Jun
30
2nd Los Al Trash hearing Friday, 7/1
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council, George Briggeman, Trash contraact | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 6/30/2011) The second hearing on the lawsuit over Los Alamitos’ not awarding the city’s solid waste contract to the lowest bidder is set for tomorrow afternoon in Santa Ana, after being postponed due to the Court’s calendar.
It is basically an attempt by Consolidated Disposal and the City of Los Alamitos to get one or both of the two remaining counts thrown out immediately, rather than proceeding to trial, and is expected to last only an hour or two.
The two charges being considered, as I understand them (& I’m no lawyer, nor am I involved in the case), are that the City violated it’s own ordinance by not awarding the contract to the lowest qualified bidder, and that Consolidated induced the City to break the law by offering to cover the City’s legal expenses if the City’s actions were challenged in court.
This hearing is not Read more
Jun
30
You’re from Los Alamitos if. . .
Filed Under Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Los Alamitos Priorities, Rossmoor | 9 Comments
(6/30/2011, Los Alamitos) Once again our Highlands Guy gets us thinking with his unique perspective. by Highlands Guy:
Maybe one way to judge how to tell how we’re doing, as a city, is to look at what local icon you identify with. Is it one that is actually within the city’s borders, is it close by, or is it something more amorphous?
Is this for fun? Well, yes. But if we really look at our collective answers, perhaps it will show us where to put our precious diminishing resources, or it may show that we’re doing pretty darned good.
What would be your first response to the question, “Where do you live?” Mine is Read more
Jun
29
Media post: “Super City,” Consolidated, the 4th & more in today’s News Enterprise
Filed Under 2010 Issues, Neighboring Communities, News Enterprise & other local media, Rossmoor | 8 Comments
(6/29/2011, Los Alamitos) Today I had a chance to look at Los Alamitos’ only local print newspaper before putting up the weekly Wednesday media reporting post, & noticed several items of interest:
Super City lover: A lengthy letter from Rossmoor resident Kenneth Brown sung the praises of Supervisor Moorlach’s proposed “Super City, which he says “could offer a real way for Rossmoor residents to Read more
Jun
28
S & P: Home prices up. . . sort of
Filed Under Community News, News you can use, Rossmoor | 2 Comments
(6/28/2011, Los Alamitos) “Home Prices up in April for the first time in eight months,” proclaims Alex Lazlo’s online L. A. Times headline this morning. Well, kinda, as Alex explains in the first few paragraphs:
A closely watched index of home prices in America’s largest cities ticked up in April over March, the first such improvement in eight months, though experts attributed the increase largely to seasonal variations. Prices of previously owned single-family homes rose a modest 0.7% in April over March but were down 4.0% from April 2010, according to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index of 20 metropolitan areas. In a welcome shift from recent months, this month is better than last — April’s numbers beat March,” David M. Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Indices, said in a news release. “However, the seasonally adjusted numbers show that Read more
Jun
24
Information, tips, & links for Crystal Cove’s El Moro Campground
Filed Under News you can use, Parks and Recreation, Southern California | 1 Comment
1/26/2012: Ever want to camp between Newport and Laguna? How’s this sound for $50 – $65 a night:
- Terraces sites, each with a stunning view of the coast below, across PCH, but no campfires allowed. . . but smoking OK.
- Separate rows for tents and RVs (including tent trailer).
- Weekends and summers go quickly. . . best to get yours 6 months out on the first of the month between 8 and 9 a.m., more details below, after a few updates.
If you’ve camped here, checked it out, or tried to get a site, please scroll down & post a comment sharing your experience & thoughts.
11/1/11: I snagged a great tent site for Memorial Day weekend at 8:04 this morning, but by 9:30 or so there was only one RV site still available for Memorial Day weekend, and a handful of tent sites, mostly handicapped.
That’s way better than the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages, however, where an 8:00:00.5 mouse click didn’t get the cottage we wanted for the weekend.
Reduced rates: Campsite rates are reduced Read more
Jun
23
Los Alamitos Recreation & Parks: Aim High!
Filed Under Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Parks and Recreation | 3 Comments
(6/23/2011, Los Alamitos) by “Highlands Guy”As I walk around the city and visit the local open spaces and recreational facilities I am most impressed when viewing them from afar.
Upon closer scrutiny I find areas that need a bit more focus by the city. Mission statements and visions could help capsulize perspective and put the spotlight on what we should expect from our city related to open space and recreational services.
Top priority
Perhaps the first stab at a statement should be something to do with the big picture and with a long range perspective. I proposet the number one priority must be to provide stewardship of our natural, cultural, and historical resources. Without these at the root, all the Read more
Jun
22
6/22/11: Your weekly Los Alamitos/Rossmoor media reporting and comments post
Filed Under 2011 Issues, News Enterprise & other local media | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 6/22/11): It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for our weekly post where you can report and/or comment on items of interest you come across in any of our local media.
Between local blogs, local and regional newspapers, and local and national tv and radio there’s plenty of news and commentary that affect Los Alamitos and Rossmoor, and this is your place to point things out to our community, or to respond at the speed of light to something you see.
Whether it’s Read more
Jun
21
Weekly Los Al Crime Summary
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 6/21/2011) Sexting. Identity theft. Burglaries. Three suspects arrested, one juvenile, the other two both females, one 27, one 47. Thefts, vandalism, shoplifting. Just another week here in Mayberry.
This just in from the Los Alamitos Police Dept.:
Weekly Crime Summary
June 5 to June 11, 2011
STOLEN VEHICLE
6/9/11 – 4:00 PM – Walnut and Sausalito – A report of a vehicle being taken without authorization sometime overnight or during the day. The vehicle was found undamaged, parked nearby.
ROBBERY
None
AUTO BURGLARY
6/6/11 – 7:49 PM – 10600 Walnut – A report of a vehicle’s driver door lock being punched and Read more
Jun
20
Your reporting & comments on tonight’s Council meeting, 6/20/11
Filed Under City Budget, City Council Meetings | 32 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 6/20/11) Once again, it’s your time to report what you saw & share your perspective and comments on tonight’s 7 p.m. Los Alamitos City Council Meeting.
Whether you were there in person, watching on TV, or responding to what you read in the Register, OCNews, or the Patch, tell us what you saw or read & your take on it.
The presentation and discussion of the 2011-12 budget should be interesting, as well as discussion regarding the two Council Members who will serve on the ad hoc committee on the possible annexation Read more
Jun
20
Explanations of Los Al’s almost $2 million deficit
Filed Under 2010 Issues, City Budget, City Council Meetings | 3 Comments
(Los Alamitos, updated Monday, 6/20/2011) Last night when I finally had a chance to quickly glance through the budget that Los Alamitos’ City Council will hold a public hearing on tonight I was surprised to discover an apparent deficit of roughly $1,874,000!
Sensing that I was missing some explanations, I shot an e-mail to our City Manager, Jeff Stewart. This morning Mr. Stewart was kind enough to give me a call with Finance Director Anita Agramonte also on the line and help me get a better understanding of exactly what’s going on.
First, my concerns:
As I worked my way through the brief budget attachment to today’s City Council Agenda, I was surprised to see no
Jun
19
Rossmoor resident found dead in her pool Saturday
Filed Under Community News, Rossmoor | Leave a Comment
(6/19/2011, Los Alamitos) The OC Register reported tonight that Rossmoor resident & UCI Regional Burn Center Medical director Dr. Marianne E. Cinat (pictured in UCI photo at left) was found dead in the backyard swimming pool of her Rossmoor home Saturday morning, 6/17/11.
Authorities were alerted at 11:14 a.m., by a long time friend who found her. Responding firefighters declared Dr. Cinat, 46, dead at her Mainway Drive home.
The death is being investigated by the coroner’s office.
UC Irvine Medical Center spokesman John Murray called the loss Read more
Jun
16
Budget hearing, annexation subcommittee, LosAlTV on Monday City Council Agenda
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Budget, City Council Meetings, Rossmoor | Leave a Comment
(6/16/2011)The agenda for the Monday, June 20 7 p.m. Los Alamitos City Council meeting is now up, and it includes a public hearing on the 2011-12 F.Y. city budget plus discussion of alternatives for production of the public access portion of LosAl TV3 along with the appointment of a subcommittee to discuss and make recommendations to the Council regarding potential issues relating to the possible annexation of the southwest corner of Los Alamitos Blvd and Katella (Arco to Carwash to Lutheran Church).
Click here for the agenda with staff reports and documents following.
I haven’t made it through the staff reports, but put the link and this brief summary up tonight for our interested readers to review and report or comment on.
Please post your thoughts and Read more
Jun
16
Extend our reach
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Parks and Recreation, Traffic | Leave a Comment
(6/16/2011, Los Alamitos)(More good questions & outside the box thinking from our Thursday columnist) by “Highlands Guy”
Yes, many of the challenges we face in our little community are important. Some are relatively transitory, some are not too important when looked at in the “big picture”, and some will have long reaching impact. But, sometimes we have to think about and talk about city-related issues that have, perhaps, very long term implications that need to be viewed with a philosophical big-picture perspective.
For a moment step out of the” Los Alamitos, Love it or Leave it” mindset. Take a look at our actions and think about how we Read more
Jun
16
Answers & 9 truck line up for tonight’s “Picnic at the Plaza”
Filed Under 2010 Issues, Community News, News you can use | 2 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 6/16/2011) Sorry I didn’t get up Tuesday’s Los Alamitos Food Truck line-up, but here’s today’s:
- Cajun on Wheels
- The Flip Truck
- Fresh Fries
- Kona Ice BC
- Lobsta Truck
- Oh For Sweet’s Sake
- Ranchan Ramen
- Rancho a Go Go
- SlapFish Truck
- Tornado Potato
- Waffles De Liege
Guest Performer:
A.J. (ART) MASTERS BAND
5 – 9 p.m., U.S. Bank Parking Lot, corner Pine & Katella, overflowing into St. Isidore Historical Plaza across the alley with beer, wine, & tables, proceeds benefit St. Isidore restoration effort.
Also, Los Alamitos’ diligent Director of Community Development got back to me several weeks ago with answers to some of the questions that have been raised here about the City’s involvement with this event:
Were appropriate procedures followed? In May 2006, the Planning Commission held a public hearing wherein they approved CUP No. 06-06 for a farmers market at US Bank including spill over into the St. Isidore site. So yes, the appropriate procedure was followed for the Food Truck Event. The addition of alcohol next door at St. Isidore changes things and we are requiring a Temporary Use/Special Event Permit just as we do for We Care’s annual event and Cinco De Mayo at St. Isidore.
Wouldn’t a public hearing be appropriate, even if not mandated? A public hearing is not required for temporary uses/special event permit.
Who’s paying the license fees? St. Isidore
Beer is already easily available in our town, and an open location provides too easy access to liquor for minors and others who may be prone to abuse it. We have not had a history of Special Events/Temporary uses violating their permit requirements. The State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) licensing requires perimeter boundaries set and will enforce their permit conditions. ABC licensing has stipulations for cup sizes, bona fide forms of identification required, hours of operation, and supervision of the operation.
How much city resources are being devoted to this? From the beginning of the operation of the food trucks, the City Manager, the Community Development and Recreation directors have each spent a handful of hours working on this issue.
As always, your thoughts and comments, politely expressed, are encouraged.
Jun
15
6/15/11 weekly media reporting & comments post: New Base Commander
Filed Under News Enterprise & other local media | 18 Comments
(6/15/2011, Los Alamitos) Once again it’s time for our regular Wednesday media post. This week’s News Enterprise Bids farewell to General Kieth D.Jones, the 3rd Base Commander in the past two and a half years, and welcomes Col. Susan Russel as the interim before Cal Guard appoints our Base’s 5th leader in roughly 2 years, hopefully in a matter of weeks. (Click here for The Patch’s post on the transition.)
But that’s this the tip of the iceberg. Between local blogs, local and regional newspapers, and local and national tv and radio there’s plenty of news and commentary that affect Los Alamitos and Rossmoor, and this is your place to point things out to our community, or to respond at the speed of light to something you see.
Whether it’s Read more