Feb
24
Is The Youth Center a “Sacred Cow?”
Filed Under Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Los Alamitos Priorities, Parks and Recreation | 14 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 2/24/2011) When our Highlands Guy e-mailed me the following post this morning, he included this comment to me:
“I’ve thought about this one for some time, but with all the more important issues, wasn’t sure if it is an appropriate time to put it out. I’ll bet it rankles a few feathers, but just thought it might reveal some answers that I have been unable to uncover.”
I’m not sure I agree with all his conclusions, but this Thursday’s weekly Highlands Guy post raises issues I wasn’t even aware of. Read on (bolding and headings mine):
(by Highlands Guy:) WARNING: ONE MAY GET UPSET BY WHAT THEY THINK THEY HAVE READ IN THE FOLLOWING TEXT. DO NOT TAKE OFFENSE. And rest assured, if you read the words carefully you will understand the real point. I am not in attack mode, I’m just asking some questions and these times call out for hard looks at everything, even sacred cows.
Over the years my experiences with the Los Alamitos Youth Center have been Read more
Feb
23
(2/23/2011, Los Alamitos) According to OCTD there will be a FULL CLOSURE of the Seal Beach Boulevard bridge, between Old Ranch Parkway and North Gate Road, on Feb. 23 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for lane restriping, surveying, and installation of “signal cameras” [?] and & “loops.”
Sounds loopy to me, but I guess Seal Beach needs the money? I wasn’t aware Steal Beach had signal cameras, thought it was just Los Al, Stanton, and Cerritos in our neighborhood.
Feb
22
Your reporting & comments on Tuesday’s 2 City Council meetings & Wednesday’s News Enterprise
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council Meetings, Los Al Medical Center, LosAl TV | 13 Comments
Late night update: This weeks 2 Tuesday Council meetings are followed Wednesday morning by the week’s local paper, and by a rebroadcast of both meetings beginning at noon Wednesday. So we’re combining our 2 “your reporting & comments” posts this week into one. Whether you want to comment or report on the Council meetings or the paper, this is the place!
(2/22/11, Los Alamitos) The first meeting, from about 5 – 6 or 6:30 tonight, focused on the budget (agenda here, scroll down for detailed reports). (both meetings are rebroadcast Wed 2/23/11 at noon, Saturday at 7 p.m.)
The 7 p.m. meeting has a varied agenda, including the required second reading and vote on the Medical Center expansion, discussion of related issues as to who owns Kaylor (click here for details in “Former P.C. Chair sees big liability issues at stake tonight), an extension of LATV3 contracts with both John Underwood and Larry Strawther’s Community Schools Media Partnership, and discussion of the “Poe rule” limiting public comments (see“Mayor Poe’s public comment policy”)
For the 7 p.m. agenda, and links to all staff reports, click here.
LATV rebroadcast schedule
First rebroadcast tomorrow, Wednesday at noon, second on Saturday at 7 a.m. The 5 p.m. meeting will air fist, followed (briefly, we hope) by the 7 p.m. meeting. Rebroadcast schedule is by day of the week–if this were a Monday meeting there would be a rebroadcast on Tuesday at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., so for Tuesday meetings there are two fewer rebroadcasts.
Once again, this is where the public reports, so give a brief summary of what Read more
Feb
22
Former Planning Commission Chair sees big liability issues at stake tonight
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council, City Council Meetings, Decency, Los Al Medical Center, Planning & Zoning | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 2/22/11) As the hospital’s 25 year plan made it’s way through the City Council, concerns were raised about vacatng Kaylor Avenue, which is integral to the expansion of the hospital in Phase II but not the Medical Office Building in Phase I.
Thus, the first public hearing on the city’s “vacating” their easement on Kaylor Avenue is set for tonight’s 7 p.m. Council meeting. . . after the Council is scheduled to give final approval to the expansion plan itself!
Since the hospital expansion can’t be built without Tenet taking ownership of Kaylor, that sure sounds to me like a case of getting the cart ahead of the horse.
It’s also pretty emblematic of the Read more
Feb
22
Mayor Poe’s public comment policy on tonight’s agenda
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council Meetings, Decency | Leave a Comment
Breaking news: Tonight’s 5 p.m. Special mid year budget review meeting will be broadcast live on Los Al TV. Also, that ugly flu bug has got Council Member Gerri Graham-Mejia down. Her presence tonight is unlikely, but will probably be a “game time” decision (by our coaching and medical staff?)
(2/22/11, Los Alamitos) In addition to the LAMC expansion plan’s second reading and important issues about the related Kaylor abandonment, tonight’s 7 p.m Council meeting includes an important item regarding the rather unique position Mayor Poe instituted last year on Read more
Feb
22
(2/22/2011, Los Alamitos) Taking a quick break from politics before I relay to you my very interesting discussion with city staff this morning.
(above truck logos from left to right for tonight’s lineup) Sea Birds, Lee’s Philly (highly recommended), Bakery Truck, Baconmania, ChompChomp Nation (Singapore and a lot more), Rancho a Go Go, The Lime Truck (always good, sometimes pricey).
Rumors that Read more
Feb
21
Mandatory second vote on Med Center 25 year plan Tuesday night
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council, Los Al Medical Center | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 2/21/2011) I’m still deeply concerned about the Medical Center Expansion, and tomorrow may be the last chance to stop this express train.
So many important issues aren’t fully addressed:
- Why wasn’t this massive project sent to the Traffic Commission?
- There is still nothing binding on Tenet or whomever owns the LAMC down the road to do anything more than build MOB IV. (Alleged verbal commitments to made behind closed doors from an unnamed Read more
Feb
20
Tuesday Council Agenda raises new questions about Kaylor
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Commission Meetings, Planning & Zoning, Tenet's Los Al Medical Center | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 2/20/2011) The agenda for Tuesday’s regular session has been posted, with links to hundreds of pages of documents related to the Medical Center Expansion which the Council majority so far seems to want to fast track, rather than take the time to get it right.
The staff recommendation regarding the Kaylor Street abandonment seems to ignore the Title Report’s request, which supports allegations that the street is neither owned by the city nor the hospital. The net result could well be that only phase I (the 4th medical office building) could be Read more
Feb
18
405/605 Connectors Update: No work this weekend, but bridge closures coming
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Traffic | Leave a Comment
(2/19/2011, Los Alamitos, CA) Looks like the Cal Trans crews get the Presidents Weekend off, quite possibly due to extra travel or a psychic alert as to this weekend’s weather.
But you’d better enjoy the break, because, beginning in March, we’ll have major bridge work going on for a four years! The good news is it starts with the Valley View Bridge, at least:
Schedule for Valley View & Seal Beach Blvd. 405 Bridges:
The Valley View Bridge nighttime demolition is tentatively scheduled for March 10 – Read more
Feb
17
A New Approach to Our City Governance
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council, Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Teamwork | 3 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 2/17/11) Wouldn’t it be great to see the entire audience at a Los Alamitos City Council meeting cheering their approval.
According to our Highlands Guy’s column this week, that’s exactly what we should expect, and it’s not that hard to achieve!
The bolding’s mine, but the ideas are his application of successful business concepts to our town:
By Highlands Guy: Our city leaders, whether employed by the city or elected, need to approach Los Alamitos residents as customers. Not as challengers, not as adversaries, and not as obstacles to their own agenda or political ambitions.
To take this one step further, they need to make their customers happy. And to accomplish this they need to produce a quality product whether in the form of a program, an event, a contract, perhaps financial stability or other quality of life issue. And they must demand that anyone doing business in or with our city also deliver the highest quality product. Because we are, after all, partners, and we are all judged by Read more
Feb
16
Your comments & reporting on the 2/16/11 News Enterprise
Filed Under News Enterprise & other local media | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos) Time for our regular Wednesday post where you can comment on today’s local weekly without having to wait a week to see your thoughts in print.
I recently stopped by the N-E’s office and got a chance to learn more about the “new direction” publisher Guy Cariglio envisions for our local paper, and I must say Read more
Feb
15
Time to “Fight on” or give up on LAMC traffic & conditions?
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council Meetings, Los Al Medical Center, Los Alamitos Priorities, Planning & Zoning | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 2/15/2011) As Bell’s ongoing crisis illustrates, most California cities lack many of the checks and balances our founding fathers put into our Federal government. A legislative branch (City Council), some supervision by state and federal courts, and that’s about it. Not even two houses in the legislative branch.
That’s one reason most cities require a second “reading,” or vote, by the city council to approve laws and other major items, such as the LAMC’s 10 – 25 year expansion plan & rezoning.
Another check and balance is the Planning Commission, which is distinct from all other commissions in that it is mandated by the state as an independent agency to protect against corruption or unwise decisions of the City Council. That’s why some of us still question the legality of the Council’s decision to Read more
Feb
14
“The best is love”
Filed Under Inspiration | 1 Comment
(2/14/2011)Happy Valentine’s Day!
Now that my special Valentine has had her special potatoes from Gourmet Pie, I’ve got a Valentine’s gift for you, because here at LetsFixLosAl.com we do love our readers!
It’s something both old (about 1,950 years old) and something relatively new:
It’s St. Paul’s brief essay on love, as paraphrased in Eugene Peterson’s The Message translation.
Love can be confusing, but I’m convinced that Paul got it right. The good news is Paul’s not just describing the love we should have for others.
He’s also describing Read more
Feb
11
Applications for 3 Commissions close Monday, 2/14
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Commission Meetings, News you can use, Parks and Recreation, Traffic | 3 Comments
(2/11/11, Los Alamitos) This is a great opportunity to get involved and to give back to our community in an area of interest or concern to you! But you’ve only got until 5 this Monday to apply to serve on three Los Alamitos City Commissions:
- Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Commission
- Personnel Appeals Commission
- Traffic Commission
Applications Are Available On-Line or from the City Clerk’s Office. Completed Applications Must Be Submitted To The City Clerk’s Office By Monday, February 14, 2011.
Most commissions meet once a month. Commissioners serve without pay, but it really is a great way to learn first hand how our city works, to get to know a great group of people, both staff and fellow Commissioners, and to Read more
Feb
10
Medical Center Left Overs
Filed Under Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Los Al calendar | Leave a Comment
Although our City Council voted to approve The Medical Center’s expansion on Monday, it will be the topic of many more City Council and Planning Commission Meetings, starting with the mandatory second reading and vote at the second Los Al City Council meeting on Tuesday, 2/22, 7 p.m.
(The first meeting, at 5, is the mid-[fiscal]year budget review.) So today’s column from our analytical Highlands Guy is as relevant as ever.
(Los Alamitos, 2/10/11) by Highlands Guy:Seems like we’ve been reading about and hearing testimony from many, many folks on the proposed changes to the Los Alamitos Medical Center for a long time. And just when I think I had all the facts to make an intelligent decision someone mentions something else that requires more thought.
What’s really relevant, moving forward?
At this point I have some left overs that I have not previously published, and am not completely clear on, or have not made up my mind about. So for better or worse, a bit more venting.
During the city council “hearings” on the Los Alamitos Medical Center we have heard from a lot of folks and from many perspectives. But the focus of much of the conversation has been on concerns that have not been Read more