SPECIAL REPORT - Laguna Hills Watch Dog - City Council and City Manager Report Card Scores for the Year 2011

These ratings are subjective and based upon the Laguna Hills Watch Dog's observations, recordings and scoring of every City Council Meeting in 2011 related to attention from Council Members and the City Manager to Serving the Citizens. These scores are, in the opinion of the Laguna Hills Watch Dog, a reflection of levels of Transparency, Accountability, Championing of Citizen Related Issues, and Achieving Citizen Related Goals. The city manager is not allowed to vote so he was scored based upon online and agendized staff reports as well as verbal reports from the city manager and from his management staff.

There is no perfect score.  These scores are based upon items that came up in city council meetings during the year 2011. What is presented here is, in the opinion of the Laguna Hills Watch Dog, an illustration of a range of scores that were gleaned from votes taken, initiative that some council members took on behalf of citizens compared with others and a degree of willingness of all council members and the city manager to be transparent and accountable to citizens and possibly time spent on citizen related issues. Detailed explanations of each council member's and the city manager's scores are listed below the postings of the scores to further explain the Laguna Hills Watch Dog's reasoning behind the scoring of each item so that you can decide for yourselves how relevant the scores may be for you.

A+ is generally for achieving passage of a Citizen Friendly Item that a Council Member has authored, and for other special achievements/efforts for Citizens beyond the ordinary, A is generally for Researching and Authoring Citizen Friendly Items for the Council Agenda to be considered by the Council, P (Pass) is generally for voting for Citizen Friendly Items, F (Fail) is generally for voting against Citizen Friendly Items.

City Council Members are listed below from the highest scoring to the lowest. All of the dates shown with the items listed are dates of City Council Meetings.  For additional information you can listen to the online audio/video of council meetings or scroll down on the Laguna Hills Watch Dog Blog site at http://lhwatchdog.blogspot.com/ to find the posting for each city
council meeting in the archives.

Council Member Barbara Kogerman received
A+ = 9
A = 18
P = 21
F = 0
Citizen friendly rating = 48
Citizen unfriendly rating = 0
TOTAL CITIZEN FRIENDLY RATING = 48

Council Member Randy Bressette received
A+ = 7
A = 8
P = 22
F = 4
Citizen friendly rating = 37
Citizen unfriendly rating = 4
TOTAL CITIZEN FRIENDLY RATING = 33

Mayor Pro-Tem Melody Carruth received
A+ = 1
A = 1
P = 18
F = 9
Citizen friendly rating = 20
Citizen unfriendly rating = 9
TOTAL CITIZEN FRIENDLY RATING = 11

Council Member Joel Lautenschleger received
A+ = 1
A = 0
P = 14
F = 11
Citizen friendly rating = 15
Citizen unfriendly rating = 11
TOTAL CITIZEN FRIENDLY RATING = 4
* Lautenschleger missed one council meeting on Nov. 22 and missed the opportunity for 3 votes at that meeting.

Mayor Allan Songstad received
A+ = 0
A = 0
P = 16
F = 13
Citizen friendly rating of 16
Citizen unfriendly rating of 13
TOTAL CITIZEN FRIENDLY RATING = 3

City Manager Bruce Channing received
A+ = 0
A = 4
P = 4
F = 26
Citizen friendly rating = 8
Citizen unfriendly rating = 26
TOTAL CITIZEN FRIENDLY RATING = (Negative 18)

See below for Detailed Explanations of each council member's and the city manager's scores

COUNCIL MEMBER KOGERMAN
January 11, 2011
A+ Refused City's High Priced Health Ins. Premium Plan for Part Time Council Members and elected to enroll in a less costly retirement plan
April 12, 2011
A+ for calling on the City Manger to respond to citizens concerned about the Coyote problem and for pointing out the need for announcements of the votes on every issue
for the residents listening to the online audio broadcasts of City Council Meetings.
May 10, 2011
A+ for problem solving a probable solution to continue the City Survey for the Citizens in the future
June 28, 2011
A+ for getting citizen friendly item she Authored -Review of City manager's Employment Agreement passed.
July 12, 2011
A+ for getting citizen friendly item she Authored - Re-negotiating the City Manager's Contract passed.
August 23, 2011
A+ for researching, documenting and announcing the flaws in the City's Compensation Study
September 27, 2012
A+ for pursuing an update from the City for the Citizens related to the Coyote Problem, getting the issue agendized for public input and prompting the City to track reported sightings of coyote problems from citizens.
November 22, 2011
A+ for getting the ordinance she introduced of protecting children in City Parks from sex offenders passed
December 13, 2011
A+ for a full year of listening to and representing the Citizens who elected her and for admirable conduct in the face of being consistently passed over for the position of Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem by the council although she received the highest number of votes in the 2010 election.

================================
January 11, 2011
A - Authored request for updating and clarification of the City's online Public Official's Compensation Report
A - Authored request for Review and Explanation of provisions of City Manager's Contract
January 25 - 2011
A - Authoring the Citizen Friendly Item of City Council Financial Policy Regarding Employee Compensation Recommendations for everyone making $100,000 or more be revised to reflect citizen's wishes and current economic conditions. Discussion of this was postponed through a substitute motion by Votes from Carruth, Lautenschleger and Songstad.
March 22, 2011
A - Authored Citizen Friendly Item of Publishing Annual Goals of the City at the beginning of the year rather than at the end
May 10, 2011
A - Authoring Citizen Friendly Issue of revising the On-line Public Official's Compensation Report for Calendar year 2010.
May 24, 2011
A - for her role in precipitating the new lower premium rates for Medical Ins. for City Council Members and staff through her refusal to accept the higher rates and her investigation and exposure of the previous rates. Kogerman was absent from this meeting when the City Manager announced the decrease in Health Insurance Rates. The lower cost policies had been available since 2003 and the largest decrease in the rates was in the rate for the City Manager/City Council department which decreased from $179,893 to $74,135 = a 59% decrease.
June 14, 2011
A - Vote to delay Adoption of City's Biennial Budget for results of City Employee Compensation Study
A - Vote and protest against adoption of Budget w/o results of City Employee Comp. Study
June 28, 2011
A - Authoring a Review of City manager's Employment Agreement Item for the Council Agenda
July 12, 2011
A - Authoring the citizen friendly Item of re-negotiating the City Manager's Contract
A - Authoring a citizen friendly alternative Resolution for City Employee Compensation Policy including employees paying 2% of their Employee Contributions to their CalPERS Retirement plan with an additional 2% added each year until they and the City are each paying for half of the total plan cost.
August 23, 2011
A - Authoring a Minority Response to the Grand Jury Compensation Study Report
A - Authoring an item on the agenda for the residents, drawing attention to the need for a successful plan for addressing the coyote problem in the City.
September 27, 2012 A - Authoring an Ordinance for Child Safety from Sex Offender Zones in City Parks.
October 25, 2011
A - Authoring item in favor of transparency and accountability questioning the ACC-OC's conduct related to it's claims to be "very member centric, and attempt to stay out of issues that were controversial for its members." regarding news reports of their discussions with Chapman University President Jim Doti re. Dr. Smoller and the Compensation Studies that revealed the Laguna Hills City Manager as the highest paid City Manager in the County.
November 22, 2011
A - for championing the no cost to the City fund raising mechanism for City's adopted 3/5 Marines through the Memorial Day Event.
December 13, 2011
A - for effort to move the People's Business to higher priority on the City Council Agenda.
A - for introducing the item of a City Planning Commission consisting of Citizens

======================================
January 11, 2011
P - Voted to continue the Citizen Survey
P - Voted for fund raising opportunity for the City's Adopted Marines at no cost to the City
P - Voted for updating and clarification of Public Official's Compensation Report
P - Voted for Review and Explanation of City Manager's Contract
February 8, 2011
P - Voted for Citizen friendly updated Compensation Report
P - Voted for updated citizen friendly Purchasing Regulations
February 22, 2011
P - Voted against taxpayer paid $24,500 study of 26 City Employees' Compensation, based upon old hiring and compensation policies and with input only from the employees whose compensation is being studied
March 22, 2011
P - Voted for publishing Annual Goals of the City at the beginning of the year.
May 10, 2011
P - Voted for continuing the 2013 City Survey
June 28, 2011
P - Voted for review of City Manager's Employment Agreement for possible changes
July 12, 2011
P - Voted for the Citizen Friendly Appointment of a Labor Negotiator to attempt to re-negotiate the City Manager's Contract.
July 12, 2011
P - Voted against the Resolution by City Staff to determine their own Compensation Policy for the City.
August 23, 2011
P - Voted against the City Staff authored Response to the Grand Jury Compensation Study related to researching and finding significant methodology flaws in the City's Compensation Study that was used as the defense for the City's response. Additionally the City's compensation study failed to include the City's Top Officials although the Grand Jury specifically requested - "R.4: Compensation Levels The City of Laguna Hills conduct a compensation review of top officials."
P- Voted for need for improved plan to address coyote problems in the City.
September 27, 2012
P - Voted for the Block Grant Fund for the Senior Center.
November 8, 2011
P - Voted for the City Attorney. to draft a Safety in the Parks Ordinance.
P - Voted to add City's Adopted 3/5 Marines name to the City's Memorial Day Event
November 22, 2011
P - Voted for Protecting children from registered sex offenders in the Parks,
P - Voted for raising money for the Marines through the Memorial Day Event,
P - Voted to continue the commercial food waste diversion plan
December 13, 2011
P - 2nd vote for child safety from registered sex offenders in the parks

March 8, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
April 26, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
September 13, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
October 11, 2011 - Nothing to Report for this council member

COUNCIL MEMBER BRESSETE
January 11, 2011
A+ for championing the rescue of the 2011 City Survey for residents from City Staff who requested that it be discontinued.
*This item was corrected from the original Jan. 11, 2011 LHWD posting because it was mislabeled there as a vote under P (pass).
A+ for achieving ongoing support, at no cost to the City, for the City's adopted 3/5 Marines.
May 24, 2011
A+ for achieving success in getting his agenda item passed for reduced fees from the City for the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines who were initially invited to run in the City's Memorial Day Race then charged to run, plus a $200 booth refund to the 3/5 Marines support group due to no booth being used.
August 23, 2011
A+ For researching, documenting and announcing flaws in City's Employee Compensation Study
A+ Authored a Substitute Motion and got it Passed regarding need for a plan to address widespread Coyote Problem in the City.
November 8, 2011
A+ for Championing the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines and working for a no cost to the City plan to support them in 2012 and beyond.
November 22, 2011
A+ for successfully passing a no cost to the City fund raising mechanism for the City's adopted 3/5 Marines through the Memorial Day Event for 2012 and beyond.

=============================
January 11, 2011
A - Authored request for updating and clarification of the City's online Public Official's Compensation Report
A - Authored request for changes in the Acquisition and Budgeting of City Manager's vehicle
January 25, 2011
A - For Defending the concept that it is inappropriate to use a substitute motion to simply defer a council decision * this item was corrected from the original report where is was previously labeled as P (pass)
May 24, 2011
A - Authored Agenda Item to reduce fees for City's Adopted 3/5 Marines who were originally invited to run
in the City's Memorial Day Race.
June 14, 2011
A - Vote to delay Adoption of City's Biennial Budget until the next council meeting for results of City Employee Compensation Study
A - Vote and protest against adoption of the new Budget without results of City Employee Compensation Study
July 12, 2011
A - Authored Substitute Motion for City Employee Compensation Policy.
November 22, 2011
A - for Championing the ordinance of protecting children in City Parks from registered sex offenders

==============================
January 11, 2011
P - Voted for a no cost to the City fund raising opportunity for the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines for 2012
P - Voted for updating and clarification of the City's online Public Official's Compensation Report
P - Voted for review and explanation of the City Manager's employment contract
P - Voted to continue the 2011 City Survey for residents
February 8, 2011
P - Voted for the updated City's online Public Official's Compensation Report
P - Voted for updated Purchasing Regulations.
March 22, 2011
P - Voted for publishing the City's Annual Goals for the year at the beginning of the year rather than only at the end of the year.
May 10, 2011
P - Voted to continue the City Survey for Citizens in 2013
May 24, 2011
P - Voted to Pass the New lower premium rate Composite Health Care Ins. for Council Members and Staff
P - Voted for reduced fees for the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines who were originally invited to run in Memorial Day Race
June 28, 2011
P - Voted for review of City Manager's Employment Agreement for possible changes.
July 12, 2011
P - Voted against City Staff's Resolution to allow City Staff to determine their own Compensation Policy and was not allowed to present alternative possibilities.
P - Voted for the appointment of a Labor Negotiator to attempt to re-negotiate City Manager's contract.
August 23, 2011
P - Voted against City Staff's response to Grand Jury Compensation Study related to researching and finding flaws in the City's Compensation study that was used as the defense for the City's response. Additionally the City's compensation study failed to include the City's Top Officials although the Grand Jury specifically requested - "R.4: Compensation Levels – The City of Laguna Hills conduct a compensation review of top officials."
P - Voted for need for improved plan to address coyote problems in the City.
September 27, 2012
P - Voted for the Block Grant Fund for the Senior Center.
November 8, 2011
P - Voted for the City Attorney to draft a Safety in the Parks for children from Registered Sex Offenders Ordinance
P - Voted to add City's Adopted 3/5 Marines name to the name of City's Memorial Day Event
November 22, 2011
P - Voted for Protecting Children from Registered Sex Offenders in the Parks,
P - Voted for raising money for the Marines at no cost to the City through the Memorial Day Event
P - Voted to continue the commercial food waste diversion plan.
December 13, 2011
P - Voted 2nd vote for Child Safety from Registered Sex Offenders in the parks

==================================
February 22, 2011
F - Voted for taxpayer paid $24,500 study of 26 City Employees' Compensation, based upon old hiring and compensation policies and with input only from the employees whose compensation was being studied.
October 25, 2011
F - for not requesting an investigation to clarify for citizens what was said by ACC-OC members including Mayor Songstad regarding news reports of their discussions with Chapman University President Jim Doti re. Dr. Smoller and the Compensation Studies that revealed the Laguna Hills City Manager as the highest paid City Manager in the County.
December 13, 2011
F - for ignoring voter's top choice in 2010 for Mayor Pro Tem in 2012
F - for no effort to move the People's Business to a higher priority on the City Council Agenda.

March 8, 2011 - Nothing to report from this council member
April 12, 2011 - Nothing to report from this council member
April 26, 2011 - Nothing to report from this council member
September 13, 2011 - Nothing to report from this council member
October 11, 2011 - Nothing to report from this council member


MAYOR PRO -TEM CARRUTH
January 11, 2011
A+  For achieving ongoing support from the City for the City's adopted Marines through an optional $3 contribution box on the runner's registration form for the 2011 Memorial Day Event.
====================================
January 11, 2011
A - Authored Useful Opportunity Idea for additional support for City's Adopted Marines - $3 check off box added to registration for Memorial Day Marathon runners in 2011

=====================================
January 11, 2011
P - Voted to continue the 2011 City Survey for residents
P - Voted for a not cost to the City fund raising opportunity for the City's Adopted Marines for 2012
P - Voted for updating and clarification of the City's online Public Official's Compensation Report
P - Voted for Review and Explanation of City Manager's Contract
February 8, 2011
P - Voted for updated online Pubic Official's Compensation Report
P - Voted for updated Purchasing Regulations.
May 10, 2011
P - Voted to continue the City Survey for residents in 2013
May 24, 2011 -
P - Voted for reduced fees for the City's 3/5 Marines who were originally invited to run in the 2011 Memorial Day Race
June 28, 2011
P - Voted for review of City Manager's Employment Agreement for possible changes.
July 12, 2011
P - Voted for the appointment of a Labor Negotiator to attempt to re-negotiate City Manager's contract. 
August 23, 2011
P - Voted for need to address widespread coyote problem in the City.
September 27, 2012
P - Voted for the Block Grant Fund for the Senior Center.
November 8, 2011
P - Voted for the City Attorney to draft a Safety in the Parks Ordinance Protecting Children from Registered Sex Offenders.
P - Voted to add City's Adopted 3/5 Marines name to the name of the City's Memorial Day Event
November 22, 2011
P - Voted for Protecting Children from Registered Sex Offenders in the Parks
P - Voted for raising money at no cost to the City for the City's Adopted Marines through the Memorial Day Event in 2012
P - Voted to continue the commercial food waste diversion plan.
December 13, 2011
P - Voted Yes on 2nd Vote for Child Safety from Registered Sex Offenders in the parks.

=======================================
February 22, 2011
F - Voted for taxpayer paid $24,500 study of 26 City Employees' Compensation, based upon old hiring and compensation policies and with input only from the employees whose compensation is being studied.
March 22, 2011
F - Voted Against publishing the City's Annual Goals for residents at the beginning rather than only at the end of the year.
June 14, 2011
F - Voted Against a delay in the Adoption of Biennial Budget for results of City Employee Compensation Study
F - Voted for adoption of Budget without results of City Employee Compensation Study
July 12, 2011
F - Voted for the City Staff's Resolution to determine their own Compensation Policy for the City without discussing alternative Resolutions from other council members.
August 23, 2011
F - Voted for City's response to Grand Jury although the City's compensation study failed to include the City's Top Officials as specifically requested by the Grand Jury - "R.4: Compensation Levels – The City of Laguna Hills conduct a compensation review of top officials."
October 25, 2011
F - for not investigating to clarify for residents what was said by ACC-OC members including Mayor Songstad regarding news reports of their discussions with Chapman University President Jim Doti re. Dr. Smoller and the Compensation Studies that revealed the Laguna Hills City Manager as the highest paid City Manager in the County.
December 13, 2011
F - for ignoring voter's choice in 2010 for Mayor Pro Tem in 2012
F - for no effort to move People's Business to a higher priority on the City Council Agenda.

Jan. 25 - 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
March 8, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
April 12, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
April 26, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
September 13, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
October 11, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member


COUNCIL MEMBER LAUTENSCHLEGER
A+ - For Opting out of the City's Expensive Health Care Ins. Coverage for Medicare.
A - None
=====================================
January 11, 2011
P - Voted to continue the 2011 City Survey for residents
P - Voted for a no cost to the City fund raising opportunity for the City's 3/5 Adopted Marines
P - Voted for updating and clarification of the City's online Public Official's Compensation Report
P - Voted for Review and Explanation of City Manager's Contract
February 8, 2011
P - Voted for updated online Public Official's Compensation Report
P - Voted for updated Purchasing Regulations but voiced that they were not needed.
May 10, 2011
P - Voted to continue the City Survey of residents in 2013
May 24, 2011
P - Voted for reduced fees for the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines who were originally invited to run in the 2011 Memorial Day Race
P - for Passing the New Composite Health Care Ins. Rate
August 23, 2011
P - Voted for need to address widespread coyote problem in the City
September 27, 2012
P - Voted for the Block Grant Fund for the Senior Center.
November 8, 2011
P - Voted for the City Attorney to draft a Safety in the Parks for Children from Registered Sex Offenders Ordinance.
P - Voted to add City's Adopted 3/5 Marines name to the name of the City's Memorial Day Event
December 13, 2011
P - Vote yes on 2nd Vote for Child Safety from Registered Sex Offenders in the park Ordinance.

=====================================
March 22, 2011
F - Voted Against publishing the City's Annual Goals for residents at the beginning rather than only at the end of the year.
February 22, 2011
F - Voted for taxpayer paid $24,500 study of 26 City Employees' Compensation, based upon old hiring and compensation policies and with input only from the employees whose compensation is being studied
June 14, 2011
F - Voted Against delaying Adoption of biennial Budget for results of City Employee Compensation Study
F - Voted for adoption of Budget w/o results of City Employee Comp. Study
June 28, 2011
F - Vote Against review of City Manager's Employment Agreement for possible changes.
July 12, 2011
F - Voted for the City Staff's Resolution to determine their own Compensation Policy for the City without discussing alternative Resolutions from council members.
F - Voted Against the appointment of a Labor Negotiator to re-negotiate City Manager's contract.
August 23, 2011
F - Voted for City's response to Grand Jury although the City's compensation study failed to include the City's Top Officials as specifically requested by the Grand Jury - "R.4: Compensation Levels – The City of Laguna Hills conduct a compensation review of top officials."
October 25, 2011
F - for not investigating to clarify for residents what was said by ACC-OC members including Mayor Songstad regarding news reports of their discussions with Chapman University President Jim Doti re. Dr. Smoller and the Compensation Studies that revealed the Laguna Hills City Manager as the highest paid City Manager in the County.
December 13, 2011
F- for ignoring voter's choice in 2010 for Mayor Pro Tem in 2012
F - for no effort to move People's Business to a higher priority on the City Council Agenda.

Jan. 25 - 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
March 8, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
April 12, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
April 26, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
September 13, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
October 11, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
November 22, 2011 - Lautenschleger was absent from this City Council Meeting


MAYOR SONGSTAD
A+ - None
A - None

================================
January 11, 2011
P - Voted to continue the 2011 Citizen Survey for residents
P - Voted for a no cost to the City fund raising opportunity for the City's Adopted Marines.
P - Voted for updating and clarification of Public Official's Compensation Report
P - Voted for Review and Explanation of City Manager's Contract
February 8, 2011
P - Voted for updated online Public Official's Compensation Report
P - Voted for updated Purchasing Regulations
May 10, 2011
P - Voted to continue City Survey for Residents in 2013
May 24, 2011
P - Voted for reduced fees for the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines who were originally invited to run in the Memorial Day Race
August 23, 2011
P - Voted for need to address widespread coyote problem in the City
September 27, 2012 
P - Voted for the Block Grant Fund for the Senior Center.
November 8, 2011
P - Voted for the City Attorney to draft a Safety in the Parks for Children from Registered Sex Offenders Ordinance.
P - Voted to add City's Adopted 3/5 Marines name to the name of the City's Memorial Day Event
November 22, 2011
P - Voted for Protecting Children from Registered Sex Offenders in the Parks
P - Voted for raising money at no cost to the City  for the Dity's adopted Marines through the Memorial Day Event
P - Voted to continue the commercial food waste diversion plan.
December 13, 2011
P - Voted yes on 2nd Vote for child safety in the park from registered sex offenders. .

=====================================
February 22, 2011
F - Voted for taxpayer paid $24,500 study of 26 City Employees' Compensation, based upon old hiring and compensation policies and with input only from the employees whose compensation is being studied
March 22, 2011
F - for voting Against publishing the City's Annual Goals at the beginning rather than the end of the year.
June 14, 2011
F - Voted Against delaying Adoption of biennial Budget for results of City Employee Compensation Study
F - Voted for adoption of Budget without results of City Employee Comp. Study
June 28, 2011 
F - Voted Against review of City Manager's Employment Agreement for possible changes.
July 12, 2011 
F - Voted Against the appointment of a Labor Negotiator to attempt to re-negotiate City Manager's contract.
F - Voted for the City Staff's Resolution to determine their own Compensation Policy for the City without discussing alternatives from other council members.
August 23, 2011
F - Voted for City's response to Grand Jury although the City's compensation study failed to include the City's Top Officials as specifically requested by the Grand Jury - "R.4: Compensation Levels – The City of Laguna Hills conduct a compensation review of top officials."
F - For lack of transparency, as Mayor, related to failure to report what has been done about coyote problem in the City to residents
October 25, 2011
F - For failure to clarify for residents what was said by ACC-OC members, including Mayor Songstad, regarding news reports of their discussions with Chapman University President Jim Doti re. Dr. Smoller and the Compensation Studies that revealed the Laguna Hills City Manager as the highest paid City Manager in the County.
December 13, 2011 
F - for ignoring voter's choice in 2010 for Mayor Pro Tem in 2012
F - for no effort to move People's Business for higher priority on the City Council Agenda
F - political comments as out going Mayor and not addressing goals he set for himself as incoming Mayor.

January 25 - 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
March 8, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
April 12, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
April 26, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member
September 13, 2011 - Nothing to report for this council member

CITY MANAGER CHANNING
A+ Nothing extraordinary from City Council Meetings - see City Manager's online End of the Year Report for 2011 on the City web site.

==========================================
April 26, 2011 
A - Reduction of Health Care Premium Costs but only after the previously high rates had been exposed in the News and many years after the lower rates had been available. 
A - for combining and simplifying the City Temporary Use Permits via Vern Jones, Community Development Director.
May 10, 2011
A - 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 via Vern Jones and his Dept. of Community Development.
* This item was corrected from a P (pass) in the original posting to an A
A - For not losing money for the City in 2011 - a 2.4% increase in the General Fund.

===========================================
January 11, 2011
P - For Citizen friendly effort to acquire Computer Software for online Audio online recordings of city council meetings.
September 27, 2012 
P - For obtaining Block Grant Fund for the Senior Center.
P - For Community Services Director's honest evaluation of charges for classes.
October 11, 2011
P - For probably a good taxpayer savings to outsource management of the Community Center.

===========================================
January 11, 2011
F - For Staff Recommendation to eliminate the 2011 City Survey that is a tool for citizens to state their opinions
January 25 - 2011 
F - Lack of Transparency - A public report from the Urban Land Institute's Technical Assistance Panel was presented without the criticisms of the City and recommendations for the City that were contained in the report including that the City should take a more proactive role in partnering with the business community, the City's hands off approach to governing misses the opportunity for collaboration among landowners and the reluctance of the fiscally conservative City to invest funds for any projects other than public transportation and signage.
February 22, 2011
F - Lack of Accountability and Transparency by not requiring reporting of attendance at Community Service Special Events to be broken down into attendance and participation by Laguna Hills Citizens vs. others and reporting Fiscal Impact to the City, if any, for these events. Citizens deserve to know more about where their tax dollars are going and for what
March 8, 2011 
F - For the online Public Official's Compensation Report that was supposed to be a convenient and easy to read "At A Glance Table" for Citizens, but was published as a lengthy narrative requiring a search for the tables showing compensation.
March 22, 2011 
F - For presenting inaccurate and misleading information without presenting documentation re. the Orange County Animal Shelter to residents including this excerpt from the March 22, 2011 City Council Meeting - City Manager Channing interrupted with, "None of these animals were euthanized for space." This is Not True according to the OC Grand Jury Study of 6-3-08 - "IS ORANGE COUNTY GOING TO THE DOGS?" - The Grand Jury Report stated - "The number of euthanized animals led the Grand Jury to question why the figure is so high. A large percentage of the animals euthanized was due to lack of space at the County Shelter."
April 12, 2011
F - For doing nothing pro-actively for Residents about the Coyote Problem related to not agendizing the matter for discussion at a City Council meeting as promised in Dec. of 2010 and not announcing for citizens what if anything had been done and when.
May 10, 2011
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 in 2011 and again for 2013.
May 24, 2011 
F - For asking for full fees for the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines who were originally invited to run in the City's Memorial Day Race + $200 Booth Fee when they did not use a booth and brought a display to assist the Event.
June 14, 2011 
F - For requesting a vote to Adopt the Biennial Budget without results of City Employee Compensation Study
F - for not presenting any information regarding when the results of the Compensation Study will be available or why they were not presented at the June 14 council meeting as the City Manager had previously stated they would be.
June 28, 2011 
F - for continuing the OCRA Senior Mobility Prgm. Funds for the Dial-A-Taxi transportation Program for Seniors, as is, without learning why more seniors are not using it.
F - For 20 years of never checking with CA. Edison to see if the City needed a License agreement or some form of written agreement to hang City Signs including Traffic Signs on their poles.
July 12, 2011 
F - For City error in the contract agreement with Nieves effective July 1, 2009 but not discovered until 2011 resulted in a maximum increase of $55,001.08 or about 22%.
F - For not volunteering to re-negotiate the City Manager's Contract with the City that has made him the highest compensated City Manager in Orange County.
August 23, 2011 
F - For the City Staff authored Response to the Grand Jury Compensation Study
F - For lack of staff attention to monitor of the audio and video equipment for this city council meeting
F - For failing to develop a specific long term plan, involving input from residents, to deal with the long term coyote problem in the City
September 27, 2011
F - For failing to track the coyote problems and sightings reported by residents
F - For not volunteering for good faith cuts to excesses in the City Manager's employment contract.
October 11, 2011
F - For establishing a City emergency notification program to residents through Twitter and not being able to use it in a power outage because the City's Tweeter was on vacation.
F - For not sending information to residents in a timely manner so they will be better able to respond.
October 25, 2011
F - For a dog license campaign update containing claims of successes for the City that were not validated by documentation for citizens.
November 8, 2011
F - For not clarifying the accuracy or source of information of the financial reports from the City's Memorial Day Events on the annual City web site reports of the event.
November 22, 2011
F - For recommending Against raising money for the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines through the Memorial Day Event at no cost to the City and recommending instead that the Marine Support Committee ask for annual donations from the City's General Fund.
F - For touting an award for Excellence in Financial Reporting from GFOA every year, in the City Manager's End of the Year Report, without mentioning that everyone can read on the GFOA web site that every other city in the area that belongs to the GFOA receives the same Certificate/Award.
F - For advertising, in the City Manager's End of the Year Report, that City Salary levels are 11.8% below the market when the City's Top Management was not included in the City's Employee Compensation Study by Ralph Anderson and Associates. 

February 8, 2011 - Nothing to Report from this meeting
September 13, 2011 - Nothing to Report from this meeting
October 11, 2011 - Nothing to report from this meeting
December 13, 2011 - Nothing to Report from this meeting