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(3/30/2009, by Dave Emerson) In a move that was both gracious and surprising, the Los Alamitos City Council voted tonight to essentially reschedule tonight’s Special Meeting to discuss hiring a City Manager to a date to be determined.

At the scheduled time to commence the meeting, only Mayor Edgar and Council Members Poe and Stephens were present. Mayor Edgar indicated to the audience that they would delay the start of the meeting a few minutes in the hope that Council Member Gerri Mejia could make it.

Gerri mentioned at a recent Council Meeting that her father was nearing the last phases of his fight with cancer. He is now on hospice care.

Although the Council meeting was to be in closed session, there were still about ten citizens in the audience–an amazing indication of community interest. The last closed session I was at I was alone in the audience.

A few minutes later Gerri Mejia came through the public door into the Chambers, went to the dias, and then went with our other three Council Members into the back room.

I was sitting next to Chuck and Carol Sylvia, and Carol leaned over to mention that it must be something serious, because Gerri was teary-eyed, something I had missed.  Let the record show that Carol Sylvia had better vision and discernment than I!

Shortly thereafter the Council emerged from the back room, Gerri to exit out the main door while the other three returned to the Council dias.

On the way out Debbie Feldman, another audience member, gave Gerri a big hug of emotional support, followed by yours truly and Jody Schloss. As I did, Gerri told me to “be nice,” apparently referring to the public comments I was there to make prior to the Council’s closed session.

Mayor Edgar then announced Read more

It looks like the Council is scheduled to vote on a new City Manager at a Special Session this coming Monday at 7 p.m. After a time for public comments the Council will move into closed session

I sure hope they find someone all four of them can agree on. If it’s 3 – 1, I sure hope Read more

(3/27/2009, by Dave Emerson)  At their last meeting, the Los Alamitos City Council decided to vote amongst  themselves on someone to fill Dean Grose’s vacant Council seat.  Each Council Member was given the opportunity to nominate up to two individuals, who are then to submit resumes and be interviewed in open session at 6 p.m. at the April 6th Council meeting.

The names of the nominees of each Council Member’s nominees were made public this morning.  Below is a compilation of the names submitted by each Council Member.  City staff has not yet contacted the individuals to confirm their interest, but it seems reasonable to assume that the respective Council Members did so prior to nominating them.

Troy Edgar:
Constantine “Dean” Zarkos
Read more

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(March 25, 2009, by Dave Emerson)  I tend to prefer more hard news than we get from the News Enterprise, the only local paper that serves all of Los Alamitos.   I suppose that’s a matter of personal choice:  Some readers probably want even more “soft” news.  N-E Editor Brian Smith and I both know it’s impossible to please everyone.

Today, however, I think an our ever congenial Brian has an “attaboy” coming his way.  Primarily because of the amount of space he devoted to “Letters to the Editor” today.  Not only did he print Read more

(3/24/09 by Dave Emerson) It’s a glorious spring day here in Los Alamitos, but that’s not the only change in the air today.

Tonight’s the nights for the Orange County Transportation Authority’s local “Open House” to discuss the accelerated construction schedule and details of the O.C.T.A.’s multi-faceted project designed to improve traffic flow throughout the 405/605/22 interchange area running from Valley View to Palo Verde.

This includes reducing the Seal Beach Blvd. Bridge over the 405 to one lane for general traffic in each direction begining early in 2010.

Now that I’ve got your attention, here are some of the details, along with links for more info:

Construction is expected to take almost 4 years, from Read more

(3/26 update:  I have just received confirmation that there will be a special meeting this Monday, 3/30 at 7 p.m. with two closed session agenda items dealing with the City Manager appointment.)

(3/22/09 by Dave Emerson)  2 1/2 weeks ago, near the end of the most covered Los Alamitos City Council Meeting in history, during their Council Comments both Troy Edgar and Gerri Mejia spoke very highly of the work of our Interim City Manager Nita McKay and both seemed to commend her for possibly becoming our Permanent City Manager.

During the chaotic week leading up the that meeting, as the drama of Mayor Dean Grose’s watermelon e-mail unfolded, I was repeatedly impressed with the professionalism and competence Nita demonstrated in dealing with such an unanticipated crisis.   So when I saw that even Troy Edgar and Gerri Mejia could agree on Nita’s outstanding performance, she truly must be as good as she appeared.

Someone both factions could agree on.  A known commodity.  Someone with a proven track record, who knows our city, and who we’ve seen perform with exceptional skill, diligence, and integrity.  A City Manager that both factions of our divided City Council were happy with.  Too good to be true? Read more

(3/16/2009, intro by Dave Emerson, comments & reporting by you!)

This is where you, the Los Al citizen (or website visitor) have the opportunity to report what you see at tonight’s historic Los Alamitos City Council meeting, along with your impressions, thoughts, and comments.

First, however, this correction:  In several posts and comments reference has been made by myself and others to Troy Edgar nominating Dean Grose to serve as Mayor.  It has been called to my attention that, according to the Council minutes, Troy neither nominated nor seconded Dean to serve as Mayor last December, but he did vote for him.

I was given the information by a reputable source, and it matched my memory of that meeting, so I put it up without verifying it in the minutes.   I was wrong, and deeply regret passing on that misinformation.

I strive to pass on accurate information on this site, and regret it took this long for the misinformation to be called to my attention.  I just wish someone had called it to my attention earlier.  That’s one reason we have open posting–but it’s not an excuse.  Sorry!

Now to our 3/8 post of FAQs:

When we used this format, where you are the reporter, two weeks ago, it received the most comments of any post to date.

To follow along on the agenda, click here.  (The agenda will open in a new tap or window so you can “alt-tab” back and forth.)

If you’re watching at home on LosAlTV3, you can post your observations in real time.  Please describe what you’re commenting on, as some readers don’t have LosAltv.

If you’re at the meeting, or watching a rebroadcast, please report in after the meeting or comment after viewing.

I’m still hoping Read more

Note regarding ads: At the suggestion of  my I.T. department, also known as Nate, we now have some ads  on this blog.  We hope to offset server costs and maybe even pay for some additional reporters. These are “contextualized” ads that are placed by Google using their algorithms.  I think that means that we don’t pick the ads.

If you notice any ads that you feel might be inappropriate,  just let me know by posting a comment.  BTW, any real estate ads aren’t mine. 

Every penny of ad revenue will go into the blog, so if you see an ad that interests you, please feel free to explore further.  On the other hand, I’m trying to live a little more (actually, a lot more) by the “Golden Rule,” so let’s treat our advertisers the way we’d want to be treated:  No rapid or random clicking, please.  Thanks.

(3/13/09, by Dave Emerson)  Well, you sure can’t say our four Los Alamitoc City Council Members aren’t  putting in the hours.   After 9 hours of Special meeting last Saturday, they’ve got what looks like about 6 hours of meetings coming up this Monday!

Meeting # 1, 3 p.m. Special Meeting in Closed Session

They’ll kick things off with a 3 p.m. Special Meeting to further discuss in closed session the appointment of a City Administrator.  The agenda includes a “Conference with Labor Negotiator” regarding the City Administrator, which I would take to mean that they’re in the process of making  a selection.

However, the minutes from last Saturday’s marathon 9 hour Closed Session interviewing applicants state the Council took “no reportable action,”  so no final decision has yet been made.   I’ve got a few inquiries out, and will advise you if and when I hear back.   I understand that personnel decisions are complex, but sometimes I wonder if the Council and City Attorney’s penchant for secrecy isn’t obsessive.

The Closed Session will be preceded at 3 by an opportunity for public comment.  If you’re looking for a chance to talk to the Council “in private,” with no cameras, TV, reporters, or just anybody else present, this is your chance.  You can bring up anything you want in the Counsel’s jurisdiction.

Meeting # 2A, 6 p.m. Workshop on “City Priorities &

City Council Meeting Effectiveness”

This was requested by Mayor Edgar to allow the Council to brainstorm ways to improve their effectiveness and maintain focus on critical issues like the 2009/2010 F.Y. budget.  Click here for the staff report, which includes four Read more

(3/13/09, Friday)  Another sunny day.  Forecast high of 69 degrees, “plentiful sunshine.”  (Guess our weather forecaster is a frustrated writer?)   0% chance of precipitation.  Just another gorgeous day here in Paradise.  What’s unlucky about today?

Well, maybe it’s unlucky for our beleagured city staff–today’s not one of those biweekly “dark Fridays” where they get the day off.  On the other hand, at least they get to spend their day in lovely Los Alamitos.

A friend of mine likes to say “Every day above ground is a good day.”  (No, he’s not a miner.)  That’s a good way to look at it.  That would mean that if you’re reading this, then today is your lucky day!

The Biblical Psalmist expressed a positive approach to each day about 3,000 years ago in verse 24 of Psalm 118:

This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Have a good day!

Please note:  Our newest reader poll, on how you think the Los Alamitos City Council should fill former Mayor Dean Grose’s vacant Council seat, is near the end of this post.  Your input is needed!

(3/12/09 by Dave Emerson)   The topic of how to select someone to fill out Dean Grose’s City Council term is  sure to be on the Agenda for the Monday, March 16th Los Alamitos City Council Meeting, so let’s take a look at the options our Council will have  (We should have the agenda up for you sometime Friday, depending on when we receive it.)

There are actually three options available:  Two could be completed as quickly as the Council wants, the other would take at least Read more

Got some catching up to do, but check back Saturday for an update on both of this week’s Los Alamitos Commission meetings, as well as a new poll and the agenda for Monday’s Los Alamitos City Council Meeting (March 16, 2009).  I intended to get this up earlier, but didn’t realize I had what amounts to three Monday, 3/16 Council Meeting Agenda’s to review and post.  Thanks for your patience.

(3/10/09)  Looks like there are three major items on this month’s traffic commission agenda:

1. Input from the Traffic Commission on the city’s 2009 7 year Capital Improvement Program.
2. CVS pharmacy’s request for a drive-through window at the store they are planning for 3401 Katella.  (According to Google Maps this is the large two story office building on the northeast corner of Katella & Chestnut, across Katella from the Blockbuster. )
3. Follow up on 2 of the items JM Ivler brought Read more

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Correction  (3/15/08)  Dave here:  In several posts and comments reference has been made by myself and others to Troy Edgar nominating Dean Grose to serve as Mayor.  It has been called to my attention that, according to the Council minutes, Troy neither nominated nor seconded Dean to serve as Mayor last December, but he did vote for him.

I was given the information by a reputable source, and it matched my memory of that meeting, so I put it up without verifying it in the minutes.   I was wrong, and deeply regret passing on that misinformation.

I strive to pass on accurate information on this site, and regret it took this long for the misinformation to be called to my attention.  I just wish someone had called it to my attention earlier.  That’s one reason we have open posting–but it’s not an excuse.  Sorry!

Now to our 3/8 post of FAQs:

(Dave here, )  J. M. Ivler  posted the following remarks in a comment, & I felt it had enough information it would be beneficial to put it up as a separate post, which also makes your responses, questions, and discussion easier:  (but first, our current poll on the recall.)

(3/8/09 by JM Ivlar)

Transparency

One of the best things about this blog is that it permits me to be as transparent about what is happening as possible. I can tell people what the process is, what has been done, why it was done, what the next steps are, etc. 

So, let me clear up a few things that I have heard, think of it as Read more

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(3/8/09, by Dave Emerson)   Tomorrow’s the second Monday of the month, which means the Los Alamitos Planning Commission meets at 7 in the City Council Chambers.

The way I read it, there are only 3 items on the agenda:

1. A continuation of the hearing on Sausalito Partners LLC’s ongoing quest for a variance to allow them to construct a three story self storage facility on the west side of the Old Cottonwood Church property.  (background in a prior post, “Land of storage and doctors?“)
2. An amendment to the Zoning Ordinance modifying the appeals process, requested by the Planning Commission earlier.
3. Another Zoning  Ordinance Amendment to permit AC unit placement in the side yard set-back of single family homes.

That last one seems like a good idea to me.  If that had been the law four years ago, Read more

(Sunday morning, 3/8/09)  If you haven’t “sprung forward” yet, it’s time!

Unless , that is, you go to the same church as I do.  Every spring my pastor exorts us to “defy the government!”   Quoting the words of Jesus to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Take thy rest,”  Pastor Chuck tells us all not to move our clocks forward until after the Sunday morning service is over.  (He has no objection, however, to an extra hour’s sleep in the fall.)

Smart man!  Maybe he could move & be appointed to fill the vacant City Council seat!

Maybe you could talk to your church about taking a similar approach next year.

It sure makes sense to me!

Click more for comments. Read more

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