Laguna Hills Watch Dog
Laguna Hills City Council Meeting - June 26, 2012


Features Directory


** Special Announcements - For Questions, Concerns and the 20 year LAGUNA HILLS GENERAL PLAN for LAND USE, MOBILITY/CIRCULATION, CONSERVATION and OPEN SPACE, COMMUNITY SERVICES and FACILITIES, SAFETY, NOISE, and HOUSING in the City - Click on
http://www.ci.lagunahills.ca.us/documents/depts/commdev/Laguna_Hills_General_Plan.pdf


** Candidate Web sites for Laguna Hills City Council in the 2012 November Election -
Dr. Raghu Mathur: www.mathurforlagunahills.com    
Andrew Blount: www.blountforlagunahills.com

** Citizen Alerts for future City Council Meetings will be listed on the blog site within 4 days prior to a meeting - Consider attending a meeting that interests you.

** Presentations and Proclamations - Certificate of Recognition for City Manager Channing from Saddleback Hosp.
** Public Comments - Speaker on traffic safety in his neighborhood, Win-Win-Meg's request for Mutual Promotional Support from City and LHHS for Major Activities/Events, Family and Friends of 25 year old man found, in January of 2012, hanging from playground equipment in Laguna Hills ask City for help with Sheriff's Dept. Investigation of his death.
** LHHS Student Liaison Report - Adam Wong - alternate Amanda Jafee (No more Reports until Sept. 2012)
** Consent Calendar - Warrant Register - $966,077.29
** Items of Interest from the Warrant Register - None
** Items Pulled from the Warrant Register- None
** Items of interest in the Consent Calendar:

Item 4.3 - Resolutions calling for the November 5, 2012 Consolidation of the General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election + Voting Information.

Item 4.4 - Application for Funds for Grant under the Prop. 1B Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality and Port Security Bond Act for Multiple Projects.

Item 4.5 - Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding with the Orange County Transportation Authority for the Moulton Pkwy. Traffic Light Synchronization Program.

Item 4.6 - Renewed Measure M (M2) Annual Compliance Reporting.

Item 4.7 - 1st and final payment for water quality improvement Catch Basin Debris Gate Project.

Item 4.8 - Reallocation of Proposition 1B funding from use on the Avenida de la Carlota Widening Improvement Project to multiple street improvement projects.

Item 4.9 -Continuation of Commercial Food Waste Diversion Program.

Item 4.10 - FY 2012-13 School Crossing Guard Agreement.

Item 4.11 - Adoption of Annual Appropriations Limit for FY 2012-13 - Appropriations for what purpose/purposes???   A question left unanswered.  

Item 4.12 - Participation in the Countywide Public Mass notification System - "ALERT OC" 


** Items pulled from the Consent Calendar for discussion - Item 4.12  - Is the Council Majority interested in adequately informing the Public about the County's "Alert OC" System? and Item 4.6 - Does this Impact the widening of the sidewalks on La Paz by Valencia School or the Paseo de Valencia Road Widening?


** Planning Agency Public Hearings - Item 5.4.1 - SITE DEVELOPMENT/CONDITIONAL USE and PARKING PERMITs REQUEST from SOKA GAKKAI INTERNATIONAL-USA, TO ESTABLISH SGI-USA BUDDHIST CENTER
** City Council Public Hearings, Administrative Reports - Item 6.1 - APPROPRIATION OF CITIZENS' OPTION FOR $100,000- PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDS


**Administrative Reports -  Item 7.2.1 - RESOLUTION ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES' STATEMENTS FOR THE NOVEMBER 6, 2012, CITY COUNCIL ELECTION - Will the City Council allow candidates for their jobs to have 200 or 400 words in their candidate statements?

Item 7.3.1 - 2011 Very thorough POLICE SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT - How did City Police Services do in 2011?
** Matters Agendized and Presented by Council Members - None
** City Council Member Comments - Should the City take a look at improving the transparency of its online Compensation Report as recommended by the Grand Jury this month - Yes or No?   Preventing of child drownings.  Were some of the problem statistics revealed in the Police Services Report glossed over by council members?  Meetings about San Onofre Power Plant.
** Closed Session - Item 10.1 - CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR City Designated Representative: Bruce Channing, City Manager, and Don White, Assistant City Manager Employee with the Laguna Hills City Employees Association City Employee Organization
** City Council Members Report Card - How did they score? + our arguments for the F grades given to council members re. City Council Candidate's statements for the 2012 Laguna Hills City Council election.   
* Information, Comments, Questions, Concerns from LH Watch Dog Readers from the previous blog post about the Old Barn on La Paz, The Mayor's public treatment of a business owner, and the LH Watch Dog  PLUS Win-Win-Wednesday! - You can leave comments on the web site or send them to BlandMJ@aol.com We do not use your name in the comments section unless you give permission.
* How to support our 3/5 Adopted Marines and Updates - Come to meet them with their equipment and celebrate with them at the City's July 4th Celebration.
* News Stories and Blogs about Laguna Hills - find more in the OC Register online under "City-by-City News" - "Laguna Hills" and in the OC Watchdog
* City Council Members Say the Darndest Things in Public
* Crime in your Neighborhood
* Instructions for Writing a letter to the Editor of the OC Register Newspaper


Laguna Hills City Council Meeting - June 26, 2012
All council members were present ** At 7 pm it was announced, on the audio, for this meeting that Council Member Kogerman was absent but she did arrive at 7:09 pm and attended all of the rest of the meeting.
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See information for Win-Win-Wednesdays 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 -
Steve Geidt, said he is the CEO of Saddleback Memorial Hospital, a non-profit organization as is the Parent Organization Memorial Care so they are served by a 14 Voluntary Member Community Board. City Manager Bruce Channing just completed his service as Chair of that Board for 2 years so was presented a Certificate of Recognition/Commendation for service.


PUBLIC COMMENTS -


Jimmy Haines, Laguna Hills Resident thanked the council for the stop signs in his neighborhood that have definitely helped but have not alleviated the problems with speeding and running stop signs, etc. He said they need more help from the Motor Officers and that there is now more traffic that was created from the re-development of the shopping center at La Paz and McIntyre. Jim also noted that he just completed the Citizens Emergency Preparedness Academy (CEPA), said it was an awesome program and urged the City to get word out there to get more people involved. He added that his neighborhood just started a Community Watch this year is working out well so they are planning on expanding it to the other side of Knotty Pine Park on the West side and through that group they are going to try to get more people to sign up for the CEPA program.


Meg Gorham, Laguna Hills Resident Win-Win-Wednesday Representative thanked the council for the part they played in helping to make the 23rd annual LHHS Grad Night a huge success. She added that making sure our students stay safe and sober and in Laguna Hills makes us very proud. She continued that prior to Grad night she worked with the students in the Grad Night Work Program where they earn Grad Night Tickets. She noted that they used Grad night as a public attraction to draw the community and local businesses to the campus to create a relationship that goes beyond donation requests. Reps. from Villa Valencia and Florence Sylvester Senior Center came to ID potential crossover activities between Senior Centers and Schools. In August Laguna Hills will partner with Macy's - Laguna Hills Mall is one of their primary "causes" in their Shop For A Cause Event. Laguna Hills will join forces with Valencia Elem. School as they compete in Simon Malls "Money for Minds" program. For the 1st time Laguna Hills PTSA will have a booth at Dippin Dots at the City's 4th of July Celebration. The PTSA will also be onsight at the Nellie Gail meetings and special events to gain neighborhood visibility. All of these effort are to put LHHS in the middle of the community not standing in a long line asking for a handout. If the community doesn't go to LHHS we will bring LHHS to the community and we need your help. She said through a real city partnership with LHHS you could at least get a 2for. The PTSA HAWK CHALLANGE Golf and Tennis Tournament on Monday November 12, 2012 falls on Veterans Day so everyone with that day off, including the City Council, has an opportunity to spend a day of golfing leisure while raising much needed funds to benefit every student at their local high school. Getting the General Public to share in our fund raising efforts has been the mantra of Win-Win-Wednesday's partnership that builds not only coffers but relationships. She asked for the City's support in Promotion of 3 Community Based Events - The HAWK CHALLANGE in November, the GRAD NIGHT PREVIEW EVENT in the Spring, and PTSA's WIN-WIN-WEDNESDAY Restaurant Funds Raisers all year long. She added they really appreciate the bulletin board in the Community Center and asked that the City consider a place in City Views to promote the HAWK CHALLANGE and noted that BLENDs Soft-Serve Creations has donated substantially to the cause.


William Dotson (sp?) from Los Angeles said they were here today with Toni Battle, the Mom of Khalid Flimban and his family because on Jan. 6 Khalid's body was found in Victoria Park. The OC Sheriffs were in charge of the investigation and to this point they are pretty much dismissing it as a suicide. However, Toni and other family members have been to the community and they found a witness who says they actually found someone who hung Khalid's body from the jungle gym. He said there's been a lack of communication from the OC Sheriff's Dept. William said he believes it's from a detective Sandra something (?) (He did not say Sandra Hutchins but another last name that sounds like Longnecker (sp?)  He said she has not been returning calls and they expect more cooperation. He added that Khalid served in the US Army and his Mom has suffered a great loss. He asked for help from the City Council.


Toni Battle (sp?) accompanied by a group of people from Buena Park said she is the mother of Khalid Flimban and said boys picked her son up from Buena Park and said she didn't speak to the Detective until approx. 6 weeks ago. She said there Coroner and the detective were disrespectful to her when they came to her house and interviewed her 16 year old son and asked him to ID his brother's body. She said she met with them about 6 weeks ago and the don't return phone calls. She said her son couldn't tie a knot so who put those knots behind his neck? She said there are a lot of things going on and she feels that no one cares because he was the wrong color, wrong neighborhood, and he was Muslim. She said the coroner lied and told her he was hanging from a tree off the beaten path where no one could see him. A man walking a dog found his body, She said she went to the park and there wasn't a tree. She said then he told her it was a jungle gym, then he said something really bad happened to your son that night because your son was propped over there, etc.


Toni also handed out a phamplet that says - At appprox. 3 am on January 5, 2012 Khalid Flimban (25 years old) was picked up by 2 of this male acquaintances from his home in Buena Park, and was taken to one of his male acquaintances home in Laguna Hills. Within less than 24 hours, he was found hung within a few yards from that individual's home in Laguna Hills. The orange County Sheriff's Dept. had the crime scene cleaned up and torn down less than 2 hours without investigating the neighborhood. They did not interview any friends or family until 5 months later. Would you please sign the petition at Change.org;Khalid Flimban. http://www.change.org/petitions/what-happened-to-khalid-flimban  Put absolute pressure on the OC Sheriff's Dept. Also "like" what happened to Khalid Flimban on Facebook.


Mayor Carruth responded, We are very sorry for you loss and asked the City Manager to respond. The City Manager said he wanted to be sure that they have contact information. He continued that they will follow up with the Sheriff's Dept. and be in contact. He added that the Sheriff's Dept. has an independent review individual. Mayor Carruth added we will do whatever we can to look into this and try to help you.


LHHS STUDENT LIAISON REPORT by Adam Wong - alternate Amanda Jafee - No further reports until Sept. 2012.


CONSENT CALENDAR - Warrant Register = $966,077.29
Items of interest from the Warrant Register - None
Items pulled from the Warrant Register - None


Items of interest from the Consent Calendar -


Item 4.3 - Resolutions calling for the November 5, 2012 General Municipal Election and request for consolidation of the General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election.


SUMMARY: The City Council must adopt a Resolution calling for the November 6, 2012, General Municipal Election for the purpose of the election of two Members of the City Council. Ordinance No. 92-13 of the City of Laguna Hills consolidated the General Municipal Elections for the City of Laguna Hills with the Statewide General Elections held in November of even numbered years. However, a Resolution requesting consolidation is still required to be filed with the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the Orange County Registrar of Voters for each election. The City Council has taken no action at this point in time to place a measure on the ballot. Fiscal Impact to the City - $20,000 has been budgeted for the 2012 General Municipal Election.


July 16 to August 10 Filing Period for Nomination Papers and at 5:00 p.m. Candidate’s Statements.  August 10 Deadline to file Nomination Papers (the filing at 5:00 p.m. deadline will be extended if an incumbent does not file).  August 15 End of extended Filing Period if a Council Member at 5:00 p.m. does not file (incumbents must file by August 10).


From October 8 to October 30 - Voters may request Vote-by-Mail Ballots.  October 22 Last day to register to vote.  November 6 ELECTION DAY – Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  December 11 Election results declared.  Click on http://permits.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=108&doctype=AGENDA To see Item 4.3 for all the details for the election of City Council Members in Laguna Hills.


Item 4.4 - APPLICATION FOR FUNDS FOR THE STATE-LOCAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FORMULA GRANT UNDER THE PROPOSITION 1B HIGHWAY SAFETY, TRAFFIC REDUCTION, AIR QUALITY, AND PORT SECURITY BOND ACT OF 2006 FOR MULTIPLE PROJECTS. -

SUMMARY: The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has approved a new one-time funding program for use by all cities in the County for roadway improvements. The funding source is a portion of Proposition 1B Funds known as the State-Local Partnership Program (SLPP). Previously, the City Council authorized the submittal of three potential projects for this funding source. The funding available has been determined to only allow two of the projects to proceed; the Ridge Route Drive Pavement Rehabilitation project and the El Toro Road Pavement Rehabilitation project. A Resolution of the City Council is required in order to confirm the SLPP grant fund request in the base amount of $318,000. In addition, the City of Laguna Woods will participate in one project (the Ridge Route Drive Pavement Rehabilitation project) and will provide an additional $25,000 of funding through their SLPP allocation. Staff Recommendation - Approval of the Resolution


Item 4.5 - AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR THE MOULTON PARKWAY TRAFFIC LIGHT SYNCHRONIZATION PROGRAM PROJECT In 2011, the City entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and other agencies for the traffic signal synchronization project along the length of Moulton Parkway (also known as Street of the Golden Lantern, Irvine Center Drive and Edinger Avenue). The Memorandum of Understanding expires on June 30, 2012, but the project has been slightly delayed and will need additional time. Fiscal Impact to the City is reported to be - None


Item 4.6 - RENEWED MEASURE M (M2) ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORTING TO THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY - On November 7, 2006, Orange County voters approved Ordinance No. 3, the Renewed Measure M (M2) one-half cent sales tax extension. Annually, Orange County local agencies must meet eligibility requirements in order to continue to be eligible to receive M2 funds. The eligibility compliance documents are due to Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) by June 30th of each calendar year. The City Council is requested to review and approve the compliance submittal documents including the Seven-year Capital Improvement Program related to roadways, the Maintenance of Effort Reporting Form, the Measure M2 Eligibility Checklist and the Local Pavement Management Plan Certification. FISCAL IMPACT: The City’s Fair Share Funds under M2 are estimated to be $500,000. Failure to remain eligible for Measure M2 Funds would put these funds in jeopardy.


Item 4.7 - FIRST AND FINAL PAYMENT TO G2 CONSTRUCTION, INC., FOR THE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT CATCH BASIN DEBRIS GATE PROJECT. RECOMMENDATION: THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE FIRST AND FINAL PAYMENT TO G2 CONSTRUCTION, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,950 FOR THE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT CATCH BASIN DEBRIS GATE.


Item 4.8 - REALLOCATION OF PROPOSITION 1B FUNDING - The City was previously allocated Proposition 1B funds by the State for use on the Avenida de la Carlota Widening Improvement Project, CIP No. 164. The total available funds for that project exceed the need for all of the allocated Proposition 1B funds to be utilized for that project. The State allows Proposition 1B funding to be reallocated to other projects provided the reallocation is presented at a public meeting and approved by the City Council. It is recommended that the City Council approve a reallocation of Proposition 1B funds to multiple street improvement projects as detailed herein. FISCAL IMPACT:Proposition 1B Funding provides necessary funds for the implementation of needed street improvement projects that could not otherwise be implemented.


Item 4.9 - CONTINUATION OF THE COMMERCIAL FOOD WASTE DIVERSION PROGRAM -


SUMMARY:A commercial pilot food waste program was first implemented in the City of Laguna Hills in July 2009. The City partnered with other cities that are serviced by CR&R for a regional food waste program of which collection service began in April 2010, and was funded by a grant from the County of Orange. The grant funds expired in November 2011. At its meeting of November 22, 2011, the City Council approved and accepted CR&R’s proposal to continue with the commercial food waste program at the existing rate for commercial recycling cart service from December 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012. A letter was received from CR&R, dated May 31, 2012, that offered to continue with the food waste program at the existing cart rate for commercial recycling services until its construction effort of a CR&R Anaerobic Digestion Plant is complete. This construction effort may take up to two years. CR&R will submit another proposal to the City at that time on any rate increases to accommodate a commercial food waste program. FISCAL IMPACT:There is no fiscal impact to the City for acceptance of CR&R’s offer to continue the food waste program.


Item 4.10 - FY 2012-2013 SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD AGREEMENT -


SUMMARY: Since 1994, the City of Laguna Hills has contracted with All City Management Services to provide six (6) crossing guards at five (5) locations throughout the City. All City Management Services has continued to be a reliable and cost effective method of providing this needed service. Staff recommends that the City Council continue the
current level of service provided in the Agreement for FY 2012-2013. FISCAL IMPACT: The projected number of hours for crossing guard services this year, including summer school, is four thousand, three hundred and twenty (4,320) hours. The contract cost for FY 2012-2013 shall not exceed sixty-three thousand and seventy-two dollars ($63,072). The proposal includes a cost increase of two and a half percent over the FY 2011-2012 agreement.


Item 4.11 - ADOPTION OF ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012/13 -


SUMMARY: In accordance with Article XIIIB of the California Constitution, which placed limits on the amounts of revenue that can be spent by public entities from proceeds of taxes, the City is required to establish a new appropriations limit each year. By applying the allowable population and per capita income growth factors, the appropriations limit for the City of Laguna Hills for fiscal year 2012/13 is calculated to be $30,384,635. Staff has determined that the City will be under the limit by $19,788,193 for the budget year 2012/13. A Resolution establishing the limit for fiscal year 2012/13 is attached to this report.


Item 4.12 -PARTICIPATION IN THE COUNTYWIDE PUBLIC MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM - "ALERT OC" -

SUMMARY: The County of Orange Chief Executive Office (CEO) and local emergency management professionals have implemented a countywide public mass notification system taking advantage of the newest technologies. The system, named AlertOC, was developed to be utilized by both the County of Orange for regional use, and the individual cities and special districts for localized emergencies. The County’s system has been operational since July 2008 and individual cities have adopted the system for local use. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no cost to participate in the AlertOC program. The County of Orange has purchased the system, administers the vendor contract, and will purchase periodic updates to the E911 database and geographic maps through June 2013, which is the term of the MOU.


VOTE - 2 Items pulled, The balance of the Consent Calendar was passed 5 - 0


Items Pulled from the Consent Calendar - Items 4.12 and 4.6 Pulled by Council Member Kogerman.


Item 4.12 - PARTICIPATION IN THE COUNTYWIDE PUBLIC MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM - "ALERT OC"
Council Member Kogerman said she had spoken with the City Manager who told her the City had been participating in this Program all along and this item is simply to confirm our participation. She requested the City publicize our participation in this Emergency Alert System for citizens more effectively informing citizens of how to participate in it and link it on the City web site, etc. Assist. She noted that Citizens can opt into this system further with more information such as registering their work phones on this system if they work out of the area as well as their land lines and cell phone #s. Council Member Bressette noted that a link on the City web site to Alert OC is available as of today. Assistant City Manager Don White said the City Could advertise this in City Views

Kogerman also said there is a County Advisory Committee for "ALERT OC"and each Participating City can appoint someone to that committee, she asked who that person is from our City. City Manager Channing answered there was no one designated from our City and he believes the Sheriff serves generically in that capacity on behalf of our City. Kogerman recommended a Public Education Program about this for citizens and consideration of a citizen to be appointed to this committee in addition to the Sheriff serving generically. *** The Mayor, the City Manager and Lt. Behrens said they didn't know who could serve on this Countywide Emergency Alert System committee. The Mayor asked if there was any interest in a staff report re. any of this from this City Council, other than Kogerman, and there was NONE. City Manager Channing stated we do want to encourage citizens to sign up for this program through our Neighborhood Watch Program and City web page and the City's Emergency Preparedness Academy's and it's beneficial for the community to get signed up for the service.


**Editor's Note - All we can say to this response from the City is Good Luck to the Community as a whole related to learning through the Osmosis Approach about this Emergency Alert System. It would appear, from this discussion, that the Majority of the City Council is not well informed about this System and neither is the City Manager. Perhaps they believe this County System is not important to the City, but the one most recurring complaint about this City Government that we have heard from citizens, in all areas of the City, over all the years that we have been attending Laguna Hills City Council Meetings is Lack of Needed Information From The City To Citizens.


Item 4.6 - RENEWED MEASURE M (M2) ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORTING TO THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY


Council Member Kogerman asked it the $318,000 from the SLLP mentioned in Consent Calendar Item 4.4 is included in the $500,000 mentioned in Item 4.6 or are they 2 separate amounts? Ken Rosenfield, Director of Public Services, City Engineer, responded the $318,000 is a one time only Grant Fund available from OCTA under the State Local Partnership Program (SLLP). The $500,000 is typical annual amount from this funding source allocated to the Operating Budget for Traffic Signal Maintenance, and Public Works Maintenance for Signage, etc. Kogerman asked is the widening of the La Paz Sidewalk on the East side of La Paz Rd. that is noted in this item going to have any adverse impact on the widening of the sidewalk on the South side of La Paz. Rosenfield answered No.


Kogerman's 3rd question was regarding the Widening of Paseo de Valencia between Laguna Hills Rd. and Kennington Dr. She said some have expressed unhappiness with that because it would move a median toward their neighborhood and remove some of the greenbelt adjacent to their neighborhood. She asked if approving this item carves in stone the plans for widening of PDV or will there be more opportunity to modify that project?  Rosenfield answered that this item has nothing to do with the construction funding for widening PDV and it would take a separate action of the City Council to authorize such a project. Under the current schedule, probably late Fall the environmental document will be released for discussion and evaluation by the City Council and a determination will be made then related to this project moving forward to the next stage.


VOTE - Consent Calendar items 4.6 and 4.12 passed 5 - 0


MINUTES - The City Council Approves 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 always a significant delay for the public related to timely documentation of information but you can now watch and listen to the City Council Meetings on the City's web site at www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us

CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING AGENCY
PLANNING AGENCY REPORTS
PUBLIC HEARINGS and Public Comments -


Item 5.4.1 - SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT/CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT/PARKING USE PERMIT NO. 4-12-2223, A REQUEST BY SOKA GAKKAI INTERNATIONAL-USA, TO ESTABLISH SGI-USA BUDDHIST CENTER, A RELIGIOUS FACILITY, IN AN EXISTING BUILDING AND PARKING USE PERMIT AT 23002 MOULTON PARKWAY IN THE MIXED USE ZONE.


David Chantarangsu, Community Development Director presented the Staff Report - The Sapetto Group, on behalf of Soka Gakkai International USA (Applicant), a Buddhist organization, has filed an application to establish the Laguna Hills Buddhist Center in an existing +/- 18,000 square foot building at 23002 Moulton Parkway near the intersection with Lake Forest Drive. The Buddhist Center will provide a gathering place for local members to congregate for worship, study, and fellowship. The building has previously housed a church, and functionally, the Buddhist Center will be similar to the churches that previously occupied the site. The applicant is requesting to expand the use and pursuant to a previous City requirement, a new Site Development Permit (SDP) and Parking Use Permit (PUP) are needed. Like the previous churches occupying the subject site, the Buddhist Center’s peak use times will be Sunday mornings for large worship services and weeknights for gatherings such as study groups and fellowship. During weekday hours the Buddhist Center will be open and staffed, but will not typically have any organized, large gatherings. Mr. Chantarangsu stated that property owners and Businesses within 300 feet were notified and only one objection was received and that was from the Property Owner of the Center where this building is located and it was related to the parking during lunch time. Mr. Chantaragnsu also noted that the applicant also did their own outreach to each of the businesses in the Center.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: THAT THE PLANNING AGENCY: APPROVE


DISCUSSION Summary - Mayor Pro-Tem Lautenschleger suggested not calling this Center the Laguna Hills Community Center because that confuses it with the City's Community Center.  Chantarangsu noted they changed that name to the Laguna Hills Buddhist Center.  Council Member Kogerman inquired about parking.


PUBLIC COMMENTS -


Greg Martin from Los Angeles, Senior Vice Present of SOKA International USA and the applicant for this proposed Buddhist Center thanked the City Staff, said they look forward to becoming part of the Community and added SGI is a global organization of some 18 million members in 200 countries and territories and dedicated to the enhancement of peace, culture and education based on Buddhist teachings. He said the core activity of all SGI members is the neighborhood discussion held in people's homes to bring people together through Buddhist prayer, study and discussion. This Center will provide a gathering place for worship, study, fellowship and youth programs for local members. He noted that SGI USA has 100 Centers across the USA and takes great pride in being good neighbors in each of those communities.


Pamela Sappeto said she has been working with SGI USA and staff on this application and explained that they conducted an outreach though contacting each of the 27 tenants in this Center and the owner of the property regarding any concerns about the shared parking agreement. She said none of the 27 contacts asked for a follow up meeting and messages were left for 5 tenants that they were unable to contact directly.


Mayor Carruth asked Greg Martin if he had review all the conditions and had no problems with them. Mr. Martin said that he had reviewed them and had no problems. Council Member Bressette thanked the applicant for their outreach to the community and added that makes it a lot easier for him to move the staff recommendation.


VOTE was 5 - 0 in Favor of the Staff Recommendation to Approve.


CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS and Public Comments
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS -


Item 6.1 - APPROPRIATION OF CITIZENS' OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDS


SUMMARY: - The 2011-2012 the California State Budget appropriated money for continued funding of the Citizens’ Option for Public Safety Program, which was first signed into law on July 10, 1996. These moneys are used exclusively for front line law enforcement activities. For FY 2012-2013, the City of Laguna Hills hopes to receive approximately $100,000, as in prior years. Pursuant to the requirements of the program, the City Council must conduct a Public Hearing and comply with a number of procedural requirements in order to receive the money. FISCAL IMPACT: The Citizens’ Option for Public Safety Program is currently unfunded for this fiscal year. However, staff is moving forward in anticipation of the State Legislature eventually finding the necessary funding in order to allocate the approximately $100,000 to the City of Laguna Hills. There are no matching fund requirements for this program.


STAFF RECOMMENDATION:  APPROPRIATE MONIES FROM THE CITIZENS’ OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TOWARDS THE COST OF FUNDING A FULL-TIME LIEUTENANT.

DISCUSSION Summary - City Manager Channing explained that it was this funding that enabled the City to have a full time Lieutenant serving as the Chief of Police for Laguna Hills as opposed to a part time position that the City used to have. Lt. Behrens said he hopes and is encouraged that these funds will be available.


PUBLIC COMMENTS - NONE
VOTE - Passed 5-0 to use this funding to support the cost of a full time Lieutenant for Laguna Hills.


ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS -


Item 7.2.1 - RESOLUTION ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES' STATEMENTS FOR THE NOVEMBER 6, 2012, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION


Peggy Johns, Laguna Hills City Clerk Presented the Report on this issue - State law requires that the City Council adopt a Resolution regulating candidates’statements. Historically, the number of words permitted for inclusion in a Candidate’s statement was 200 words. However, State law does allow the City Council to expand the word limit to 400, at an additional cost to the candidate. This must be done at the same time that the City Council adopts a Resolution Calling and Giving Notice of a General Municipal Election and the adoption of a Resolution requesting the Orange County Board of Supervisors Consolidate a General Municipal Election with the Statewide Election, to be held on November 6, 2012. The estimated cost for a candidate wishing to have a 200-word candidate’s statement published is $800; and if approved by the City Council, the estimated cost for a candidate wishing to have a 400-word candidate statement, is $1,200. The Resolution also states that the candidates must pay for the translation and for the printing of their statement into any required or not required foreign languages.


STAFF RECOMMENDATION: THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: (1) APPROVE THE ADDITION OF THE 400-WORD OPTION FOR CANDIDATES’ STATEMENTS;


DISCUSSION Summary - Council Member Bressette said his experience has been that very few people read the candidate's statements so moving from 200 to 400 words is an effort in almost futility. He also said the cost of the election last year (*Editor's Note - We believe he was referring to the last city council election in 2010) was obscene in his opinion and the cost already discouraged fine people in the neighborhood from running. He made a motion to receive and file.  Mayor Carruth added that the costs of running are high so she did not want to give an advantage to a better financed candidate.  Council Member Kogerman asked for a more detailed definition of the Council's options here and the City Attorney, Greg Simonian responded that the City can choose the 400 word candidate statements or keep the 200 word candidate statements or allow for an option of 200 or 400 words, but cannot receive and file. A motion was made to delete the 400 word option and keep the 200 word candidate statements.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - None
VOTE - the motion passed 5-0 to keep the 200 word statement.


Item 7.3.1 - 2011 POLICE SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT -
** Editor's Note - In our May 22, 2012 Laguna Hills City Council Meeting Report under the heading of LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT for 2012-13 - The City's report stated that the "Equivalent" Total Staff number is reported by the City to be 42.22 Actual total staff number is about 29.3 - We said - What happened to Transparency and to the Annual Year End Police Services Report from 2011? Tonight we got some answers.


The Police Services Report for 2011 was presented by our new Chief of Police for Laguna Hills, Lt. Tom Behrens who did not come to our City until 2012. Lt. Behrens started with transparent reporting, stating that the full time Police Staffing for Laguna Hills is 26.97 (42.22 "Equivalent" Staffing was the number reported by the City at the May 22, 2012 City Council Meeting.) Lt. Behrens' Report, which is easy to follow, is currently posted in the Staff Reports on the City web site under the Agenda for this City Council Meeting- click on http://permits.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=108&doctype=AGENDA scroll down to Item 7.3.1 2011 Police Services Annual Report.


Lt. Behrens , Chief of Police Services for Laguna Hills, noted what a good job the police services for Laguna Hills does and said he was very happy with the group he inherited. He gave special recognition to his Administrative Sergeant who he said was his right arm, handles training requirements, scheduling, etc.

POLICE SERVICES STAFFING for LAGUNA HILLS
Lt. Behrens reported - The staffing for Laguna Hills is: 1- Lieutenant, 1- Administrative Sergeant, 1.97 - Patrol Sergeants, (the additional 0.03 of this 0.97 shared Patrol Sergeant's time is spent in Laguna Woods and 2 additional Sergeants are shared with Aliso Viejo.) 2- Investigators (crime solvers) are assigned to the City with offices at the Aliso Viejo Station, 1- Directed Patrol Team Deputy who works with a team of deputies from contract cities in So. OC. This team works with investigators, 14- Patrol Deputies in cars, 3- Traffic Deputies (Motor Positions) on motorcycles for traffic enforcement and accident investigation, 1- (SRO) School Resource Officer, Deputy Gunsolley, 2- Community Services Officers civilian employees (non sworn personnel) their primary responsibility is parking enforcement and minor collision investigation and I- Crime Prevention Specialist, (non sworn personnel) Brittney Oldham.


Lt. Behrens continued that the cost for the 2011-12 Police Services Contract for the City was $6,540,385.00. It was noted that the per capita cost for police services through the OC Sheriff's Dept. for Laguna Hills is $215.00 and the sworn staff per 1000 residents is 0.82.


Lt. Behrens explained that:


Priority 1 calls (that include immediate danger of injury to any person) have a Targeted Response Time of 5 minutes from time of dispatch to time of arrival and in 2011 the Average Response Time was 4:50 minutes in Laguna Hills.


Priority 2 calls (that include serious crimes with No immediate danger) have a Targeted Response Time of 12 minutes from time of dispatch to time of arrival and in 2011 the Average Response Time was 7:29 minutes in Laguna Hills.


Priority 3 calls (that include crimes where suspects are gone or late reported crimes) have a Targeted Response Time of 20 minutes from time of dispatch to time of arrival and in 2011 the Average Response Time was 11:36 minutes in Laguna Hills.


Priority 4 calls (that include non-emergencies) do not have a Targeted Response Time listed but the report states in 2011 the Average Response Time was 20:07 minutes in Laguna Hills.


Laguna Hills Police Services handled 14,215 incidents including 7,889 calls from the public in 2011 as compared with 12,725 incidents including 5,786 calls from the public in 2010. **The number of calls for Service in 2011 increased by 2,103 over the number of calls in 2010.


2011 and 2010 CRIME STATISTICS were Compared as follows:
Lt. Behrens reported staff handled 14,215 incidents in 2011 and there were 12,725 incidents in 2010. Lt. Behrens noted a significant difference in the numbers of Incidents Handled and Calls from the Public 2011 vs. 2010. In 2011 Staff handled 14,215 incidents and in
2010 Staff handled 12,725 incidents
Calls from the public in 2011 = 7,889 and Calls from the Public in 2010 = 5,786


Lt. Behrens added that although deputies were significantly busier in 2011 they continued to handle the same amount of self initiated activity working for the community. Question re. why calls for service were so much higher in 2011 than in 2010 was not clear. Lt. Behrens said 2010 was an anomaly related to low numbers of calls for service. He added that 90% of calls that come in to Police Services are Priority 2 or 3 calls.


2011 and 2010 Homicides = 0,   2011 Rapes = 2 and 2010 Rapes = 4,   2011 Robberies = 11 and 2010 Robberies = 14, 2011   Aggravated Assaults (Assault with a deadly weapon) = 32 and 2010 Aggravated Assaults = 25,    2011 Burglaries = 95 and 2010 Burglaries = 78,    2011 Thefts = 475 and 2010 Thefts = 404,    2011 Auto Thefts = 27 and 2010 Auto Thefts = 28.    Total Crimes for 2011 = 642 and Total Crimes for 2010 = 553.


** Total Increase in Crimes in 2011 - Violent Crimes increased 5%, Property Crimes increased 17% and an overall 16% increase in Part 1 Crimes. Aggravated Assaults increased by 7, Burglaries increased by 17, Thefts increased by 71. Report also States in 2011 Drunk in Public Arrests increased by 200%.

Under Decreases - Sex Offences decreased by 55%, Forgery and Counterfeiting decreased 55%.


2011 and 2010 TRAFFIC REPORT STATISTICS were Compared as follows with 3 MOTOR Positions (3 Traffic Deputies on Motorcycles):
2011 Fatal Collisions = 0 and 2010 Fatal Collisions = 2,    2011 Injury Collisions = 109 and 2010 Injury Collisions = 79,    2011 Hit/Run Collisions = 55 and 2010 Hit/Run Collisions = 72.


Lt. Behrens noted that there were some shortages with Motor Positions in 2011. 2011 Rises in Injury Collisions and Hit/Run Collisions could be related to one injured Motor Deputy being off for 2 to 3 months in 2011 he just came back in 2012. Also 2 Motor Positions were replaced due to Retirement and Transfer and the training period for that takes 4 to 6 weeks. This equals about 6 months worth of missed duty time or 1/3 of our staff. 


2011 and 2010 TRAFFIC CITATION STATISTICS were Compared as follows:
2011 Hazardous Citations (speeding, unsafe lane changes, distracted driving) = 2,706 and 2010 Hazardous Citations = 3,594,    2011, Non Hazardous Citations = 1,681 and 2010 Non Hazardous Citations = 1,981,    2011 Restraint Violations = 27 and 2010 Restraint Violations = 114.
Lt. Behrens noted that the 2011 shortages in Motor Positions may account for the decreased numbers of citations in 2011.


2011 Preventative Patrol Time (freedom to patrol the streets time) vs. Consumed Time (work that is assigned) - Laguna Hills Goal for Preventative Patrol Time Goal is 40% and was explained as a deputy's unobligated patrol time to use for Crime Prevention after handling all calls for service, report writing, meal breaks, administrative briefings, etc.


Shift 1 from 5:30 am to 6 pm averaged a 37.73% Preventative Patrol Time, Shift 2 from 10:30 am to 9 pm averaged 44.82% Preventative Patrol Time, Shift 3 from 2 pm to 2:30 am averaged 42.06% Preventative Patrol Time, Shift 4 from 6 pm to 6:30 am averaged 42.75% Preventative Patrol Time. Traffic Deputies averaged 34.10% Preventative Patrol Time and Community Service Officers averaged 34.67% Preventative Patrol Time. Day shift is a little overburdened and Traffic Deputies and Community Service are not held to the standard of 40% for Preventative Patrol Time.


COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS were listed as: Neighborhood Watch Program which has now expanded to 12 neighborhoods (*Per Lt. Behrens - mistake in the report on the City web site states 4 neighborhoods) Community Emergency Preparedness Academy had 35 Graduates in 2011, Virtual Briefing is the Daily Report for field Personnel providing Crime Stats, trends and other relevant info. All of this is handled by the Crime Prevention Specialist Brittney Oldham.


(SRO) SCHOOL RESOURCES OFFICER Program in Laguna Hills was started in the 2008-09 School Year. SRO Deputy Gunsolley's Stats for 2011 are listed as: 11 Felony Arrests, 15 Misdemeanor Arrests, 31 Parental Referrals, 67 Criminal investigations, 47 Non-Criminal Investigations, 4 - Runaways, and 17 Truancy Checks. In response to a question by Council Member Kogerman, Lt Behrans said Drug and Alcohol Arrests are not indicated separately here but are included listed under Felony and Misdemeanor Attests statistics. Council Member Kogerman requested this information be pulled out and compared with previous years to see if there are trends in the statistics that we should be looking at.


2012 GOALS Listed are: Maintain focused effort at Reducing Crime in Laguna Hills, Continued emphasis on Response Times, Continued efforts in Crime Prevention/Education and Community Emergency Preparedness Academy.


DISCUSSION Summary - Council Member Kogerman said Public Safety is a primary reason for being here and asked if we could get more information crime statistical comparisons between cities including small cities like Laguna Hills. Lt. Beherns said he could pull up those statistics and related to comparisons between cities he noted there are many variables but those statistics can be pulled. Kogerman noted we have 3000 fewer residents than we had a few years ago so comparing stats per 1000 residents may be a better ideas in looking for trends, etc. Kogerman asked how we allot the time of 3 motorists on 4 shifts. Lt. Beherns answered  the Motorists work primarily during the day shift. Kogerman asked about Vice in the City related to the recent Grand Jury Report http://www.ocgrandjury.org/pdfs/sextraffickingreport.pdf on Sex Trafficking of Girls 6/22/12. She said we are having more of an issue with shady businesses them being licensed by the State and popping up in cities. She added that drug cartels and gangs are finding that sex trafficking is a sustainable industry. She noted that she heard from a relative who is a police officer that these businesses have to be dealt with in groups so they don't just move to a different location and continue. Mayor Carruth echoed Kogerman's concern. Lt. Beherns said he could look for more information on this and report on at another time.


Council Member Bressette noted that despite being short handed in 2011, the deputies continued to perform admirably.  He asked what is going to be done about increasing Preventative Patrol Time for Shift 1 deputies and Traffic deputies who are not meeting the goal?  Lt. Behrens responded that some of the pressure on shift 1 can be relieved by shift 2 and 3 which are considered to be relief shifts and part of shift 3 is the SET team whose hours can be varied depending upon where they are needed. We may need to alter shifts for some people. We can dig into numbers to specifically show when increases in calls are taking place, so we can make determinations regarding bringing someone in earlier or keeping someone later, without significantly changing the number of the people I have, based on spikes in the numbers of calls. He noted that 2011 was a heavier year than 2010 with more consumed time, more calls for service. He added that the Traffic Deputies and Community Service Officers are not included in the Preventative Patrol Time Goals, but the Motors (Traffic Officers on Motorcycles) will respond to an emergency (priority 1 call) even though their primary responsibility is traffic for priority 2 calls the Traffic Deputies will respond if they are available. Bressette also asked if the number of citations that were down dramatically in 2011 will go up when the motors are back online full time. Lt. Behrens answered he expects to see those numbers go up but there has been a decline in the numbers over the past 4 years although the motors are working consistently so they may have done some good and people may be slowing down or being more cautious He also assured Bressette that the Motors are still around the schools in the mornings as part of their routine. Bressette asked about the Drunk in Public Arrest increase of 200%. Lt. Behrens answered the percentages are high but the numbers are small, he used as an example the statistic of Rapes being down from 4 to 2 which is a 50% decrease. He said he did not have the actual numbers but suspected small numbers are involved in the Drunk in Public Arrests as well. Bressette also asked about the amount of overtime used last year but Lt. Behrens did not have that statistic. Bressette asked about replacing the patrol car computer systems in the patrol cars and the 800 megahertz system. City Manager Channing responded that Countywide communications system is being upgraded and replaced. The cost will be shared by all the participant cities and agencies and our respective cost is "quite manageable".
Mayor Pro-Tem Lautenschleger said he likes to look at trends and not just one year and not one city vs. another due to huge differences such as Dana Pointing having a harbor with a lot of crime. He added that he does not believe we are short staffed and said we could compare our stats with some of the cities like Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo that have less sworn staff per 1000 population. Council Member Songstad echoed the comments of Mayor Pro-Tem Lautenschleger and both Lautenschleger and Songstad said deputies are doing a great job. Lt. Behrens pointed out for Songstad and Lautenschleger that the Sheriff's Dept. Harbor Patrol patrols the waters of the harbor and the City of Dana Point is in charge of the dock and the land in Dana Point. Mayor Carruth agreed with Songstad.

Vote - Passed 5 - 0 to receive and file this report


MATTERS AGENDIZED and PRESENTED by CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS - None


CITY COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS -


Council Member Kogerman requested that the City take another look at its online compensation report. In view of the new OC grand jury Report entitled - Transparency Breaking Up Compensation Fog-But Why Hide Pension Costs? 6/14/12, http://www.ocgrandjury.org/pdfs/transparencybreakingupcompensationfog.pdf
This report follows up on the Grand Jury report from last year about transparency in reporting of Compensation in Cities.  Kogerman proposed that according to the Grand Jury report we have some areas where we are lacking including not reporting compensation for all employees and not including the costs of the employer contributions to the pension plans, so citizens can't see the true costs of benefits provided. She suggested a committee of Council Members Kogerman and Bressette and the City Manager to look again at the City's online Compensation report related to making changes to increase transparency. She asked for council approval to look into this and asked City Attorney Greg Simonian if that was appropriate procedure related to this issue not being agendized at this meeting. City Attorney Greg Simonian responded, You're correct the item is not agendized this evening for discussion or action to be taken. The options available is to see if there is consensus to bring this back as an agendized item for further discussion and/or direction. He added that in prior years we have made minor modifications to the approach or format of the August 2010 public Official's Compensation Report that did not require the need for a code amendment my only qualification to that would be that if in the future the council decides to change the Aug. 2010 Report substantively in terms of creating a new document, a new approach to reporting the information, then that would trigger a code amendment. Kogerman then made a motion for the council to give direction to come back with a report of a recommendation at a future meeting by consensus. There was no vote only an indication of consensus.
Only Council Members Kogerman and Bressette indicated an interest in looking at making the City's online Compensation Report more transparent and informative for Citizens, Carruth, Songstad and Lautenschleger did NOT agree to look at updating the City's online Compensation Report, as suggested by the Orange County Grand Jury.
** Editor's note - In this year's report from the OC Grand Jury, the City of Laguna Hills received an A for Accessibility to the Compensation Report, a B+ for the Executive Page and a D for Employee Pages. Areas needing Improvement were noted to be Employee Pages for Salary and Benefits and Executive Page needs Pension Costs. Mayor Carruth commented that she thought we did fairly well on our report card this year and cited cities who did worse but notably failed to cite any of the cities who did better including the cities of Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Laguna Woods, Placentia, and the city where the Laguna Hills City Manager lives Yorba Linda - These Cities received ALL As for their reports.


Council Member Bressette - Reminded people of many Child Drownings already this year and suggested looking at the OC Fire Authority's Web site at www.ocfa.org/ for safety tips http://www.ocfa.org/_uploads/pdf/sb_ABCofPoolSafety.pdf and http://www.ocfa.org/Content/SafetyEducation/PoolSafetyTip.aspx. He said never leave a child alone around water even if you think they are pool safe, learn what to do if a child falls in the pool, learn the ABCs of pool safety and added that the City needs to get brochures to pass out to residents and to get a link for this on the City web site.


Bressette commented that related to Ms. Kogerman's issue, it does no harm to look at what's published on the web site and tighten it up a little bit. We started out publishing that document for transparency but there have been some suggestions made so no reason not to spend a little bit of time and tweak it but I guess there's not any consensus to do that.


Bressette also commented that Mr. Clarence Hauschild, the owner of the old barn on La Paz, came to talk to us and the council allowed him to make arrangements for him to allow his personal friends and acquaintances and strangers to park on La Paz Rd. when he was working in his barn. What he said basically was, it's a personal thing, I'm not there very often, he said my workshop is kinda my hobby area, the open house thing is just because people ask me to see it. He said it would be less than 5 cars parked most notably, when Mrs. Carruth said what objects are those in the display cases Mr. Hauschild answered quote - Well I have 3 of them filled with farm antiques, 3 are military and a couple are filled with grand kids trophies that they received from school. He added there were a couple of Juke Boxes. Subsequent to that City Staff mailed Mr. Hauschild a letter re. some zoning violations that had been observed including the operation of a business where I suppose he was actually selling items from that display case. Bressette asked if Staff had received a response from Mr. Hauschild to this letter. David Chantarangsu, Community Development Director Community Development Director answered he spoke with Mr. Hauschild by phone yesterday and reminded him that your action at the last council meeting was merely to make available on street parking on La Paz and commercial activities were not something that was allowed under the City's zoning code with respect the barn so had that conversation with him and made sure he understood that. Bressette responded, so are you confident that we won't see the banner signs and the sidewalk blocked, etc. again? Chantarangsu answered we did ask him not to block the sidewalk or post signage for commercial use of the barn and hopefully that won't occur again.
**Editor's Note - We, at the LH Watch Dog, actually attended Mr. Hauschild's Open House at the barn with friends. We were interested in the items in the barn and when we inquired we were told that everything in the barn was for sale because Mr. Hauschild, at age 79, could no long navigate stairs and sadly would be selling his house to move to a one story home leaving the barn behind. We saw no advertising for any of the items in the barn and no price stickers. The Items we saw were barn equipment, antiques that decorated the barn and, as Mr. Hauschild had said, trophies that his children and/or grandchildren had won plus albums of photos of the barn being disassembled and reassembled where it now stands. From what we saw there was no hint of any commercial enterprise related to this barn activity. For us, it was just very enjoyable to be there and see that beautiful old barn that had been reassembled with such obvious loving care.


Council Member Bressette concluded with a review of some of the items in the Police Services Report - He said - At the end of the report some of the statistics were brought back up and somewhat glossed over. He said that in his opinion Aggravated Assaults are up 28% and Burglaries are up 22%, Thefts are up 18%, All of Part 1 crimes up 16% and Injury collisions up 38% in a one year period of time. Those are not statistics to gloss over or ignore, those need to be carefully analyzed. Mayor Pro -Tem Lautenschleger responded to Council Member Bressette's comment about the Police Services Report with - there was not intention to gloss over those stats, his point was that it is much more accurate to take a 5 year average. He closed with he was sure the Lt. could handle whatever problems there were in the City.


Mayor Carruth concluded the comments section by reporting that she attended a meeting at San Onofre on June 15 and attended a San Onofre Discussion in San Juan Capistrano organized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission presenting their findings to the public and it was standing room only. The NRC said the Steam Generators suffer from a flawed design and representatives from Edison and SDG & E also fielded questions re. many issues, meeting current and future energy demands, how will rate payers be impacted. She said Mitsubishi is maker of the steam generators. She added that a large group of people from Chino were concerned that power grids would have to be built in their area if San Onofre was shut down.


CLOSED SESSION – Item 10.1 - CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR City Designated Representative: Bruce Channing, City Manager, and Don White, Assistant City Manager Employee Organization: Laguna Hills City Employees Association City Employee Organization. Reconvene in regular session in the City Council Chamber and report on whether any reportable action was taken on matters considered during Closed Session.
Mayor Carruth announced that the council would convene to closed session and NO ACTION IS ANTICIPATED.


The Next regular City Council Meeting is Tuesday, July 10, 7 pm, at City Hall.
Contact Laguna Hills City Council Members at ccouncil@ci.laguna-hills.ca.us
================================

CITY COUNCIL and 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 -  F - for Lack of interest in a public education effort in the City for the County Emergency Alert System.  P - vote for the permit for the Laguna Hills Buddhist Center,  P - vote for the option for Public Safety Funds,  F - vote for 200 word candidate statement inhibiting choice and Free Speech for candidates when incumbents can use their positions to campaign all year long.  A+ for being willing to follow the recommendation of the Orange County Grand Jury to look at making the City's Public Officials Compensation Report more transparent for taxpayers.


Carruth - F - for Lack of knowledge, as Mayor, of the County's Emergency Alert System and lack of interest in a public education effort in the City for the County's Emergency Alert System, P - vote for the permit for the Laguna Hills Buddhist Center,  P - vote for the option for Public Safety Funds,  F - vote for 200 word candidate statement inhibiting choice and Free Speech for candidates when incumbents can use their positions to campaign all year long, F - for being unwilling to follow the recommendation of the Orange County Grand Jury to look at making the City's Public Officials Compensation Report more transparent for taxpayers.


Kogerman - A+ for learning about the County's Emergency Alert System and suggesting an effort by the City to promote Public education about this system.  P - vote for the permit for the Laguna Hills Buddhist Center,  P - vote for the option for Public Safety Funds, F - vote for 200 word candidate statement inhibiting choice and Free Speech for candidates when incumbents can use their positions to campaign all year long,  A+ for being willing to follow the recommendation of the Orange County Grand Jury to look at making the City's Public Officials Compensation Report more transparent for taxpayers.


Lautenschleger - F - for Lack of interest in a public education effort in the City for the County Emergency Alert System. P - vote for the permit for the Laguna Hills Buddhist Center, P - vote for the option for Public Safety Funds, F - vote for 200 word candidate statement inhibiting choice and Free Speech for candidates when incumbents can use their positions to campaign all year long, F - for being unwilling to follow the recommendation of the Orange County Grand Jury to look at making the City's Public Officials Compensation Report more transparent for taxpayers.


Songstad - F - for Lack of interest in a public education effort in the City for the County Emergency Alert System.  P - vote for the permit for the Laguna Hills Buddhist Center, P - vote for the option for Public Safety Funds, F - vote for 200 word candidate statement inhibiting choice and Free Speech for candidates when incumbents can use their positions to campaign all year long, F - for being unwilling to follow the recommendation of the Orange County Grand Jury to look at making the City's Public Officials Compensation Report more transparent for taxpayers.


City Manager - A+ for his contribution to the Community through Saddleback Community Hospital   F - for having so little information on the County's "Alert OC" Emergency Warning System.


** Editor's Note - Our Reasoning in giving F grades for the Council Member's Votes against allowing candidates for Laguna Hills City Council to have a 400 word candidate statement or a 200 word candidate statement this year was that this prohibits choice and freedom of speech. Also their argument for not allowing the 400 word statement related to giving an edge to better financed candidates does not ring true related to the past voting records of the long term council members.


Any given candidate may want to use a 400 word candidate statement to appeal to voters in place or in addition to other avenues, such as yard signs, etc. and the last time we checked, running for City Council in this City was moving upwards of $30,000.  Related to those numbers $1,200 for a 400 word statement compared with $800 for a 200 word statement is not outrageous, and incumbents can campaign all year long in the news and in City Views.


Rather than prohibit candidate's choices we would like to see the council pass Campaign Finance Reform as a whole.  This was suggested twice by Mayor Randal Bressette in 2010 but voted down the 1st time and ignored the second time as follows:   At the January 12, 2010 Laguna Hills City Council Meeting Mayor Randal Bressette made a motion that the council direct staff to prepare a report including an overview and analysis of Campaign Spending Limits and Districting and the different approaches currently used by Orange County Cities with respect thereto.  Council Members Craig Scott, Alan Songstad and Joel Lautenschleger said no to a report that included districting so Mayor Randal Bressette added they at least need to look at campaign finance reform as part of what some people want as a fairer way of electing council members.  He withdrew the "districting" and changed the motion to include just Campaign Finance Reform. City Council Member Craig Scott  stated he did not see anything in need of reform.  Mayor Bressette explained that a  discussion of Term Limits related to how to get new people on the city council needs to include an understanding of what Campaign Spending Limits could mean and also of what Districting could mean. There is no issue of past wrong doings.   
According to the Minutes of this council meeting Mayor Bressette's Motion failed - Council Members Bressette and Carruth voted yes and Council Members Scott, Songstad and Lautenschleger voted no.
 

At the June 8, 2010 Laguna Hills City Council Meeting Meeting Mayor Randal Bressette again stressed that he would like to see a Campaign Finance Reform Policy attached to a Term Limits Initiative to make elections more open and fair, because for all practical purposes some candidates and/or incumbents have the opportunity to buy an election and this request was ignored by the rest of the city council members, Carruth, Scott, Songstad and Lautenschleger.

** INFORMATION, COMMENTS QUESTIONS and CONCERNS from Watch Dog Readers:

About the Old Barn on La Paz


Anonymous said... We visited Mr. Hauschild's barn yesterday as did many other people while we were there. We really enjoyed our visit. It was great to talk with Mr. Hauschild about the barn, and see the photos of its reconstruction plus all the things that were in it. All the old timbers in the old barn were cleaned up and refinished. We really appreciated the work the family had done in the reconstruction of that barn. It looks beautiful. There are so many items in the barn that stir memories, not just for the Hauschild family but for everyone. We don't have any real landmarks in Laguna Hills and were thinking how nice it would be to make this 100 year old barn one. Even though it came from Illinois this family cared enough to reconstruct it here and share with all of us.


Anonymous said... My family went to see the 100 year old barn on Sat. and there were no traffic or bicycle problems related to parking at that time. We loved the old barn and great stuff inside that showed us how is used to operate.


About the Behavior of the Mayor related to Businesses in Laguna Hills


Anonymous said... I was at the City Council meeting last Tues. and couldn't believe how rude the Mayor was to the owner of the The Hills Hotel. I also noticed that after the council finally gave him a chance to speak, the Mayor did not look at him or appear to be paying attention to what he was saying until about 1/2 way through his comments and when she finally look up and respond, she lectured him as through he was a child. Dr. Mathur and Mr. Bosch were correct, there are unquestionably better ways to handle any infractions the Mayor noted which would be to deal with them directly as matters of city code violations rather than to air them publicly. I have recently noticed how much better the hotel looks now from the freeway. It can finally be seen and looks beautiful.


About the LHWatch Dog


Anonymous said...very nice post, i certainly love this website, keep on it

** WIN WIN Wednesday is an ongoing series of restaurant fundraisers that allow the Laguna Hills High School PTSA to fund many worthwhile programs such as "EVERY 15 MINUTES" (a vividly realistic drunk driving prevention presentation), the Award Winning "I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE" program and the SAFE and SOBER all night "GRAD NIGHT" that keeps our kids not only safe but in Laguna Hills and on campus continuing a 23 year tradition that makes us HAWK Proud! ** For Weekly Flyers & Schedule go to our web site at www.WinWinWednesdays.com and please be sure to "LIKE US" on Facebook!


** Bring the WWW!! flyer to these participating restaurants on these dates and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the LHHS PTSA and you can now get durable and attractive business card size Win-Win-Wednesday Fan and Supporter Cards that contain all the info. for W-W-Wed on one side including how to subscribe to W-W-Wednesday to get your flyers, dates and Restaurant Information sent to you weekly on Wednesdays and the other side of the card will serve as a universal flyer, if you forget to bring a flyer. You can sign up for an e-blast at WinWinWednesdays@gmail.com to have the weekly schedule and flyers for Win-Win-Wednesdays e-mailed to you.

July 4 - WWW will be at the City Of Laguna Hills July 4th Celebration at the Dippin' Dots Booth
July 11 - Lulu's French Creperie - Laguna Hills
July 18 - La Rana Mexican - Laguna Hills
July 25 - Villa Roma Grand Re-Opening - Laguna Hills
August 1 - California Pizza Kitchen - Laguna Hills Mall
August 8 - Mimi's Cafe' - Laguna Niguel
August 29 - Original Pancake House - Laguna Hills
September 5 - Blends Soft-Serve Creations - Albertsons' Grocery Store Muirlands, Mission Viejo

**Don't forget to see our "WWW Everyday" Partners like Its a Grind Coffee House, Alpha Cleaners and Golden Baked Hams on our web site. Bring the flyers for these everyday partners and Support the businesses that support us! Sneak Peek at GRAD NIGHT Preview Nite event: Wednesday, June 13th, with our delicious participating restaurant sponsors.


** HOW TO SUPPORT THE 3rd BATTALION, 5th MARINE DIVISION - Adopted by the City of Laguna Hills  *** Don't forget to join us and the City's Adopted 3/5 Marines at the Laguna Hills Community Center for the annual July 4th Celebration!!!


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. The Non-profit Corporation 501 (C) (3) status has been approved so all donations are tax deductible. E-mail Mike Bland at 35bland@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, etc. The city's e-mail for the 3/5 is 3/5-support@ci.laguna-hills.ca.us 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/


**Go to the Team Dark Horse web site at http://teamdarkhorse.org/ to see how your donations are helping, and see the Laguna Hills 3/5 Adopted Marines Facebook page by clicking on this link - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laguna-Hills-Team-Darkhorse/132765660119128


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


Reader's weigh in: OC lacks will to battle 'shadow governments' Fred Smoller has been thinking about how to make local governments more efficient and accountable for some time. http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2012/05/05/readers-weigh-in-o-c-lacks-will-to-battle-shadow-governments/154356/
City among worst for alcohol fueled crashes
Fullerton and Laguna Hills had the worst rates of crashes that involved underage drinkers
Read more at: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/cities-348774-crashes-among.html
New Reports with 2011 Statistics for the 70 year old Orange County Animal Shelter that Laguna Hills still uses for it's citizens
Fewer Animals Killed at OC animal shelter in 2011http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fewer-338291-killed-shelter.html?pic=1
Total euthanasia rate of 53%. Fewer were killed in 2011 because fewer were impounded at the County Animal Shelter in 2011. January 31, 2012 Teri Sfzora
Three out of four cats still don't leave shelter alive http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2012/02/16/three-out-of-four-cats-still-dont-leave-shelter-alive/148403/ Teri Sforza OC Watchdog
Kill Rate for Cats at the OC Animal Shelter in 2011 was 74% and only 17% adopted, down from 19% in 2010
Euthanasia Rate Stuck at Nearly 50% at O.C. Animal Care http://ranchosantamargarita.patch.com/articles/shelter-euthanizes-fewer-animals-in-2011 County Shelter finally admits killing animal for space in this story.
Fred Smoller,The Brandman University Professor of Public Administration, "who offended the power elite" when his Master's Degree students won awards assisting Council Member Kogerman to research the total compensation of City Managers in Orange County has just resigned from his post. Why did this happen? - Click on http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/10/12/professor-who-offended-power-elite-resigns-post/109833/
LAGUNA HILLS CITY WORKERS: 12 PERCENT UNDERPAID? http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/09/01/laguna-hills-city-workers-12-percent-underpaid/95765/
Which city council makes the most money? http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/07/11/which-city-council-makes-the-most-money/88311/#comment-169311
LA Times: Laguna Hills City Manager Salary http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-oc-salaries-20110621,0,1126677.story
In O.C., city pay can be steep, but it’s not ‘abusive’ June 20th, 2011 http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/06/20/in-o-c-city-pay-can-be-excessive-but-its-not-abusive/85631/#comment-165059
June 9, 2011 ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT - Compensation Study of Orange County Cities http://www.ocgrandjury.org/pdfs/comp-study-oc-cities/Compensation-Study-of-Orange-County-Cities.pdf
City manager says compensation is fair http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-303264-channing-compensation.html
Political rebel faces an uphill battle http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-303262-kogerman-channing.html
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: 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."


** CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY the DARNDEST THINGS IN PUBLIC! - Memorable and surprising Public Quotes from City Council Members


February 14, 2012 - Mayor Pro-Tem Lautenschleger said, about concerns from grandparents regarding exhaust fumes from Alicia Pkwy. blowing onto the sports field at the Community Center - "The prevailing wind is always off the ocean blowing East so it's blowing from the soccer fields onto Alicia and across that way."


Another fact checking problem. The Santa Ana Winds which are most common from
October through March blow from the East to the West - from Alicia Pkwy. and Paseo de Valencia right on to that sports field.


November 27, 2011 - Regarding the ordinance establishing parks as “Child Safety Zones, Council Member Joel Lautenschleger stated, “Let's make one thing perfectly clear, there have been no sex crimes against children in the City since we incorporated."


Should have done some fact checking before speaking so boldly, Mr. Lautenschleger. According to information from the OC Sheriff's Dept. there have been 32 child molests in Laguna Hills in the past 11 years. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts.


January 10, 2012 - Council Member Songstad said, "I find it interesting that we are in a discussion where we are being asked to provide less information rather than more information, I thought transparency was all about providing more information."


To clarify for Council Member Songstad "Transparency" is not simply an amount of information - Merriam-Webster Dictionary (Transparency) - free from pretense or deceit, easily detected or seen through, obvious, readily understood, characterized by visibility or accessibility of information. Wikipedia (Transparency Behavior) - Transparency is operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed. All organizations have a transparency culture, but few have a culture of transparency, i.e., a culture of being aware of transparency and incorporating it routinely into how things are done.


October 11, 2011 - Regarding Intent to Vacate Public Service Easements (Tree Pockets) along Paseo de Valencia and between Alicia and La Paz. Mayor Songstad concluded with, "Alright its been moved and seconded. Everybody understand what the action is here? We're setting a public hearing, blah, blah, blah. All in favor"


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 Mayor 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 20 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 2012 with 19 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 check the Saddleback Valley News every Friday or click on - www.ocregister.com/news/saddleback
** Editor's Note - The Nellie Gail HOA sent a on 6/8/12 notice stating is has been warned of a string of burglaries this week and reminded residents to secure their cars and homes and to contact the Sheriff's Dispatch at 949-425-1800.


**WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR of the Orange County Register Newspaper Letters to the Editor: E-mail to letters@ocregister.com Please provide your name, city of residence and phone number (phone numbers will not be published). Letters of about 200 words will be given preference. Letters will be edited for length, grammar and clarity