From: Michele Whiteaker
To: Public Comments
Subject: Michele Whiteaker - No item number, general comment Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 4:58:10 PM
(Timed at just over 2 minutes when read aloud)
Thank you for the opportunity to submit a comment. I first wanted to thank the Council for their service as I know it can be a thankless job at times.
I wanted to comment on the security cameras newly installed at Beckenham and Stockport parks. My family has lived in Laguna Hills since 2007. Our first home was in Acacia Knolls with our deck hanging over Stockport Park and since 2016 we have lived in our 2nd Laguna Hills home 5 houses away from Beckenham Park.
My first impression when I spotted the camera on a neighborhood walk this past Friday was alarm and fearing for my safety. What in the world could have occurred to justify this level of concern in my neighborhood? A rape? A shooting? Gang violence? Some sort of violent crime? Why were we not informed via an email from the city or even a flyer on our doorstep? If it was serious enough to warrant a camera, it must be serious enough to notify us! Beckenham is a well-loved park with a bunch of regulars who visit every evening. Families with kids. Dog walkers.
Neighbors socializing -- and the park was full of all that on Friday.
I also happen to publish a very popular website for families covering parks in Orange County for 17 years (since 2008) at FunOrangeCountyParks.com. I have been to over 350 parks in the county and I have to say that putting in a security camera in a park is NOT something I see very often. It's only a last resort type of move -- or a citywide commitment -- when everything else has been tried and failed. There is usually a big announcement of the pilot program or why the cameras are necessary. Buena Park and Santa Ana come to mind.
I can honestly say that I think the expense is not worthy of our taxpayer dollars and will not be good for property values.
If I were shopping for a home and saw a security camera at a neighboring park, I would think it is unsafe. I do not feel that level of threat here. And I'm not convinced the cameras are a deterrent. The only violent crimes I have heard about at parks in Laguna Hills are two separate incidents of actual shootings at Dinosaur Park near the Community Center in April 2021 and also in April 2023. Are there cameras installed there? Unless there is good reason, I am requesting the removal of the cameras to preserve our community and prevent unnecessary spending. I would love to have the city explore other crime prevention options like a Neighborhood Watch or community surveys given at intervals to see how safe/unsafe our neighborhood feels.
Thank you for your time tonight!
Public Comments
January 28, 2025
non-agendized item
From: Vince & Lucy Di Profio
To: Public Comments
Subject: Exploring the Adoption of an Electric Bike/Mobility Device Ordinance - Lucy Buckthal Date: Monday, January 27, 2025 3:33:51 PM
Dear councilmembers,
This is in regards to the upcoming discussion pertaining to E-bikes in the City of Laguna Hills.
My husband & I have lived here since 2002. We are both avid cyclists; mountain biking & road cycling. We have enjoyed the multitude of trails/paths surrounding us as we rarely need to be on a street with car traffic. It's a wonderful lifestyle.
I understand the growing concern for E-bikes in the community particularly because we have so many trails that people use for walking/running/exercising. There are so many E-bikes now that don't require pedaling & clearly can surpass 30 miles per hour. Of course, that's much more of a draw for younger people which in turn can be quite reckless as well. I've witnessed the zipping through traffic doing wheelies or multiple riders on one bike flying through red lights w/no helmets on. I believe these riders are more where our complaints are pointed. Personally, as often as I comment that they're crazy, they don't directly affect me so I'll look to those that are higher up to decide a course of action for those bikes.
As I've aged into my 50s, my abilities have slowed & I now have an e-bike to let be able to keep up w/my husband when we ride together. It's a standard mountain bike w/electronic pedal assistance. The bike will not move if I'm not pedaling & has a top speed of 20 miles per hour. While it still looks & rides like a mountain bike, it definitely has more power because of the electronics so it's definitely classified as a motorized bicycle.
The reason for my writing today is to highlight that there is a distinction between these 2 types of e-bikes. I'm sure I'm not the first to bring this to your attention but wanted to state my case here anyway. My hope would be that we find a way to make our roads & paths safe while still being able to maintain our active lifestyle.
Good luck with your planning.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Lucy Buckthal
949-322-2642
______________________________________________________________ Public Comments
January 28, 2025
Item No. 7.3.1