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.

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