Jul
31
Council urged to spend money researching conflicts of interest
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Traffic, Troy Edgar | 2 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 7/31/2011) Our City Manager wants to spend your tax money to see if there’s some way to free Council Member Edgar’s most supportive colleagues to push through two of Mr. Edgar’s pet projects:
1. ”Revitalizing” the one city block of Los Alamitos Blvd. that partially adjoins George Briggeman’s properties, and
2. Giving Cypress all they want from us in traffic Read more
Jul
31
“Wiser than Most:” How to apply Solomon’s wisdom
Filed Under Decency, Inspiration, Sunday Sermons, Songs & Stories | Leave a Comment
(7/31/2011) Note: Sunday mornings we often put up a post which is spiritual in nature. You have been warned.
A week ago we discussed the profound wisdom of Israel’s King Solomon, as summarized by his King Solomon’s advice in Proverbs 3:5-8:
(5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
(6)In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
(7)Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
(8)It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
In conclusion, I Read more
Jul
29
Council Conflicts, Sheridan Sanctions, Massage & Tattoo on Monday, 8/1 Council Agenda
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council, Traffic | 23 Comments
(7/29/2011, Los Alamitos) The Agenda & staff reports for the Monday, 8/1/2011 Los Alamitos City Council Regular Meeting are now online, & there are some interesting items, as mentioned above.
I haven’t had a chance to get beyond Read more
Jul
28
Your 7/28+ Los Alamitos Community Bulletin Board: Events, news, ads & more
Filed Under Community News, Local events, News you can use | 2 Comments
(7/28 through 8/4, 2011, Los Alamitos) Is something going on this weekend or next that people should know about? Got a favorite local merchant? Got some local news you want to get out? Just put it in a comment to this post from now through next Thursday.
This weekly post is your New Millenium way to get the word out instantly, for free, whenever the idea hits you, without leaving your home (or even your car if you have a smart phone or tablet).
Your imagination is your only limit, as long as Read more
Jul
28
What we should expect from City Hall
Filed Under City Council, Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Los Alamitos Priorities | Leave a Comment
Los Alamitos Public Works staff installing new glass cover over playground light at Little Cottonwood Park earlier today.
Once again our “Highlands Guy” wisely sets out fundamental priorities for any city, pointing out traps that keep too many cities, Los Alamitos included, from attaining both excellence and cost-effectiveness. Read on, & let us know where you agree and where you disagree.
A conversation about Los Al’s priorities should be both enlightening and productive.
by “Highlands Guy” (Los Alamitos, 7/28/2011)There are so many things that a city can get involved with that it’s easy to fall prey to feel-good kinds of activities that get in the way of a city’s control over their foundational mandates.
It is imperative that the city adheres to a strict course to provide:
- excellent public safety
- efficient municipal services, and
- access to a variety of parks and recreational opportunities.
Attention must also be focused on actions that support our local educational and environmental worlds.
Priorities
First tier priorities are those activities that have critical timelines, are part of contracts, and are legally required. These would include such items as: planning; roads; fire, police, and first responder actions; water, gas and electricity availability; adherence to building codes; recreation and parks; control of civil servants (remember when this appellation had real meaning) actions and benefits; and a clean and safe living environment.
Probably in the next tier would be priorities related to stuff like fulfilling past due agreements, enhancing governmental/business/educational partnerships, enforcing strategies for land use, and integrating the next generation into the decision making processes. This category should probably also deal with constituent to city communication issues, a two-way street that must be understandable and easy to use.
From a conversation I saw at a recent city council meeting, it was evident that there are scant follow-up actions, especially over the long haul. And it is heightened when council-persons and/or city employees leave office.
How about implementing a simple quarterly review process to evaluate all ongoing projects? The starting point for discussion could be a simple Gantt chart thrown up on the overhead for all to see. This is not to point fingers or criticize, but to see the successes and to address challenges for the coming months.
On the very bottom of the priority totem pole would have to be items that might be referred to as, ‘pet projects’ or fun or cool stuff. And while maybe good and worthwhile causes, these kinds of activities should only receive city time/energy/money components when everything else has been attended to and completed. In this category might reside involvement with churches, food trucks, and non-profits.
What else? Encompassing all city business practices we really should expect that the Council people and City Manager hold forth the highest standards and look out for our best interest when dealing with neighboring cities, employees, service providers, contractors, or other governmental entities.
The upshot of all the aforementioned is that it is the City’s duty to provide the best, most effective services at the most efficient price. We do not want or need frills that are not directly related to their mandate. The highest standards must be the watchword.
The city council needs to take care of things that they are mandated to look after, at a world-class level, and they will have no need to campaign to get re-elected.
…And that’s just the way I see it.
Jul
27
Transparent editor, Council “failure:” 7/27/2011 local media post
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council Meetings, News Enterprise & other local media | 1 Comment
(Los Alamitos, 7/27/2011) Today’s News Enterprise includes a “below the fold” page 1 report on Los Alamitos’ July 18th City Council meeting. I also found interesting Editor Shelley Henderson’s disclosure of her own leanings on the forced turns on Lexington that was discussed in last week’s paper.
The only letter in this week’s paper was mine, in favor of Read more
Jul
26
Important Disclaimers!
Filed Under Humor | 3 Comments
(7/26/2011, Los Alamitos) I stole this from a comment posted here a couple weeks ago, and felt it needed to be posted to apply to the blog as a whole and individually.
Hope this clears up any confusion you may have had about LetsFixLosAl, your humble blogger, Los Alamitos, the OC, or life in general:
Disclaimers:
- Your mileage may vary.
- Not available in all states.
- Do not Read more
Jul
26
7/26 & 28/2011 Los Al din din a go go’s for the week
Filed Under Commission Meetings, News you can use, Parks and Recreation | 4 Comments
Los Alamitos' Thursday night food fest a couple weeks ago.
(7/26/2011, Los Alamitos) Tonight, LosAl Dinner on the Go @mygearstore 11081 Winners Circle, Los Alamitos from 530-9pm (trucks subject to change; last week two additional trucks showed up at the Tuesday night event) :
- Guests:
- @RanchoaGoGo
- @piaggioonwheels
- @FreshFriesLA
- t @ChompChompTruck
- Hosts:
- @tropshaveice
- @thelimetruck
Thursday evenig, 7/28, U.S. Bank parking lot & St. Isadore’s Plaza on north side of Katella just east of Los Alamitos Blvd.:
Jul
25
Great trial opportunity for guest writers
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council Meetings, Commission Meetings, Community News | 1 Comment
(7/25/2011, Los Alamitos/Rossmoor) We’ve got family visiting for a couple weeks starting tomorrow, which provides the perfect opportunity for some budding journalists, bloggers or community activists to try their hand at writing with no commitment, while helping inform the Los Alamitos/Rossmoor community.
No experience required–just a desire to get facts & get them out.
No need to learn how to use WordPress, although it’s amazingly easy. You can just e-mail it to me, & I’ll put it up. Even edit it for grammar & spelling, or add pictures, if you don’t have any you want to use.
Any length. . . or just a series of photos. Any topic, as long as it would interest some members of our community.
Great for aspiring young journalists, or those with degrees looking to build their resume. Or anyone with a passion for anything that’s relatively Read more
Jul
25
(7/23/2011, Los Alamitos) Ladies and gentlemen, the story you’re about to read is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
This is the city: Los Alamitos, California.
I work here. I carry a badge. . .
Wednesday night, July 13, 2011.
While the good people of Carrier Row slept soundlessly, an 18 year old miscreant went to work.
Stealthily, he crept into the back yard of one young family on Essex Street, spotted what he wanted, and Read more
Jul
23
Sunday Story: “Smarter than God”
Filed Under Decency, Inspiration, Sunday Sermons, Songs & Stories | Leave a Comment
(7/24/2011) Like grandparents everywhere, Barb & I have been blessed with the smartest grandkids in the world.
Like grandchildren everywhere, as they grow up, however, there are times they think they’re a lot smarter than they really are.
When one of our grandkids was 4, his mother was trying to instruct him about something when he felt he was the one who should be instructing her.
“I already Read more
Jul
22
Your Los Al Community Bulletin Board: News, haz mat pickup, events & more
Filed Under Community News, News you can use, Parks and Recreation | 7 Comments
(7/22- 28/2011, Los Alamitos) Is something going on this weekend or next people should know about? Got a favorite local merchant? Got some local news you want to get out? Just put it in a comment to this post from now through next Thursday.
This weekly post is your New Millenium way to get the word out instantly, for free, whenever the idea hits you, without leaving your home (or even your car if you have a smart phone or tablet).
I’ll try to “prime the pump” this time with a few examples, but, as long as it’s “family friendly” and diplomatically stated, your imagination is your only limit.
To make it easier for people to find your item, I suggest using the topic or event as your “name,” then including your Read more
Jul
21
Dave here. Our Commissions may be the most under-rated component of our City government–and the real key to “fixing Los Al!”
In this excellent post, our “Highlands Guy” shares some insights that never occurred to me, as well as keys to good Commissions and good Commissioners. Kudos to “Highlands Guy” for another great Thursday column!
(Los Alamitos, 7/21/2011)by “Highlands Guy:” The good folks who take time out of their busy lives to devote to the rest of us are important.
These are not elected offices where they get the plaudits, the perks or their pictures on the front page of the News Enterprise. These are our neighbors who spend a bit of time away from their families and responsibilities because they care.
Even more importantly, they are Read more
Jul
20
The N-E gets it done: Your weekly media reporting post
Filed Under City Council Meetings, News Enterprise & other local media | 3 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 7/20/11): Kudos to News Enterprise editor/reporter Shelley Henderson for her over & above effort to report in this morning’s paper on a decision made very early Tuesday morning!
Our oldest daughter, a journalism major, once interned at the N-E, and Mondays there were chaotic trying to get the Wednesday paper out. So I have an idea of what it took for Henderson to get her article on the Los Alamitos City Council’s Lexington decision into today’s paper, and I know it meant not only staying in the Council Chambers long after 2 other reporters and your humble blogger left. Then going to work writing, editing, clipping, arranging, & finally sending it all to the printer before hitting Read more
Jul
19
Troy Edgar foiled twice? Your reports & insights on Monday’s City Council meetings
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council Meetings | 10 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 7/18/2011) Buried in tonight’s Council Agendas are some very significant issues, as we discussed in our post on the 7 p.m. Regular Meeting and on the post on the 5 p.m. Special Meeting to appoint Commissioners.
So, when I pulled up to the City Hall parking lot at 7 p.m. tonight I was surprised to see the lot only half full. When I got inside, the Council Chambers were maybe 1/3 full, mostly “regulars” ranging from John Underwood to Dean Grose to J. M. Ivler. I saw Shelley Henderson there to report for the News Enterprise, and the Barrs to report for OC180News.com.
Things have definitely slowed down as our Los Al summer starts heating up, so if you were at the meeting or watched it on TV (live or delayed), please take the time to tell us what you saw that you Read more