. Mike Bland announced a $500 donation received from Laguna Hills City Attorney Greg Simonian's Law Firm, Woodruff, Spradlin & Smart A Professional Corporation, to be used toward the Welcome Home Marine Corps Birthday Ball when the 3/5 returns. The Committee sends a huge and deeply sincere Thank You to the community, all the people from Laguna Hills and other communities who have been so generous and are helping in so many ways. The Deadline for shipping to the 3/5 Marines in Afghanistan has past, so the committee will stop collecting supplies and goodies, but will gratefully continue taking donations of funds to apply to the Welcome Home Marine Corps Birthday Ball.

News Stories and Blogs about Laguna Hills: Click on the links below to see the stories.

No more $60,000 SUVs for city manager?
http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/02/09/no-more-60000-suvs-for-city-manager/75030/

Gold-plated benefits? New councilwoman just says ‘no’
http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/01/18/gold-plated-benefits-new-councilwoman-just-says-no/72532/

OCREGISTER: Laguna Hills councilwoman says no to health benefits
http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-282972-benefits-council.html

O.C. cities lavished health benefits on council members
http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2010/12/06/oc-cities-lavished-health-benefits-on-council-members/69544/

Who has the best-paid city council in California? (updated)
http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2010/12/02/who-has-the-best-paid-city-council-incalifornia/69418/ In Laguna Hills
the Taxpayers pay the entire cost of heath care premiums for the elected part time city council members and their families. In addition, the City Manager's contract states "To the extent that payment of all or any portion of the dependent rate of premium, is not approved by the city council for all city employees, Channing shall be entitled to a salary increase or cash payment sufficient to cover the amount of premium or rate for dependent coverage not provided by the City plus applicable income taxes on that amount."

OCREGISTER: Kenneth Frank: In defense of city managers http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/city-277030-manager-laguna.html "Citizens, in turn, must do their part to foster civic pride. They should demand that city council and planning meetings be televised and streamed online. And they need to become involved. In Laguna Beach, we have numerous homeowners associations and environmental, business and labor groups that encourage the exchange of ideas and enhance the interactivity between residents and elected officials."

OCREGISTER: Chris Norby: Local officials susceptible to 'Bell syndrome'http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/elected-276253-city-syndrome.html "Bell syndrome thrives where elected boards vote in lockstep, where groupthink is elevated, and skeptics are ostracized, and where top staff are seen as irreplaceable experts – with rubber-stamped salaries to prove it. Bell syndrome thrives when self-congratulation trumps self-examination."

State Controller John Chaing's Office http://www.sco.ca.gov/noncompliant_reports.html#cities2

OC has two of state’s best-paid city managers http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2010/09/17/oc-has-two-of-states-best-paid-city-managers/64492/

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

* City Council Members Say the Darndest Things in Public? Memorable and surprising Public Quotes from City Council Members

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.

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 unless you change members of the city council.

August 19, 1994 - LHCC Member Allan Songstad - From the Los Angeles Times Newspaper Article Collections - Orange County Focus - August 19, 1994 LYNN 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."

For "CRIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD" www.ocregister.com/saddleback scroll down to "Local Maps" Click on OCSC Crime Calls in the pull down box that says "MORE" 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. Weekly Crime reports in Laguna Hills By CLAIRE WEBB, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER http://www.ocregister.com/news/block-281462-report-drive.html See a map of all crime calls in the city in the past 24 hours by visiting ocregister.com/lagunahills The blotter was compiled by Claire Webb and consists of selected items from the Orange County Sheriff's Department web site, ocsd.org.There is 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.

LIVE TRAFFIC MAPS
Caltrans Online Traffic Maps to instantly check traffic and any incidents on the 405/5 freeways at any time of day. On the tool bar, you can hit "Change Cities," and it shows whatever you put in there - inland, San Diego,etc. http://www.sigalert.com/map.asp?Region=Orange+County#lat=33.69964&lon=-117.80006&z=1

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

WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR of the Orange County Register
Letters to the Editor: E-mail to letters@ocregister.com. Please provide your name, city 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.