May

11

Special City Council meeting @ 4 Today, 5/11, to discuss Rossmoor & Los Al S.O.I.

Filed Under City Council Meetings 

(Los Alamitos, Ca, 5/11/09, by Dave Emerson)   Mayor Troy Edgar has called a Special Meeting of the Los Alamitos City Council for 4 p.m. today in advance of this Wednesday’s 9 a.m. meeting of Orange County’s Local Agency Formation Commission in Santa Ana.

During that meeting on Wednesday morning, L.A.F.C.O. will consider the Sphere of Influence Update Report for the City of Los Alamitos.  LAFCO staff is recommendingthat Rossmoor remain in Los Alamitos’ Sphere of Influence and that no changes be made.

As you can see from the LAFCO S.o.I. map for Los Alamitos, the current plan is to keep Rossmoor, in Los Al’s SOI, but not any of the retail adjoining Rossmoor that’s in the city of Seal Beach.  (In the pdf map the City of Los Alamitos is shaded blue, while Los Alamitos’ Sphere of Influence, which includes Rossmoor, is outlined in dark blue lines.)

Right now there seems to be a standoff between Rossmoor, Los Alamitos, and Orange County:

  • The County wants to stop subsidizing it’s unincorporated “islands,” including Rossmoor.
  • Rossmoor might have been willing to incorporate if Seal Beach hadn’t stripped off the retail stores along both sides of Seal Beach Blvd/Los Al Blvd. north from the 405 freeway to the Los Al/Rossmoor border with “Seal Beach.”  It certainly seems disingenuous for “The Shoppes at Rossmoor” to be located in Seal Beach.
  • The County wants to see Los Alamitos eventually absorb Rossmoor, effectivly pawning their problems off on us, with a five year subsidy to assist with the transition.  Neither Rossmoor nor Los Al has been in favor of that.
  • Supervisor Moorlach has proposed a “super city” combining Rossmoor with Los Al, Seal Beach, and possibly Cypress.   There might be some way to make that a “win-win” for everyone, but it’s loaded with minefields for Los Al, as has been noted here previously by several posters.  Possibly a “borough” form of government patterned after New York could combine both the benefits of a bigger town with those of our current small town.   I think it’s worth exploring.  The devil, of course, will be in the details.

Here is the agenda for this afternoon’s meeting:

SPECIAL MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, May 11, 2009 – 4:00 p.m.
AGENDA

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

This Agenda contains a brief general description of each item to be considered, and has been posted by the City Clerk as required by law.  Copies of relevant material for each item are available for review at the City Clerk’s office during business hours, and on the City’s website (www.ci.los-alamitos.ca.us) after posting and distribution to the City Council.  Except as provided by law, no action or discussion shall be taken on any item not appearing herein.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in a public meeting, please contact the office of the City Clerk at (562) 431-3538, extension 220, 48 hours prior to the meeting so that reasonable arrangements may be made to assure accessibility.  Assisted listening devices are also available.   Ask the City Clerk if you desire to use this device.

1.         CALL TO ORDER

2.         ROLL CALL   – CITY COUNCIL

3.         ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

At this time any individual in the audience may come forward to speak on any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council .  Please state if you wish to speak on an item on the Agenda.  Remarks are to be limited to not more than five minutes.

4.         SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY

A.           LAFCO Sphere of Influence  Att 1 Ex A

The Mayor has requested a special meeting to discuss an upcoming LAFCO Staff Report and Hearing.

Recommendation:
1.         Review and Discuss; and,
2.         Action as Council Deems Appropriate.

5.         ADJOURNMENT

The next meeting of the City Council will be Monday, May 18, 2009, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers.

I think it’s good that the Council is at least considering the implications, although it does seem to me it might have been more timely to consider before jumping into the LosAlTV matters, in view of the County’s scheduling.

I’ve heard that at one point our County Supervisor Moorlach felt that in view of Rossmoor’s vote against incorporation it might be appropriate for Los Al to attempt to annex the commercial corner of Rossmoor on the southwest corner of Los Al and Katella and the adjoining apartments.  That makes sense in terms of a creating coherence along both sides of Katella and Los Al Blvd., and could increase Los Al’s sales tax while providing faster police response to the residents in the adjoining apartments.

Not sure exactly what the Mayor has in mind, but I did send him an e-mail a bit earlier today.  I’ll let you know if I hear back.

That’s what I think–your comments are welcome, but please focus on the issues and remain diplomatic.

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Related posts:

  1. Los Alamitos City Council has lots to discuss at 2009′s first meeting
  2. Council moves from “neutral” to “favorable” on Rossmoor
  3. Joint Los Al City Council and Planning Commission Special meeting @ 5:30 Monday
  4. Monday, 5/18 Council meeting to discuss Katella commercial overlay and 50th anniversary celebration

Comments

One Response to “Special City Council meeting @ 4 Today, 5/11, to discuss Rossmoor & Los Al S.O.I.”

  1. Dave Emerson on May 12th, 2009 8:15 am

    Well, that was an interesting meeting. Glad I went–one of only two local residents in the audience, along with our new city manager, Henry Taboda of the Rossmoor Community Services District, and Bob Aldrich from LAFCO. I hope to get up a detailed post of my observations and thoughts later today.

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