Your reporting & comments on tonight’s Los Alamitos City Council Meetings, 6/17/2013

June 17, 2013 in 2013 Issues, City Budget, City Council Meetings, Planning & Community Development

(Los Alamitos, 6/17/2013)  We’ve got 2 Los Al City Council meetings tonight:

  1. A 5 pm, 45 minute, non-televised workshop/information meeting on the Land Use Element of the City’s General Plan Revision (more on that below).
  2. The 6 pm regular monthly meeting, which will be televised live on Los Al TV3, and rebroadcast tomorrow morning and evening.

I was afraid the Council would be encouraged to pass the Land Use Proposal tonight.  After all, the agenda for the 5 pm meeting recommended the Council:

Review and discuss the proposed Land Use Plan and recommend a Land Use Plan to be studied in the Environmental Impact Report. The Land Use Plan studied in the EIR will then be up for consideration by the City Council at a future City Council meeting sometime in January.

However, Community Development Director Steven Mendoza began the meeting explaining that this meeting was essentially an opportunity for the Council Members to get a basic understanding of what was being proposed, to ask questions, and to then have time to consider the proposal prior to another meeting.

Mr. Mendoza told me that tonight’s power point presentation will be available online tomorrow, either on the City or the General Plan website.  If you find it before I do, please put up the link in a comment.

Interestingly, Cypress’ George Pardon, Associate Director for  Citizens for Responsible Development, was in attendance, although I only had a chance to speak with him briefly.  Although George and I are on opposite sides of Measure A, I respect his commitment to his community and diligence in attending every Cypress City Council Meeting.

But enough of my reporting.  This post is your opportunity to report on what you saw & what you thought about either of tonight’s meetings, whether you were there in person or watching on Los AlTV, live, taped, or replayed.  You can also link to other media reports.

Multi-story mixed use zoning proposed for “downtown” Los Alamitos

June 16, 2013 in 2013 Issues, City Council Meetings, Commissions, Planning & Community Development, Traffic

Coming soon to Los Alamitos?

(Los Alamitos, 6/16/2013)  At 5 pm this Monday night the Los Alamitos City Council will take a major step in determining what their city will look like 20, 30, and 50 years from now.

They will vote to “lock in” the results of years or work by City Staff, Consultants, City  Commissioners, and a variety of residents and local “stake holders.”

There’s a lot to like and a lot to discuss in the Land Use Plan, and there have been multiple meetings and opportunities for discussion.  I’ve been in the loop on many of the discussions, and there’s a lot I like, but a few things that cause me concern.

Of course, I could be wrong, and doubtless am in some areas.  So I’ll start with a couple areas I like before moving to a couple I think need  Read the rest of this entry →

Land Use, Trash fees on agendas for 2 Los Alamitos City Council Meetings 6/17/2013

June 16, 2013 in 2013 Issues, City Council, City Council Meetings

(Los Alamitos, 6/16/2013)  So much going on in Los Al it’s going to take two meetings tomorrow to cover it all!

First meeting, at 5 pm Monday, is to “lock in the Draft Land Use Plan” for the General Plan Update.  Click here for the 5 pm agenda & staff report on the Land Use changes.

Second meeting at 6 pm this Monday includes a Consent Calendar item to approve a 2.57% increase in trash fees that was the subject of a flyer distributed in some neighborhoods today.  The flyer noted that we’re already paying Consolidated an “overcharge” of $6.5 million to Consolidated (over the lowest qualified bid).   Also on the agenda is setting time limits for Council Meetings.

“The new Carson?” Cypress City Council Meeting Recap

June 11, 2013 in City Council Meetings, Cypress, Cypress Mesaure A, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property)

(Cypress/Los Alamitos, 6/11/2013)  A brief but very interesting Cypress City Council meeting last night (June 10, 2013).  Here’s a couple perspectives from readers who were there:

It was a quick one hour meeting.  Only Cypress residents spoke and all of them were No on Measure A.
Attendance was kind of small considering all that is going on in Cypress right now …. too bad ….. that needs to change.  But at least some people spoke up!
Dave Rose, the chairman of the new ‘Cypress Citizens Preserving Open Space’ spoke and revealed what was found on the 460′s forms re: Council Member Bailey receiving so much  money from the Golf Course owner, Christo Bardis.
That certainly appears to create a Read the rest of this entry →

Cypress Council 6/10, Los Al 6/17, Commission Omission, General Plan, Food Trucks

June 9, 2013 in 2013 Issues, City Council Meetings, Commissions, Community Calendar & Bulletin Board, Cypress, Planning & Community Development, Traffic

(Los Alamitos/Cypress, 6/9/2013) Lots going on in the next few weeks, so it’s time to update our Community Calendar & Bulletin Board Post.

First, we’ll give you what we’ve got so far, then you can add events you’re aware of via a comment.

Monday, June 10:  Cypress City Council

 5:30 pm:  Closed session with Labor Negotiators

7 pm:  Regular meeting, opportunities for Public Comments/ Oral Communications for a half hour near the beginning and at the end of the meeting.  Click here for the agenda & links to staff reports.  Biggest item appears to be adoption of the 2013-14 budget, but lots of other items.

Monday, June 10:  Los Alamitos Planning Commission, 7 pm,  click here for agenda.   Public hearings  on  Secondhand Shop/Social Service Facility on Katella &  Zoning Amendment to implement the City’s Housing Element Relating to “Half way homes,”  residential care facilities, single room occupancy, & parking for studios and affordable housing.

Are our Cypress readers getting “Planning Commission Envy,” because  Read the rest of this entry →

Cypress Council Meets Tuesday, Trash late, more: End of May Calendar

May 30, 2013 in City Council Meetings, Community Calendar & Bulletin Board, Cypress, Cypress Mesaure A, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Your reporting and comments

(Updated 5/27/2013:)  The agenda’s up for this Tuesday’s 7 pm Cypress City Council Meeting, & it should be very short, with only the consent calendar and oral comments on the agenda.

Most local residents can expect their trash pickup to be delayed a this week due to today’s holiday.  For example, Los Al residents pickup moves back from Thursday to Friday this week.

And it looks like Los Al’s Thursday night  food trucks are moving on, but St. Isidore”s is providing alternatives.

But the big news is that Cypress permanent vote-by-mail voters will be receiving their ballots on Measure A towards the end of the week.  Measure A was written by Christo Bardis, a Sacramento developer who is a part owner of  the former Cypress Golf Course property, to up-zone two parcels totaling 46.9 acres, outlined in red in the map below:

The land rezoned by Measure L (blue) and A (3 sections in red)

The land rezoned by Measure L (blue) and A (3 sections in red)

As best as I can tell, the proposal only benefits Mr. Bardis and   Read the rest of this entry →

Carolyn Sylvia embarrasses herself at Council Meeting

May 21, 2013 in City Council Meetings, Cypress, Decency

Council 3 28 prologis spec mtg(Los Alamitos, 5/21/2013)  Wow!

I finally got around to watching the tape, and was I ever shocked at Carolyn Sylvia’s remarks.

Frankly, she embarrassed herself.

And our community as well.

I’ve enjoyed pleasant conversations with both Sylvias, and worked with them both on various occasions.  They do have a good side.  Sadly, it did not seem to be on display Monday night.

First, she accused our Mayor of lying in saying that he advised Cypress Councilman Bailey that he was recording him. Based on her assumption that he wouldn’t have left if he was telling the truth. That’s random at best and libelous on it’s face.

So, because Bailey threw a hissy fit about Read the rest of this entry →

Your reporting on 3 important meetings tonight (5/13/13) & ProLogis Tues. AM

May 13, 2013 in City Council Meetings, Commissions, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Planning & Community Development, Weekend Wisdom

(Los Alamitos/Cypress, 5/13/2013)  Three big meetings tonight, the biggest in Cypress, two others in Los Al, all 3 in the Council Chambers,  Cypress on their cable, no tv for Los Al that I’m aware of.

ProLogis @ 8 am Tuesday, 5/14:

Also note that ProLogis 2 VPs will be presenting their perspective and probably their newest proposal at 7:30 am at 7:30 am at the Residence Inn by Marriott Cypress/Los Alamitos (4931 Katella Avenue),   Click here for details.

If you call today you can save $5.  I suspect if you arrive late and don’t eat but walk in discreetly with authority,you might be able to hear the meeting for free.  You can always tell them you’re reporting for a local blog–as long as you actually post what you hear in a comment below.  They can call me if they want to verify–I’ve got a conflicting duty in Costa Mesa.

On to tonight’s meetings:   Read the rest of this entry →

HG on Squishy Goals (More thoughts on Los Al’s 2013-14 Budget)

May 2, 2013 in City Budget, City Council Meetings, Highlands Guy's Thursday Columns, Our Future, Our Priorities

(Los Alamitos, 5/2/2013)In work in both the private and public sectors I’ve always been taught that  goals must be measurable.  So I was shocked to read the “goals” for our Council, City Manager, and others cited by our Highlands Guy below!

 Once again our Thursday columnist asks some very good questions, especially in light of this Monday’s 6 pm Council Session on the 2013-14 budget.  by Highlands’ Guy:

Yes, the Prologis/Cypress mess is still with us. And yes, there are still a lot of good neighbors from Cypress, from Los Al, from Rossmoor, from Long Beach, from Garden Grove still fighting the good fight.

But, as I noted last week, there are still other issues that must be prepared for and responded to with intelligence, insight and common sense. It is with this in mind that I offer some thoughts to our City Council on getting ready for the 2013/14 budget process that continues at the 6 pm portion of their Special Council Meeting this Monday, 5/6/2013.

Maybe the best way to determine if our city officials have been effective is to look at the “department goals” set down in stone in Read the rest of this entry →

Update & your reporting/comments on tonight’s 2 Cypress City Council meetings (4/22/13)

April 22, 2013 in City Council Meetings, Cypress, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Your reporting and comments

maskstobreath

4/22/13 update:  Looks like the good folks at Cypress City Hall may be getting a bit nervous.  Earlier today one alert  citizen noticed this addition to the  City of  Cypress website:

 Speakers and members of the audience are asked to please observe meeting decorum by using courteous and professional language at all times, refraining from clapping, whistling, etc. in response to a speaker’s comments, and allowing speakers to provide comments without interruption.

That addition prompted this response from one Cypress resident:

City Hall wants ORDER:

 The most important thing of all is:  Keep the Citizens in Line.  No loudness.  No righteous anger.  Keep your emotions in check.  (Never mind that the residents have just been blind-sided.)    These remarks [quoted above]  are in BOLD on the Cypress website now! Is this ‘normal’ for cities to sometimes reinforce these ‘rules?’  Can these rules be enforced?   Where is the line between our Freedom of Speech and City Hall’s need for ORDER ??

An informed community member had the following wise reply (& advice):

If the city code has a piece in it that includes decorum (and they all do) then they have a right to enforce it. At the same time, a speaker has the right to invite the audience to interrupt them with “clapping if they agree” and then it would NOT be an interruption or lack of decorum as they have been invited to participate.

Sounds like it may be an interesting City Council meeting in Cypress  tonight!

If you make it there or catch some on cable TV, please scroll down to the comments section to report what you saw and what you thought.  Also any Read the rest of this entry →