May 24, 2011 - Laguna Hills City Council Meeting

Council MemberBarbara Kogerman absent, all other Council Members were present
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS - You can now listen to every City Council Meeting online on the City web site at http://www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us/  via an audio recording. Try it out and see what you think.

*** See the May Line Up for Win-Win-Wednesdays at http://www.winwinwednesdays.com/
see more under - INFORMATION, COMMENTS QUESTIONS and CONCERNS from Watch Dog Readers:
Contact Laguna Hills City Council Members at - ccouncil@ci.laguna-hills.ca.us  

PRESENTATIONS and PROCLAMATIONS – The Community Center Butterfly Sculpture Renovation has been completed and all the butterflies have been re-installed. The City is acknowledging : Emily Cebula, Natacha, Nielsen, Julia Quinones, Zeba Azamy, Tina Sapszian, Joshua Takenaks, Amanda Le and Samantha Torres with a certificate of recognition for all their work in restoring the sculptures.

PUBLIC COMMENTS - Meg Gorham, Laguna Hills Resident and Win-Win-Wednesday fundraiser for LHHS Safe and Sane LHHS Grad Night gave an update on Win-Win-Wednesdays. She said Win-Win-Wednesday is going year-round, but looking for a really big push between now and grad night. Wed. June 1st is California Pizza Kitchen, Wed. June 8 is BJ's Brewhouse & Restaurant and Wed. June 15 is Elephant Bar at the LH Mall AND there are 2 EVERYDAY ongoing fund raisers: 1 is selling Polly's Pies Certificates (only 20 pie certificates are left, they sell for $10 and can be used for whole pies worth up to $15. They are available from Meg Gorham or the at the front desk at LHHS) and 2 is Golden Baked Hams on 24781A Alicia Pkwy. behind the Chevron Car Wash. She said the council and the general public and entire business community are all invited to preview Grad Night as a Marketing Opportunity to show the entire business community of Laguna Hills and the entire Saddleback Valley what we are doing. At the preview night people can either pay $2 to get in or they can completed a form with their business information. With this information we will develop the LHHS HAWK brown and gold pages which will be distributed at HAWK WALK or possibly at Back to School Night. So, everyone attending Back to School Night will get a copy of all businesses listed to keep at home and use as a reference when they need any type of business service. ** Please Download your flyers to give to every eating establishment/restaurant to get the 20% for Win-Win-Wednesday's Safe & Sane Grad Night for LHHS at http://www.winwinwednesdays.com/  

Mav Bressette - Laguna Hills Resident and Team Dark Horse Team Dark Horse Student Liaison to the schools said the high school students are very excited to be part of the student service organization assisting the 3/5 battalion. The will be creating welcome banners to present to the Marines at the Hotel when they come in on Sunday May 29, and they will have banners at the beginning and end of the race. The teens from Teen Dark Horse have also created runner's bags that will be presented to all 16 of the Marine runners and they will be collecting donations from the local stores and restaurants.The teens will also be serving breakfast to the Marine families while the Marines are running. There is no substitution for the exuberance of our youth. She also noted the free "I Love 3/5" stickers to be passed out at the Memorial Day Event.

LHHS STUDENT LIAISON REPORT by Lyndsey Kaan - Congratulations to Lyndsey Kaan!!! Clair Webb from the OC Register Newspaper reported that she was recently honored by the Saddleback Valley Chapter of National Charity League and received special recognition for 1,171 hours of service to the community. Lyndsey was absent from tonight's meeting so there is no report.

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 until the next city council meeting so there is a long delay for the public related to timely documentation of information from the city.

CONSENT CALENDAR - Warrant Register = $956,725.50

Items of interest from the Warrant Register - $4000 payment to LHHS Grad Night was listed as paid.

Items of Interest from the Consent Calendar: **Items on the Consent Calendar are placed there by City Staff:
Item 4.3 - Progress Payment for the Community Center and Sports Complex Renovations of $80,905.32
Item 4.4 - Authorization to purchase traffic signal equipment for the Avenida de la Carlota widening Project of approx. $41,522.
Item 4.5 - Application for Federal Financial Assistance due to storm damage to public facilities - estimated cost $30,000. Staff estimated that approx. 50% or more of this cost will e reimbursed by State and/or Federal sources and designating the City Manager as the applicant's agent for obtaining assistance.
Item 4.6 - Proposed amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Hogle-Ireland, Inc. for contract Planning Services 2 year extension of term to assist the City's Community Development Staff to meet the planning service needs of the City. This contract has been in effect since 1992 and expires on June 30, 2011. Estimated general planning service expenses are $10,000 a year and fee-based processing service expense are estimated at $100,00 or more each year not to exceed $220,000 over the next 2 year period.
Item 4.7 - One year extension of Janitorial Services Agreement with the Ritz Companies for the Community Center from June 30, 211 to June 30, 2012 with costs not to exceed $72,000.
Item 4.8 - Authorization to contract with Moss, Levy and Hartzheim, LLP for the audit of the City's financial statements for an additional 3 fiscal years, FY 2010-11 to FY 2012-13. This would extend the agreement to the maximum of 5 years allowed by City's financial policies. Costs are approx $27,000 a year.
Items Pulled from the Consent Calendar for Discussion- NONE
Vote - the Consent calendar was passed 4 - 0 as a block.

PLANNING AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING - None

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS – Item 6.1 - 2011 Weed Abatement Program - This is a public hearing to provide testimony prior to issuing an order for weed removal at the expense of property owners who have been notified and did not remove their weeds. Budget for weed removal pgrm. is $40,000.
There were no public speakers on this item. Vote - Passed 4 - 0

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS - **These Items are authored by City Staff

Item 7.1.1 Changes in Health Insurances Program


City Manager Channing stated health care rates recently dropped from $179,000 in 2009-10 to $80,000 for 2012-13 because the City has found a composite rate rather than continuing to pay the previous age banded rate. He said they had been looking for alternatives for a year and signed a 3 year contract for the composite rate. Of the 7 city departments the largest decrease in health insurance premium rates, by far, was in the rate for the City Manager/City Council department which decreased from $179,893 to $74,135 = a 59% decrease. 5 city departments savings ranged from 2% to 37% and in the 6th dept. costs increased by 11%. The new plan will become effective July 1st with Blue Shield and Delta Dental. Council Member Bressette added that the new insurance is through a Not for Profit JPA, the CA. States Association of Counties Excess Insurance Authority that started in about 2003 and has in excess of 100,000 participants. He said the benefits are comparable. You can see more detail but clicking on the links to the news stories below.

LAVISH HEALTH BENEFITS SLASHED IN LAGUNA HILLS
http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/05/12/lavish-health-benefits-slashed-in-laguna-hills-tustin/82833/

Laguna Hills cuts $187,000 in health benefit costs
http://www.ocregister.com/news/-302014--.html  

(Editor's Note - Channing is quoted to have said the city has routinely looked at coverage plans in the past, but apparently they didn't look or seriously consider another plan between 2003 and 2010. Taxpayers can thank Council Member Barbara Kogerman and the OC Register Watch Dog reporter Teri Sforza for precipitating this savings. Kogerman, in November of 2009, did a review of the City's Annual Health Care Premium Expenses for employees including City Council Members and their families and discovered that part time City Council Members received full time benefits including taxpayers paying for 100% of their Insurance premiums. Kogerman shared her information with The OC Register Watch Dog Reporter Teri Sforza who reported the following 2 stories on the subject calling County wide attention to this issue.

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/  

It's great for taxpayers that this change finally happened but there is still the question of why did the City only change this practice of age banded insurance rates, that are so costly for taxpayers, after all the bad publicity they received for the very high rates taxpayers were paying? This practice was publicly exposed in Nov. of 2009 and the lower cost Health Ins. Policies have been available since 2003. We requested City Records in 2008 and learned that taxpayers also pay all the costs for the medical insurance plan, the vision plan and the dental plan premiums for all full time City Employees, including elected members and all their dependents. Unless something has changed and was not reported there is still NO City Employee Contribution for any medical, mental or vision Insurance plan premiums for full time employees and council members.
Vote - New Composite Rate Health Insurance was passed 4 - 0

Item 7.2.2 Chief of Police Services 2011 Law Enforcement Agreement
The Staff report states Total Staff = 43.22. (**Editor's note - The City's "Total" is very misleading. We have noted in the past that the City counts every fractional piece of a staff position as a whole in their total for this department. For instance 14.25 of those reported 43.22 positions are shared positions where Laguna Hills receives only a fraction of a full position, so on April 20, 2011 we interviewed Lt. Doan, Chief of Police for Laguna Hills and asked him about this:

Our Question to Lt. Doan - From what you said at the April 12, 2011 City Council Meeting it appears to me now that you have 25.97 Sworn Deputies plus 1 Crime Prevention Specialist who is a non-sworn Deputy/Civilian, and 2 Civilian Community Service Officers, for a total of 28.97 personnel, is this correct?

Lt. Doan's Response to us - " For purposes of this next question let’s take the .97 and round it up to one. Here is a breakdown of my personnel: 1 Lieutenant, 1 Administrative Sergeant, 2 Patrol Sergeants (actually 1.97 due to a credit in our contract), 2 Investigators, 14 deputy sheriffs- patrol, 4 deputy sheriffs- motor, 1 deputy sheriff- SRO, 2 community services officers, 1 crime prevention specialist 25 sworn, 3 non-sworn " So the Correct Total is 28 whole positions, 25 sworn and 3 non-sworn, not 43.22)

According to the City's staff report, the cost for the 28 positions in Laguna Hills law enforcement staff increased by $82,677 from last year and the new contract for 28 positions will continue until June of 2012.

Council Member Randal Bressette pointed out that the Police Services Contract does not expire until June 30 so asked for this item to be continued to the next council meeting when Council Member Kogerman returns. He also said it was impossible to discuss adding deputies back until the compensation report for the city employees is finalized. He pointed out that the dDity's saving in Health care could go a long way to return one deputy to Laguna Hills and in the Citizen Survey 98% of the people said Public Safety was the most important thing the City could provide for them but last year we cut 4000 hours of Police Protection. Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth disagreed with Bressette, stated it was important to move this item forward tonight and said she supports this agreement because we have the crime stats now and the Citizen Survey results and she supports moving one deputy from motor to Patrol. Council Member Lautenschleger continued to insist that the department met its goals, people do feel safe and that we still may be over staffed in this department.

Lt Doan was asked by Mayor Songstad if his contract provides adequate staffing and Lt. Doan responded they have been able to do it with the staff they have over the last couple of years. It would be nice to have those 2 other positions back because they provided us with the latitude of doing other community oriented projects and having the Special Enforcement Team that was taken away with the loss of the 2 deputies. That forced us to look at the way we did things and make changes and become more efficient. Sending one motor officer over to Patrol will allow us to revive the Special Enforcement Team which is especially needed in the Summer. He concluded that he doesn't believe the community will think anything is lacking.

Vote - The Council voted against continuing this item until the next council meeting when Council Member Barbara Kogerman returns, and voted to keep the same number of positions that they have now after dropping 2 positions last year. Vote was 3 - 1 in favor (Council Member Bressette was the only no vote)

See more at: OCREGISTER: Costs for L.H. police services increase slightly
http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-302303-contract-services.html

OTHER BUSINESS - **These Items are authored by Council Members

Item 8.1.1 - Request to reduce fees for the 3/5 Marines Participating in the Memorial Day Half Marathon and to refund the $200 booth fee paid by Team Dark Horse.

The recommendation from Council Member Bressette was that the City debit the money that remains in the account for the City's Adopted Marines (the 3/5 Battalion Support Committee - Team Dark Horse) for a discounted rate of $14 (per Marine- direct costs only) for each of the 16 active duty 3/5 Marines who participate in the Memorial Day Half Marathon equaling $224 as opposed to the full cost of direct and indirect expenses that the City Manager proposed of $752 ($47 per Marine), and refund the $200 booth fee to Team Dark Horse if it has already been paid. He emphasized that this is a simple bookkeeping transaction requiring no additional money will be allocated to the 3/5 Marines from the City. Bressette said the staff's statement in their fiscal impact which stated "this amount would therefore be added to the City Council's prior allocation to the 3/5 support committee is incorrect."

He said we should all be aware of the significance of the 3/5 to the race. He said on page 2 of the City Web site it states the City has 2 charity partners, South County Outreach, who does a wonderful job and the City's 3/5 Adopted Marines support group - Team Dark Horse. He continued with the Marines bring prestige to this race and in a short time Chairman Mike Bland and Team Dark Horse have done an outstanding job creating a bond between the community and the 3/5. Bressette noted that he learned that South County Outreach is not being charged for their booth at this event but Team Dark Horse is so there is a discrepancy there. He stressed that since the 3/5 was in Afghanistan until recently we could not have known in advance (to qualify for a reduced fee) that they were going to run.

Mayor Songstad asked Council Member Bressette, Would you agree the Marines aren't being charged, this is an allocation issue? Council Member Bressette responded Term Dark Horse has agreed to reimburse the City for the costs for the Marines so their funds will be debited. Songstad continued, "Those are funds that the City provided."  Bressete answered true, but the amount debited will leave less money for support for the Marines. There will be no additional allocation made to Team Darkhorse. Songstad responded "that depends on the accounting, but I understand your point." Council Member Lautenschleger asked if the Team Dark Horse booth was just to collect donations or to sell t-shirts and things. He continued the booth is another issue because there are a lot of other non-profits on the field that day. Bressette explained, again, there are 2 charity partners for this event, the other charity partner is not being charged for their booth but this charity partner is. Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth added the 3/5 is bringing equipment for display to contribute to the event, she recounted the City's relationship with its adopted 3/5 Marines and the level of community support for the Marines, and said she didn't understand where the $14 came from and didn't see why the City couldn't just pick up the tab and keep it simple. Bressette responded that the $14 came from Channing (Editor's Note - Bressette explained to us the $14 was a direct cost for supplies quoted by Channing. Channing did not offer to charge $14 for each Marine, Bressette suggested paying $14 based upon the direct cost only) and the history of the fees was that the original fees for the Marines included retail late fees for these Marines who were in Afghanistan at the time so couldn't register early. He continued staff made a counter offer (Editor's Note $47 per Marine - see above) that was unacceptable to him so we arrived here.

Public Comments -   Mike Bland, Laguna Hills Resident and Chairman of Term Dark Horse Marine Support Committee said there will be 16 runners and 10 Marines manning a static display, all from the 3/5 Marines, at the Memorial Day Event. He said he was asked a number of months ago by some council members and city staff to get runners and equipment, and did not believe that could be done because the 3/5 was still in Afghanistan and we don't know what condition they will be in when the return. He said he finally was able to contact a Sgt. Major who had heard of the Team Dark Horse Committee activities, the socks for the Marines, the valentines, all the goodies and the banner hanging on the community center, and said he would make sure we would get some Marines to run. He said he thought we'd get 6 runners but got 16. The HILL's HOTEL in Laguna Hills donated 6 rooms and gave 1/2 off of the other 4 rooms needed by 10 Marine families for the night prior to the race. He thanked Mav Bressette for taking over the job of Team Dark Horse Student Liaison to the schools. Then TEEN DARK HORSE, the Laguna Hills High School students really came through for the Marines, making signs and banners and are even serving breakfast to the Marine families while the Marines are running. Regarding Council Member Lautenschleger's question about the booth, Mike said he purchased a 10x10 easy up red tent structure to use for Memorial Day and will be selling patriotic t-shirts, hats and visors with the Team Dark Horse logo, and giving away stickers and little flags. He said, we don't need a booth, chairs or table just space next to the display the Marines will set up. The Marines are bringing 2 Hummers, equipment for the kids to try on, camouflage paint for the kids faces, etc. Those Marines will have to get up at about 3AM on Monday morning to get here on time at a slow speed with their equipment so when we think about funding we should ask what would we have paid, if we had to pay for all this? He recalled that when he was asked to get runners and equipment he never dreamed there would be a charge from the City for this. He emphasized that the Marines have really shown their support for us and that we should remember they lost 25 and had 180 wounded over the past year in Afghanistan and they are still offering support to our City for this event.

Mike concluded you don't invite guests to your house for dinner and then charge them for the meal and to quote the Mayor - The start up fund was established by the City for the Marine's Support Committee to cover "any and all expenses related to their formation as a not for profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation and as seed money for their efforts to raise private donations to underwrite the committee's cost for providing a variety of support to soldier's and their families." He noted that none of those categories apply to fees to the City for the Marines to run in the City's Memorial Day half Marathon, so stressed to the council - Let's do what's right!

Evan Gost, Laguna Hills Resident and Member of Term Dark Horse Marine Support Committee said years ago, he would never have worn his Vietnam Veteran's hat because in the 1970's he would have risked a lot of abuse for wearing it. He said 9-11-2001 ushered in a new era of respect for the dedicated military members who defend our freedom as opposed to the Vietnam era when public frustration with the war was taken out on the military rather than on the politicians. He said local cities have adopted military battalions now and he felt honored that Laguna Hills elected to adopt the 3/5 Marine battalion that has served very honorably in Afghanistan. He said we should recognize that many left arms and legs in that desolate country and we have had many that didn't return home alive. He pointed out that, just for reference, when you think about an enlisted man, an E3, with 3 years of experience, is compensated less than $2000 a month. They also get a bunk in the barracks or a tent in the field plus mess hall food but how many people in this room would risk their lives and live in those substandard conditions for that kind of compensation. He said, I think we should feel honored to welcome them home and to invite them to our Memorial Day festivities. He continued with I am really embarrassed at the City Staff's response to the cost because if they take money from the committee we have less money to give to the Marines. He concluded that having these heroes at our festivities may help increase attendance in future years including revenues for the City, so I think we should do everything we can to honor them, their attendance and their display that will clearly enhance the experience of our residents at the Memorial Day festivities.

Mav Bressette, Laguna Hills Resident and Team Dark Horse Student Liaison to the schools said she felt compelled to discuss this registration fee fiasco. She said after may e-mails back and forth Mike Bland was willing to pay the $200 booth fee plus the $60 runners fees. Regarding Mike Bland, I have never met, in 20 years of volunteer service anyone with the unselfishness, commitment and ability to get things done that he delivers to this committee and this City. We are fortunate to have him do this. When I found out that the committee was expected to pay the booth fee of $200 plus $60 per runner I was shocked. The committee being required to pay for each Marine running, even though the committee is completely responsible for thousands of dollars of Marine participation on the ground of the Laguna Hills Memorial Day Event. I guess we haven't been listening to Meg Gorham's Win-Win discussions. Mr. Channing stated that $752.00 ($47 times 16 = $752) of other indirect expenses, if the committee were not charged for them would therefore be added to the City Council's prior allocation of $10,000 for the 3/5 Committee. That makes no sense and by the way, that does not follow any generally accepted accounting principles. No money is being added to the allocation of the $10,000 and it's not increased, regardless of how you try to spin it. What the committee want's to pay is exactly what the cost of each Marine is going to cost the City. The indirect expenses for the race have already been covered. Every dollar the committee has to pay for the race funds reduces the amount of money available to do their work on behalf of the City which the committee was created to do, namely support the Marines of the 3/5 Battalion. Mav said there have already been offers from the community, herself included to pay the $200+ for the Marines, so if you people decided not to waive the fees not have a Win-Win situation with our Marines, that's fine, the committee's still not going to pay as there are plenty of citizens willing to foot that bill. She added that what she doesn't understand is why this had to take so much time, over $1100 staff time, my time, the craziness, much to do about nothing, except for the respect that we needed to give.

Mayor Pro Tem Carruth - made a motion to waive the $200 booth fee and charge $14 each for the 3/5 active duty Marine runners in the City's Memorial Day Half Marathon Event.

Vote - Passed 4 - 0 to refund the $200 booth fee and charge the Marine Support Committee (Team Dark Horse) $14 for each Marine running the 1/2 marathon Memorial Day event.

MATTERS PESENTED by MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS -

(Editor's Note - The City's Online Audio tape of the Council Meetings did not record this portion of the City Council Meeting?)

Council Member Barbara Kogerman sent the following link from somewhere in the Mediterranean - This is an excellent video from KCAL News channel 9 that gives a brief but thorough report of the history of the journey of Brandman Grad. Student Cindy Smith and how she "followed the money" to help expose the "super sized salaries of public officials" including the City Manager of Laguna Hills. It includes how she helped make the prototype for the investigation into the City of Bell." It also features Brandman Professor Fred Smoller and Council Member Barbara Kogerman. The report says Cindy uncovered a pattern of methods of obscuring compensation that was followed by veiled threats that she would never get hired to work in Orange County. Her research led to the CA. State Controller requiring all public service employees to post their salaries online and she received the Public Service to CA. Award from PUBLICCEO .com   Please click on this link below to view this video - http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/video-news-on-demand/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5881463&sms_ss=email&at_xt=4ddbd6cfc349a271%2C0

Mayor Songstad said he attended a Board Meeting of the OC Division of the League of Cities where an economist from City National Bank spoke with some very depressing news related to when we are going to be coming out of this recession. He said banks are kindof conservative but this was depressing. There was a great deal of discussion about re-development agencies, which our city doesn't have and discussion about pension and pension reform.

Council Member Bressette congratulated Songstad on his election to the OC Division of the League of Cities' State League Director.

CLOSED SESSION – Conference with Real Property Negotiator for leasing suites 250 and 260 in the City Hall (Civic Center) building.

Next regular City Council Meeting is Tuesday June 14, 7 pm, at City Hall. There will be a PUBLIC HEARING on the City Budget in June.
Contact Laguna Hills City Council Members at - ccouncil@ci.laguna-hills.ca.us  
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City Council & City Manager Report Card - 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 - P - voting for reduced fees for the City's Adopted Marine Support Committee for 16 Marines to run in the City's 1/2 Marathon Memorial Day Event. A for Authoring Agenda Item with request to reduce fees for the City's adopted Marines to run in the 1/2 Marathon Memorial Day Event and to refund their booth fee of $200 because they are a charity partner for the city. A+ (extra credit) for his agenda item being passed and for a thorough investigation of the issue of the City Manager's request to charge the City's adopted 3/5 Marine Support Committee for 16 Marines who volunteered to run in the City's 1/2 Marathon Memorial Day event in addition to a charge of $200 for their event booth. Council Member Bressette did a thorough investigation, including the "Charity Partner" Status of the City's Adopted Marines and presented everything in a public session. (T ) (A) (CI) (AG)   P for Passing the New Composite Health Care Ins. Rate.

Carruth - P - voting for reduced fees for the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines' Support Committee for 16 Marines to run in the City's 1/2 Marathon Memorial Day Event.  P for Passing the New Composite Health Care Ins. Rate

Kogerman - Absent from this council meeting so unable to vote.  A for her role in precipitating the New Composite Health Insurance Rate. See Above Discussion under Administrative Reports Item 7.1.1

Lautenschleger - P voting for reduced fees for the City's Adopted Marines' Support Committee for 16 Marines to run in the City's 1/2 Marathon Memorial Day Event. P for Passing the New Composite Health Care Ins. Rate

Songstad - P voting for reduced fees for the City's Adopted Marines' Support Committee for 16 Marines to run in the City's 1/2 Marathon Memorial Day Event. P for Passing the New Composite Health Care Ins. Rate

City Manager - F- for asking for $ for each of the 16 Marines from the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines's who were invited and volunteered to run in the City's Memorial Day 1/2 Marathon Event and provide a display at the event, plus asking for $200 for the Marine Support Committee's booth at the event when the Marine Support Committee is a charity partner for the city. There were so many messages from the public to the City about this that there was no room to publish them all.  A for Authoring the Citizen Friendly Item of the New Health Insurance rate and A+ for getting it passed.

INFORMATION, COMMENTS QUESTIONS and CONCERNS from Watch Dog Readers:

What WILL YOU DO TO HONOR MEMORIAL DAY?
If you would like the answer to be, "I will run where the heroes run; shake a hero's hand, and on that day support our troops," we have the opportunity for you! If you would like to teach the meaning of Memorial Day to children or recall it yourselves, this is the place for you to be!  Maybe you read the news reports about the City of Laguna Hills' Adopted 3/5 Darkhorse Battalion, who recently fought in one of the toughest deployments in the 10 year Afghanistan War. We are honoring them, and we'd love to have you join us.

We will remember the countless servicemen and women who have devoted themselves to protecting our nation over the years. This year, the City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day Run takes on a special significance when 16 Marines from Darkhorse 3/5 Battalion join us in running the Half Marathon. In addition,10 other Marines from 3/5's Lima Company will join us at the Family Expo, following the race, to display their official USMC equipment for educational purposes. You and your family will have the opportunity to see 2 Hummers with top guns, and to try on gear and equipment the Marines wear in combat. Kids can have their faces painted by the Marines with camouflage paint. You and your kids will be fascinated!

Laguna Hills Team Dark Horse will be taking donations and selling patriotic t-shirts, hats and hand held flags. All donations and money from sales goes directly to support the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines/Sailors and their families. Please come out and show your support. If you can't make the run, you can still join in the fun at the Expo beginning at 7:30 AM at the Laguna Hills Community Center and continuing until 11:30 AM. Mike Bland

LAGUNA HILLS IS LAGGING BEHIND FOR ITS TAXPAYERS.
Did anyone read the story in the Orange County Register on May 18, - Mission Viejo Overhauls Pensions? http://www.ocregister.com/news/-300803--.html
Laguna Hills seems to be setting the standard for lagging behind for it's taxpayers. Mission Viejo is going to the 2% at 60 for their employees calPERS retirement, the same as Laguna Hills which requires a 7% of salary contribution not 6.5%, as Doug Johnson from Ralph Anderson said in his report about the Laguna Hills Compensation Study, but unlike Laguna Hills who pays all the employee AND all the employer contributions to the calPERS retirement plan for all its employees, Mission Viejo does require a contribution from its employees and is now requiring their current employees who are paying 3% to pay an additional 1% each fiscal year until they are all paying their full 8% and the new employees will pay 4.25% to start with an additional 1% each fiscal year until they are paying their full 7%. By the fiscal year 2014-2015, all Mission Viejo employees will be paying the entire contribution to PERs and the City will be paying nothing. Why can't Laguna Hills ever lead instead of lag and when did taxpayers give permission for our city council to use taxpayer money for the employee's contribution's for all the city employee health and retirements plans? Kathryn E.

Contact Laguna Hills City Council Members at - ccouncil@ci.laguna-hills.ca.us  

WIN WIN Wednesday!
Here's the lineup for - WWW Global Cuisine - Please Download your flyers to give to each restaurant to get the 20% for Win-Win-Wednesday's Safe & Sane Grad Night for LHHS at http://www.winwinwednesdays.com/  

June - Saluting Seniors 2011
June 1 California Pizza Kitchen - LH Mall
June 8 BJ's Brewhouse & Restaurant
June 15 Elephant Bar - LH Mall
June 20 LHHS PTSA's Grad Nite Preview Night Event
June 22 Special SUPER WWW with 5 ITALIAN FOOD VENDORS

HOW TO SUPPORT THE 3rd BATTALION, 5th MARINE DIVISION - Adopted by the City of Laguna Hills

Any donation checks can be made specifically 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 by clicking on this link - http://www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us/  

Please see the Laguna Hills 3/5 Adopted Marines Facebook page created by Karen Robbins by clicking on this link - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laguna-Hills-Team-Darkhorse/132765660119128  and share it with your friends!! Team Dark Horse also now has beautiful white cotton t-shirts for sale, with blue stars on one arm, red stripes on the other arm and the small Dark Horse Head in black on the left breast or large Dark Horse head on the chest. There are also great looking caps to match.

NEWS STORIES AND BLOGS ABOUT LAGUNA HILLS: Click on the links below to see the stories.

Councilwoman: Public pay report inaccurate, self serving
http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-299908-report-council.html

OC Watchdog Lavish health benefits slashed in Laguna Hills, Tustin http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/05/12/lavish-health-benefits-slashed-in-laguna-hills-tustin/82833/  

After attacks, city-manager-compensation sleuths win state award March 21st, 2011, posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/03/21/after-attacks-city-manager-compensation-sleuths-win-state-award/78545/#comment-139633  Click on http://www.publicceo.com/  for more of this story.

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 2011 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."

CRIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

For a roundup of Laguna Hills police calls - published May 11, 2011 click on:
http://www.ocregister.com/news/block-300013-disturbance-drive.html  and go to - www.ocregister.com/saddleback  for more.

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

May 10, 2011 - Laguna Hills City Council Meeting
All Council Members were present
==============================
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS - You can now listen to every City Council Meeting online on the City web site at http://www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us/  via an audio recording beginning with the March 22, 2011 meeting. Try it out and see what you think.
*** See the May Line Up for Win-Win-Wednesdays Never Tasted so good at http://www.winwinwednesdays.com/  see more under - INFORMATION, COMMENTS QUESTIONS and CONCERNS from Watch Dog Readers:
Contact Laguna Hills City Council Members at - ccouncil@ci.laguna-hills.ca.us

PRESENTATIONS and PROCLAMATIONS – Sharry Graham presented, the OC Chapter of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD), 2010 “DEUCE AWARD” to Deputy Scott Watson for amassing 74 DUI Arrests in 2010 in this small city of about 33,000 people. There was a great deal of applause. Lt. Doan, Laguna HIlls Chief of Police, introduced Deputy Watson who has been serving Laguna Hills for 4 years, and has developed an expertise in the identification and apprehension of drunk and impaired drivers. Chief Doan announced that he has commandeered Deputy Watson to move to traffic enforcement on a motorcycle in Laguna Hills in the near future. Every year MADD recognizes police officers for their efforts in reducing or eliminating drunk driving on our roadways while continuing to remind everyone that drunk driving is not a victimless crime and is proven to have a tragic effect on families and communities throughout the nation. Sharry Graham noted that her son had by hit by a drunk driver going 85 mph on Crown Valley Parkway in 2002.

PUBLIC COMMENTS - Amber Quartz from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and Robert Alverado, a firefighter announced that on Saturday, May 21 they will be collecting funds for MDA on the corner of Avenida de Carlotta and El Toro Rd. They noted there are about 2000 people afflicted with Muscular Dystrophy in Orange County. Council Member Bressette clarified the location with instructions to - Go on El Toro Rd. come up PDV make a right turn toward the freeway look for the firefighters with the big firefighter's boot, and please put cash in the boot to help. The money collected for 43 neuromuscular diseases goes to health care for those with the disease in Orange County and a for a summer camp for children with these diseases.

Warren Wittaker, Laguna Hills Resident said he had 2 concerns about the area of Stockport Park in Laguna Hills.
1.  The hillside on the north end of the park near the play equipment is mostly bare dirt on a steep unstable slope. He suggested planting some trees there to help correct this condition.
2.  He was concerned about safety and security in this park which is a very late night and early hours of the morning party spot. He suggested preventive measures for this. Ken Rosenfield, City Engineer and Director of Public Services confirmed bare areas on the slopes and noted that children play on those areas trampling the landscape. He said there is no evidence of gross instability. Additionally many old trees had to be removed from that area leaving stumps and roots behind which are difficult to remove due to the steepness of the slope. He noted that this park is scheduled to for renovation in the next fiscal year. Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth inquired about security lighting in the park and Ken Rosenfield responded that the lighting in the park is mainly for the walkways not for security. Carruth suggested cutting back vegetation as necessary so that late night parties in the park could be more clearly seen. Council Member Kogerman confirmed how unsightly this area is and noted pipes for sprinklers are exposed where dirt has eroded. She suggested fencing is needed to protect slopes and grow plants.

Everette Stone, Laguna Hills Resident inquired about the area of Ridge Route between Moulton and the Freeway, and identified this area as not looking good, not in keeping with the rest of Laguna Hills and asked if something could be done to improve it. Ken Rosenfield, Director of Public Services, City Engineer responded that this area is scheduled for renovation in 2 years.

Meg Gorham, Laguna Hills Resident (Win-Win-Meg) announced 3 new developments.

1. She has recruited some Fast Food eating establishments and Coffee Houses for every day rather than just on Wednesdays for a "Win-Win-Everyday" to assist the fund raising effort for Safe and Sane Grad. Night. The next new development is Win-Win-At-Your-Service for Hair Salons, Nail Salons, Cleaners, and Car Washes who are also interested in joining.

2. There will be a SUPER WIN-WIN-WEDNESDAY on June 22 with 5 Italian food vendors, so you can eat all day and all night and Win-Win-Wednesdays will now be all year long instead of just the months leading up to graduation.

3. She thanked the City for their check and said it was hugely appreciated and because she was unable to attend the last city council meeting she asked for clarification regarding references at that meeting to the City also providing additional Police Services for Grad. Night. She noted that the Grad Night fund raising group has a budget for about $2000 for security and they must sign contracts for that very soon, so they may not have to spend that money if the City is donating additional police services.
Lt. Doan, Laguna Hills Chief of Police stated historically there is no dedicated officer for the event, but the area car does spend a lot of time there, as time permits. We don't put somebody on the property during grad night itself. Officer's are there more than they would be on any normal night but not dedicated to that event. Mayor Songstad said there's a car that spends some additional time there outside. Council Member Bressette said it was referenced at the last city council meeting that the City did spend additional funding for security for Grad. Night, over and above the $4000 in the budget so is that not true? City Manager Bruce Channing responded that Public Safety Benefit is the rationale for the $4000 the City gives each year to this effort but noted no additional money spent for police or other security for the event. Mayor ProTem Carruth spoke at length about how having police in the area increases security for Grad. Night, but noted no additional money spent for police or other security dedicated to Grad Night.

(**Editor's Note - At the 4-26-11 city council meeting, it certainly sounded to us as though the City was also donating some police services, so, we went back to the recording of that council meeting and took another listen to see who said exactly what about furnishing police services as an additional contribution to Grad Night and this is what was said: Council Member Bressette said, "I'd like to move that the City Council match the $1,500 raised by Laguna Hills Grad Night and issue a check as soon as possible." Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth said, "The $4000 that we appropriate every year in addition to law enforcement, we have our deputies that drive through the parking lot and are always there just moments away if there are any problems with the event itself that too is a commitment and too we have committed resources from the City to insure that we create a safe environment at Laguna Hills High School." She also suggested individual contributions from the Council and said she was donating $200.  Council Member Lautenschleger said, ".... I think the $4000 we contribute plus the law enforcement, that goes along with it, is a great contribution but I think that's what this City should limit itself to." Council Member Kogerman, said " .... and it is truly a public safety event.... as Mrs. Carruth says a gift of public funds, we're doing that, we're doing above and beyond the $4000...." Council Member Songstad said, "I would be happy to match Mrs. Carruth's contribution."- Mayor-Pro-Tem Carruth contributed $200, Council Member Bressette stated he contributed $500, Council Member Kogerman contributed and Mayor Songstad stated he would match Mrs. Carruth's contribution.)

LHHS STUDENT LIAISON REPORT by Lyndsey Kaan - A week from last Saturday was the swap meet at LHHS and Teen Darkhorse (Teen division of the 3/5 Marine Support Group) made almost $1,100. This Saturday is Prom night and the theme is Masquerade. Last show for Little Women, the amazing Spring Musica,l is May 11, 12 and 13. More testing and that's it.

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 until the next city council meeting so there is a long delay for the public related to timely documentation of information from the city.

CONSENT CALENDAR - Warrant Register = $356,346.67

Items of interest from the Warrant Register - Animal Pest Management Services was paid $500 for a Coyote Assessment March 11, 2011  (**Editor's note -  Citizens never received a formal report on findings from this "Assessment" and Citizens were promised last year that the Coyote Problem would be agendized at a City Council Meeting but so far that hasn't happened either.)

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

Item 4.3 – 3rd Quarter Financial and Treasurer’s Report for Fiscal Year 2010-11 – Unaudited information from the City states year to date funding sources by the end of the quarter totaled $13.7 million and funding uses were approx. $17.2 million. The City states discrepancies here are primarily related to timing issues and the revenues and expenditures are expected to be met by the end of the fiscal year with general fund revenues projected to come in at 8% below budget and operating expenses 6% below budget. The City’s funding sources include general fund revenues, special revenues (including grant funds) and debt financing. Staff Recommendation is receive and file this report.

Item 4.4 – Zoning Text amending Temporary Uses in permit Seasonal Strawberry Stands. Staff Recommendation – adopt the Ordinance

Item 4.5 – Progress Payment for La Paz Rd. widening.

Item 4.6 - Award of Contract for Energy Efficient Project to the low bidder Robert D. Gosney Construction for $164,634.00 to enhance or protect an un-named natural resource. Fiscal Impact to the City = $174,071.00 from a grant obtained from the CA. Energy Commission.

Item 4.7 - 2011 4th of July Celebration. 3 fireworks packages were presented to the City Staff: 1. 665 shells for $24,675 = 16 to 18 minutes 2. 532 shells for $23,500 3. 590 shells for $24,000 Staff recommends package #1 for the 2011 event. The City provides entertainment and activity free of charge every year and will include carnival rides, games informational booths, food booths and entertainment. The report states 11,000 people attended last year.
Fiscal Impact to the City for the 4th of July Event is expected to be $52,500.
Staff Recommendation – execute the agreement with Pyro Spectaculars, Inc.

Item 4.8 – Status Report on Florence Sylvester Senior Center Upgrades – In July 2010 the City received a Federal Community Development Grant of $52,000 for Public Improvements at the Florence Sylvester Senior Center. The City has also recently been informed that it has tentatively been awarded $63,750 to implement energy efficiency improvements at the Center specifically the installation of a solar panel system.

VOTE - Consent Calendar was passed 5 - 0 as a block of items without comment on any of the individual items.

Items Pulled from the Consent Calendar for Discussion- NONE

PLANNING AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING - Item 5.4.1 - Conditional Use Permit Master Sign Pgrm. Request from G & M Oil Company, Inc. to reconstruct the existing Gas Station and add a new 1,316 sq. ft. convenience store located at 23991 El Toro Rd.

Staff Recommendation is to conduct a public hearing and approve the Conditional Use Permit. (**Editor's note this is the gas station for which the City recently paid a total of $1,590,431.54 for a 15 foot wide 2,500 sq. ft. portion of the property to accommodate the right-of-way for the widening of El Toro Rd at Avenida de la Carlota. The amount paid includes the land and rebuilding this 30 year old gas station to include a Food Mart.)
Staff report states this request is for a complete redesign and reconstruction of the Chevron Gas Station site including new fueling islands and canopy and a new 1,316 sq ft. convenience store, new signage and new landscaping. The site is now non-conforming related to its smaller size (16,160 sq. ft.) due to the Carlota St. widening, site design and signage.

Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth asked if the placement of the convenience store and the gas pumps in the design could be reversed to place the food market at the corner where it would be seen from the street and the gas pumps in back rather than the other way around as it is now designed, and asked if the architectural styling could be made to look more like the old California style. Vern Jones, Community Development Director explained there was no way to put the convenience store at the corner without reducing the 20 foot setbacks, cutting into the landscape significantly and redesigning the building to flatten it into a more linear facility which may make it less functional, also the building being closer to the corner would block the visibility.

Planning Agency Public Comments - The Project Architect and George Pearson, owner of the gas station for 20 years, spoke and said they had worked hard with the help of Vern Jones, Community Development Director and Vern's staff to get a design that accommodated everything in the smaller area, the pumps and the new convenience store as well as ample room for vehicles to enter and exit and to accommodate the large truck that refills the tanks, etc. The convenience store and the pumping station were designed using tan colors and facade treatments that were recommended by the City, and all the signage and landscape were also designed to conform, etc. There were no additional speakers from the community. Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth stated, "I think I've been persuaded that perhaps reversing this is not going to work even with the potential for some more space in the driveway" and she asked again about the architectural style.
VOTE was 4 - 1. The dissenting vote was Mayor Pro-Tem Carruth who said she could not vote for this because she was not convinced that this plan could not have been reversed in this significant entry point to the City.

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS – NONE

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS - **These Items are authored by City Staff

Item 7.2.1 – Results of the 2011 Biennial Citizen Survey with a request to cancel the 2013 Citizen Survey. (**Editor's Note - Please see a synopsis of this survey with all of the comments from citizens who offered suggestions for the City posted on this blog site below this issue of the Laguna Hills Watch Dog.  Just below the Citizen Survey is a another special edition synopsis of the big April 19, Budget Session with a listing of all the favorite projects for the City suggested by council members and city staff. This survey is reported here, by city staff, to have cost $16,850.00.  It was reported in the January 11, 2011 City Council Meeting Staff Report that the City would save $18,000 by eliminating it and in the April 12, 2011 City Warrant Register the City is reported to have paid the University of North Texas $8,425.00 for the Citizen Survey so we will continue to monitor for any additional payments to the U. of No. Texas to see if we can determine the actual cost. Staff is again asking the Council to cancel the next city survey scheduled for 2013 claiming that it will cost $18,000 and the difficulties with a decreased amount of telephone land line numbers are too great.)

Assistant City Manager Don White reported study results and suggested, for the second time this year, that it be eliminated in the future because it was not random enough related to not enough phone numbers published in the white pages now so skewed to older residents missing some of the younger population from 18 years old up.

Mayor Pro Tem Carruth asked Don White what our options were and asked for any insights from the survey vendor as well.  Don White replied voter registration is also skewed to an older demographic.  He said the City of Laguna Hills uses a "not for profit vendor" for their Citizen Survey and noted that most of the survey companies that operate in CA. and work for other cities are for profit. He stated, "They have not been as up-front, I think, with the problem that they're all facing." The other cities around are still doing the phone surveys and are typically using voter registration. He suggested possibly doing the survey through City Views, mail in surveys or Facebook. Mayor Songstad stated it was concerning to him to eliminate it entirely because it is picking up valuable information from citizens who have lived in the city a long time. He suggested keeping the money in the budget and checking again in another 2 years. Council Member Bressette said this is the 9th Biennial City Survey and is a valuable tool for the community to use to tell the City Council what they think. He stated electronically taken polls are in progress now and should be better in 2 years. He also asked Don White about the question that incorrectly asked residents if their dog was licensed "with the City." (Editor's Note - ** No dogs are licensed with the City in Laguna Hills, they are all licensed with the County Animal Shelter in Orange who provides all of the Animal Care Services for Laguna Hills.) White responded that he did not believe residents were confused by that question in the survey because it came after other questions about animal care services. Council Member Kogerman suggested that the City combine the Alert OC (emergency call notification to residents and business owners system for any emergencies in the City) with the Citizen Survey in the future because the Alert OC System has e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers that can be separately contracted to use for the survey. She added that other communities have done this. Lt. Doan, Police Chief for Laguna Hills added Blackboard Connect runs Alert OC and although we don't use it for this now we can contract with it for information for the Citizen Survey. Success requires residents to opt into a program to be used for this as a non-emergency program, so actively asking for this information from citizens would be needed to develop a data base.

VOTE - Leaving the money for the survey in the budget as a placeholder for the next 2 years passed 5 - 0.

7.2.2 City Employee’s Compensation Study Presentation - The study report by Doug Johnson with Ralph Anderson & Associates compared the Compensation for Laguna Hills Employees to 17 other cities in Orange County. The findings to date were NOT published on the City website for residents. (Editor's Note - **This was a preliminary, incomplete and somewhat dependent upon overhead projections study report that basically concluded there were no urgent findings. If you are interested in more detail please listen to the recording online on the City web site.  A summary of the study is posted below)

Doug Johnson from Ralph Anderson & Associates said the study is looking at understanding market trends in categories such as: base salary, benefits, both isolated and cumulative, and the prevailing practices concept: if 90% of the market agencies have this benefit and you don't or the reverse. Also looking at overall city position, historical practices and specific job classifications. He said there is no Private Sector data to present tonight.

Looking first at base salaries, then benefits then the mix. Two other items internal vs. external equity and pay delivery method are not the focus tonight. Tonight's focus is the City's position in the market place and benefits in a study of a sample of 17 cities.

City Position and Historical Practices - This City is paying 5% above the market average to recruit and retain employees. This City minimizes long term liabilities by retaining the 2% at 60 retirement formula benefit and encouraging cash outs of sick leave, and excess vacation benefits. He said most organizations in the public and private sector target being somewhere between the 50th and 75th percentile in the market place range. He said employees in this city were interviewed to be sure the jobs were understood and could be fairly compared with job positions in other cities in the study. He said in this city most jobs are right around the arithmetic mean of the market place + 5% with a few outliers that do not match with this policy. He added that this City is at the overall rating of 61 percentile in the market of the 17 cities studied, so this city is above 60% of the market agencies and another 39% are above this city.

Benefits - Looking at employer costs starting with base salaries and building in benefits. Starting with two major cash benefits - deferred compensation and retirement pickup. The second group examined is Insurance benefits including health, dental, vision but the study is not looking at office co-pays, deductibles, or how good the benefits are, etc. He noted that the rate structure was just recently changed for health care benefits. He did not mention looking at the Employee and Employer Contributions the City pays for health care premiums for the employee and their dependents?

(**Editor's Note - See this recent news story for more on the Health Care Premiums issue: OC Watchdog Lavish health benefits slashed in Laguna Hills, Tustin http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/05/12/lavish-health-benefits-slashed-in-laguna-hills-tustin/82833/  

Doug Johnson continued that they also looked at leave benefits and auto allowances. He looked at only one job "Administrative Job" as a tool to illustrate the use of comparisons with other cities and largely referred to charts projected on screens at the meeting to explain this.

In summary he said Laguna Hills pays 100% of the Retirement Benefit pickup (paying both the employee and employer contributions) and most cities have richer retirement benefits but are moving away from 100% retirement pickup now. Laguna Hills still has the 2% at 60 retirement plan and the retire at 55 plan is a big incentive now for many employees. He said the City has a hybrid retirement plan consisting of both PARS (defined contribution) which requires a 3.5% of salary contribution for non-management and 6.5% of salary contribution for management employees and PERS (defined benefit) retirements. He said that this city's Health Ins. Benefits, Dental and Vision Premiums are the 2nd highest in this sample of 17 cities. Holiday, Sick Leave and Vacation Benefits, with no administrative leave benefit in this City, were found to be 3.2 days, on average, lower than the market place.

Council Member Kogerman asked how the cars for the City Manager and Assistant City Manager were factored into this report and asked for a non-management vs. management breakout in the final study report. Doug Johnson responded that this report did not factor in the cars bought for the City Manager and Assistant City Manager and that would be a part of a further refinement of the study. Related to the City Manager and Assistant City Manager, Johnson said assigned vehicles and auto pools are hard to capture in this type of study and it is not common to provide assigned vehicles, mileage reimbursement is what most organizations do or an auto allowance for management jobs and $368 is average auto allowance in this study. In Laguna Hills auto allowances range from $300 to $650.

Johnson added a final report will be in about 2 weeks, but City Manager Channing stated this cannot be brought back on the Agenda until the 1st meeting in June although council members will get their information sooner.



OTHER BUSINESS - **These Items are authored by Council Members

Item 8.1.1 City Council Member Kogerman requested a revision of the online “Public Officials’ Compensation Report for the year 2010. Kogerman asked that the City Council direct staff to revise the report by incorporating the changes indicated in the “Background” of this item and have the revised document available for City Council review in the June 14, 2011 meeting.
(** Editor's Note -  To see more on this issue in this recent News Story please click on the link below)  Councilwoman: Public pay report inaccurate, self serving
http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-299908-report-council.html

Mayor Songstad questioned Council Member Kogerman's request for a revision of the Public Officials’ Compensation Report for the year 2010 stating his recollection was that a few weeks ago we approved this, so he is wondering why she is bringing this up again now.

Council Member Kogerman said this report that is supposed to be “AT A Glance” tables currently contains extensive text that is not relevant to the intended topic and is more reflective of a public relations effort than transparency and accountability for citizens and contains some factual errors. She noted that council members and residents expressed much discontent with the current online report. She said it was far from perfect but a step in the right direction in that it was the only notification to citizens of the awarding of performance bonuses by the City Manager to others on the management team and the only look at the City's payment to one manager's retirement health care savings plan of nearly $60,000. She said by recently initiating a discussion with staff on the content of the report, Council Member Bressette has opened the door for its revision, so rather than amending the report incrementally in a piecemeal fashion over time it should be streamlined by highlighting the information that promotes the original goal of transparency and eliminating extraneous and self serving information. She said our Citizens want to know what we are spending. She requested that the discussion for this be in an open meeting forum in the interest of transparency. She also noted the following errors: This is supposed to be a compensation report for 2010 but the health care benefits estimate what we will be paying for 2011.  Mayor Songstad asked why not revise it next year?

Council Member Bressette said he felt compelled to correct inaccuracies in Mrs. Kogerman's statements saying 2 or 3 council meetings ago he brought up the fact that there were some mechanical issues with the report related to accessing information from it online. The City Council then directed him to meet with staff and review these concerns with staff privately which he did. He continued that at no point in time did he take the intent of the city council to re-open this issue. Didn't think it was appropriate to spend much more time with Mr. White than was spent with the mechanical issues. He said he thought any further discussion of this issue has to wait until July. He concluded with let's be very clear that I don't think there is anything I did to open the door for this discussion.

Council Member Kogerman noted other factual errors in the report such as saying that council member are required to participate in calPERS, that is not the case, as she did not participate in that plan and chose a less costly one. Kogerman agreed to discuss this in July but not to wait another year.   Mayor Songstad said he does not agree that there are inaccuracies in the information and everybody on the council except you is required to stay in PERS.

No Vote - The issue was deferred until July of this year

(**Editor's Note This exchange between Council Members Kogerman and Bressette was puzzling to us at the LH Watch Dog so we asked Council Member Bressette for clarification. He responded with the following: I do support the “At A Glance Tables” (AAGT). As you may remember this was my issue with Bruce (referring to City Manger Bruce Channing) as early as March of 2010. You will remember I had my head handed to me by Songstad, Lautenschleger, and Scott over this issue. This did not deter me from pursing the issue. I am still just as committed to the ease and transparency that the Compensation Report should have.

Tuesday night was not the time to get anything accomplished with this council. They were tired and this is a huge issue. Time right now has to be focused on the biennial budget. I felt I did support the issue, and kept it alive by saying we need to get back to it after the budget. I saved the issue from being swept under the carpet for another year. We do not need to wait until the end of the year to address this issue, but we do have to wait until July. I do not agree with everything raised Tuesday night, but support the general issue of tables instead of verbiage. The Compensation Report still needs attention.   Randy

Council Member Bressette further clarified a technicality that we who are not city council members are unlikely to perceive, explaining that if this issue had been brought to a vote at the 5-10-11 City Council Meeting there could have been a substitute motion with a 3-2 vote to leave the compensation report as is until next year so he saved that from happening by not having any vote taken and left it with everyone knowing it will come up again in July.)

MATTERS PESENTED by MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Council Member Bressette - The OC Fire Authority is competing against another foundations to win $50,000 from the Pepsi Corporation. People can help put smoke alarms in all the residences in OC by going on the web site to vote for OCFA's smoke alarm program. You can click on http://www.refresheverything.com/oc-install-inspect-protect   to vote for this project to help OCFA get this funding from Pepsi.

Council Member Kogerman asked that council direct staff to return, after the completion of the budget process, with a report on the estimated costs of procedures to implement a city-wide campaign to gather contact the information needed, e-mail addresses, cell phone #s and unlisted land line phone #s, etc. for Community Emergency Notification and the Citizen Survey including information on the best ways to do this. Mayor Songstad said this sounds like a significant work effort so why not just get a report getting an estimate of cost of staff time to do this, after we are through with the budget. Kogerman responded it would be acceptable to get a report of what would be involved and what the cost would be. Mayor Pro Tem Carruth - Perhaps the longer we wait the better off we'll be even in a year methods may improve so perhaps waiting a couple months is a good idea. Council Member Bressette - If we defer this until after the budget potentially we'd have to wait 2 years to do it based on it potentially being a Major Plan. So perhaps sooner than later would be better. City Manager Channing if the purpose for the campaign is encouraging more involvement in the OC Alert program contact sooner may be better. Bressette said I would prefer to see it sooner rather than later, a staff report in the next 2 meetings on what the OC alert contractor says about this.

Council Member Lautenschleger - 2 day Annual SCAG Meeting report - OC is doing its own sustainable community stragegy and there is support from SCAG. In the last decade we lost a million two hundred thousand jobs in So. CA. Interesting study and a local profile for the city came back from this.

Closed Session – None

Next regular City Council Meeting is Tuesday May 24, 7 pm, at City Hall.  A synopsis of the Results of the Citizen Survey are posted on this site just below this report and the PUBLIC BUDGET WORKSHOPS have been completed and there is a synopsis of the April 19th, 5 hour Special Budget Session posted here below the Citizen Survey Report. There will be a PUBLIC HEARING on the City Budget in June.
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City Council & City Manager Report Card - 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 - P Voted for continuation of the Citizen Survey

Carruth - P Voted for continuation of the Citizen Survey

Kogerman - P Voted for continuation of the Citizen Survey and (A+) for problem solving a probable solution (A) for authoring Citizen Friendly Issue of revising the On-line Public Official's Compensation Report for Calendar year 2010.

Lautenschleger - P Voted for continuation of the Citizen Survey

Songstad - P Voted for continuation of the Citizen Survey

City Manager - F failure to be pro-active for citizens in looking for, finding and reporting solutions to a reported problem with the Biennial City Survey rather than suggesting canceling it. P - Success in working with business owner in the city to problem solve the difficult problem of how to reconstruct a gas station and convenience store on a smaller lot, that would still be convenient for citizens to use, at the corner of El Toro and Avenida de Carlota thanks to Vern Jones and his Dept. of Community Development.

INFORMATION, COMMENTS QUESTIONS and CONCERNS from Watch Dog Readers:

The City Manager's Employment Contract, and Health Care premiums for part time City Council Member's and all their dependents paid by taxpayers is outrageous, but no additional police services or money for Safe and Sane Graduation?  

In Laguna Hills the Taxpayers pay the entire cost of health 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.

What a skewed agreement.  My wife once worked as a department head, management level, for Irvine Co. She got a nice but not indulgent health plan and we got a good rate for us but it was deducted from her pay. That's how it should be, family doesn’t work for city. This run amok benefits, paycheck fringe benefits, hidden, obscure benefits is all hog wash and the “Bellish” trade in/cash outs of accumulated leave and best salary years “scheme” to boost retirement should be OUTLAWED.

Part time council members getting FULL TIME benefits for families is outrageous. That is how private business goes out of business. Forgot, this is not private business just Bell spending of taxpayers money held in fiduciary trust. With an employee who gets 100 % paid solid gold benefits, for himself and 100% for family members this is like having additional employees who aren't doing the work.  Do the math on this what happens in the long run?  In Europe with their more conservative and fiscal balanced mind set and actual balanced budgets, looking many years ahead to retirement, 60 to 70 % of pay is on very good day.

The City will need to overtax and cut programs to pay for “Laguna Hills' BELL behavior and we can’t give a piddley $1500 to a safe and sober graduation?  How about asking the city manager, since he got a 60k car, to cough up a few dollars for the kids and why is it an issue that police services should be involved in graduation? That should not even be a question. If we did not have safe and sane graduations the police may have to go scoop up the killed or injured kids (that happens many times for the cities who DON’T have safe graduations) it would not be a problem to pay for police attendance to that “event”  Mr. C - With a daughter graduating next year

Signage Issues in the City?
With all the fuss about sign regulations in this city why doesn't the city do something about that giant Halloween Poster in the window of the vacant  building that used to be Circuit City?  It just screams abandoned building, and looks ridiculous being there all year long.  Lilly

Contact Laguna Hills City Council Members at - ccouncil@ci.laguna-hills.ca.us

WIN WIN Wednesdays Never Tasted So Good !
Here's the lineup for - WWW Global Cuisine - Please Download your flyers to give to each restaurant to get the 20% for Win-Win-Wednesday's Safe & Sane Grad Night for LHHS at http://www.winwinwednesdays.com/  

May - WWW Celebrates MOMs
May 11 Mother's Market & Kitchen - Restaurant & Juice Bar
May 18 Latte Da
May 25 Ruby's Diner - LH Mall

June - Saluting Seniors 2011
June 1 California Pizza Kitchen - LH Mall
June 8 BJ's Brewhouse & Restaurant
June 15 Elephant Bar - LH Mall
June 20 LHHS PTSA's Grad Nite Preview Night Event
June 22 Special SUPER WWW with 5 ITALIAN FOOD VENDORS 

HOW TO  SUPPORT THE 3rd BATTALION, 5th MARINE DIVISION - Adopted by the City of Laguna Hills

Any donation checks can be made specifically 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 by clicking on this link - http://www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us/  

Please see the Laguna Hills 3/5 Adopted Marines Facebook page created by Karen Robbins by clicking on this link - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laguna-Hills-Team-Darkhorse/132765660119128  and share it with your friends!! Team Dark Horse also now has beautiful white cotton t-shirts for sale, with blue stars on one arm, red stripes on the other arm and the small Dark Horse Head in black on the left breast or large Dark Horse head on the chest. There are also great looking caps to match.

*** Team Dark Horse made $885.00 in the LHHS Swap Meet on April 30 thanks all of you who donated, bought or bought items. Very Special Thanks goes to: Mav Bressette who organized the group and missed much of her high school reunion weekend to pull this together and make it work on short notice. Council Member Randy Bressette, Mav and Randy and Mav’s son Matt, and Matt’s friend Norianne, Bob Dickson, and Dick Nagle all worked hard for all those hours to decorate, make signs, organize and make those sales. Meg Gorham paid for our spot at the Swap Meet and she and Teresa Bonutto worked with the Teen Dark Horse high school kids who helped all day to make this a success. Teresa and Mav purchased Team Dark Horse hats for the students to wear while they sold the donated items. Janet Kazarian (our Swap Meet Guru) got us all the tables and tarps we needed for the event, donated a lot of items and was our director for success. Council Member Lautenschleger assisted with pickup and delivery. Micki and Gerry Zettel came out early Sat. to help us place the donated items and many students spent the whole day helping. This was truly a Community Event.  Mike Bland 

Eli, the bomb sniffing Labrador Retriever, arrived at to Camp Pendleton to reunite with the Marines who returned from Afghanistan on April 29, 2011. “When a sniper’s bullet struck Pfc. Colton Rusk, the first to reach his body was his best friend Eli – a bomb sniffing, black Labrador so loyal he snapped at other Marines who rushed to his fallen handler.” “After Rusk died Dec. 6, his parents decided they wanted to adopt his dog…….It was only the second time that a U.S. Military dog has been adopted by the family of a handler killed in combat. “- From Register News Services.

In April 2011, the 3/5 Marines, Dark Horse Marine Battalion, returned from their deployment to Afghanistan and on April 29, there was Memorial at Camp Pendleton, CA. honoring the 25 fallen Marines and more than 200 others who were wounded. Kathy and Darrell Rusk, the parents of the 20 year old fallen Marine Pfc. Colton Rusk, and Brady and Cody, Colton’s brothers, flew from Orange Grove, Texas to attend that Memorial and brought Eli with them to reunite with and comfort the Marines Eli had protected in Afghanistan.

Mike Bland and Dick Nagle, from the Laguna Hills 3/5 Marines Support Committee attended the Memorial Service and met Eli and the rest of the Rusk family. Mike told us that although the support committee had raised money to help Eli make the airplane trip here from Texas with the rest of the Rusk family, Darrel Rusk told him that South West Airlines not only flew Eli for free, but allowed him to fly in the cabin and when Darrell returned to his seat, after visiting the bathroom Eli was sitting in his seat. Darrell Rusk said approximately 20 family members attended the Memorial Service and hundreds of the Marines greeted Eli.

The Memorial Service was attended by approximately 2000 people including the 3/5 Marines. Eli greeted Mike Bland with a big, friendly paws on the chest jump and Mike reported that Eli was completely quiet during the entire 2 hour Memorial Service. Eli wore a red, white and blue saddle blanket halter uniform with a handle on top and a ring for attaching a leash. It featured 5 silver stars and read 3/5 Dark Horse, USMC Eli, IDD Bomb Dog, In Memory of LCpl. Colton W. Rusk – KIA 12-6-10. Pfc. Rusk was given a promotion to Corporal posthumously. On KFI radio on May 13 at 8:25 am Bill Handel reported that the Rusk family said when the family brought Eli home for the first time he ran immediately to Colton's room, sniffed around and that is where he now sleeps.

To see original story of Eli and fallen Marine Colton Rusk click on: http://ocpets.ocregister.com/2011/02/03/family-adopts-fallen-marines-service-dog/82914  Eli was adopted by the family of fallen 20 year old Marine, Colton Rusk, who worked with Eli and loved him in Afghanistan. Click on http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marines-memorial-20110430,0,7771264.story  to see the reunion story in the LA Times Newspaper.

2 news stories about the 3/5 Marines:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/19/marine-pays-tribute-brother-arms/ http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Pendletons-35-to-Return-Home-118654254.html

NEWS STORIES AND BLOGS ABOUT LAGUNA HILLS: Click on the links below to see the stories.

After attacks, city-manager-compensation sleuths win state award March 21st, 2011, posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/03/21/after-attacks-city-manager-compensation-sleuths-win-state-award/78545/#comment-139633  Click on http://www.publicceo.com/  for more of this story. 

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 2011 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."

CRIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
For a roundup of Laguna Hills police calls - published May 11, 2011 click on:
http://www.ocregister.com/news/block-300013-disturbance-drive.html and go to - www.ocregister.com/saddleback  for more.

WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR of the Orange County Register
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