MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Lake Forest held Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at the Lake Forest City Council Chambers, 100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, California, was called to order at 5:30 p.m. with Council Member Yu not present at roll call.
ROLL CALL: Council Members: Robert Pequeño
Scott Voigts
Benjamin Yu (arrived 6:27 p.m.)
Mayor Pro Tem: Mark Tettemer
Mayor: Doug Cirbo
Assistant City Manager: Keith Neves
City Attorney: Matthew E. Richardson
Assistant City Clerk: Thy Merritt
CLOSED SESSION
1. NCONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL- ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d) (4) Number of potential cases: 1
ACTION: Closed session was conducted.
RECESS: City Council recessed to Closed Session for the purpose of conducting regular City business.
Council Member Yu arrived to Open Session at 6:27 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m. Mayor Cirbo reconvened Open Session with all members present.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT: City Attorney Richardson had no action to report.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Andrew O'Connor expressed his concerns with Best, Best, and Krieger.
INVOCATION: The Invocation was provided by Elder Tim Bruton, Grace Community Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of our Country was led by Cub Scout Pack #765.
REPORT FROM STUDENT LIAISON: Aarav Rajpara, Student Liaison from El Toro High School, delivered his report.
PRESENTATIONS: (Item No. 2)
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Yu, seconded by Council Member Voigts, to approve Presentation Item No. 2. The motion was carried by a vote of 5/0.
2. PROCLAMATION DECLARING OCTOBER 8-14, 2023 "FIRE PREVENTION WEEK"
Assistant City Manager Neves introduced this item and invited Division Chief Hunter to provide a presentation. No public comment was offered.
ACTION: A proclamation declaring October 8-14, 2023, as "Fire Prevention Week" was presented.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Pamela Estes provided a brief update on the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach.
Bob Holtzclaw spoke on his concerns about the presence of bicycle parts and a broken fence at Heroes Parks, day laborers, and Mercy House.
Andrew O'Connor spoke on defensible space built around Foothill Ranch, and various concerns he had with Council Member Voigts and with payments made to Kidder- Matthews.
CONSENT CALENDAR: (Item Nos. 3 - 5)
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Voigts, seconded by Council Member Yu, to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 3 - 4. The motion was carried by a vote of 5/0.
3. MOTION TO WAIVE READING OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ACTION: Said Ordinances and Resolutions which appeared on the public agenda were determined to have been read by title and further reading was waived.
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL HELD ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2023
ACTION: The minutes were approved as submitted.
ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION: (Item No. 5)
5. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR THE COUNTYWIDE TRAFFIC SIGNAL October 3, 2023 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 2 of 4
SYNCHRONIZATION BASELINE PROJECT
Andrew O'Connor offered public comment and spoke on his concerns with funds spent on consultant fees for traffic modeling.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Voigts, seconded by Council Member Yu, to: 1. Approve the Cooperative Agreement No. C-3-2427 between Orange County Transportation Authority and the City of Lake Forest for the Countywide Signal Synchronization Baseline Project for implementation of signal timing improvements within the City under the OC-Go (formerly known as Measure M2) Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program (Project P).
2. Authorize the Mayor to sign, and the City Clerk to attest, the Cooperative Agreement No. C-3-2427, substantially in the form attached in accordance with OCTA's contract management. The motion was carried by a vote of 5/0.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: (Item Nos. 6 - 7)
6. STRATEGIC ECONOMIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
Assistant City Manager Neves introduced this item and invited Deputy City Manager McGovern to provide a presentation. No public comment was offered.
City Council Members Yu, Tettemer and Voigts expressed interest in further extending funding for the City's BOGO gift card program considering the upcoming holiday shopping season. Assistant City Manager Neves informed the City Council that staff will return to the City Council with a recommended appropriation on the program before the first City Council meeting in November.
ACTION: 1. A report summarizing the success of the City's Strategic Economic Investment Program was received and filed. 2. Staff was directed to return to the Audit Committee to discuss potential adjustments to the Strategic Economic Investment Program spending categories.
7. 2023-2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
Assistant City Engineer Erdman provided a presentation on this item. No public comment was offered. Council member questions were asked and answered.
ACTION: A presentation updating the City Council on the status of projects in the 2023-2030 Capital Improvement Program was received and filed.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: Assistant City Manager Neves had nothing further to report.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS:
October 3, 2023 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 3 of 4 Council Member Pequeño: Council Member Pequeño reported on his attendance at the League of California Cities Annual Conference
and a fire prevention event at El Toro Mobile Home
Estates. He informed everyone of the "A Touch of
Love Works" annual fundraising gala scheduled for
October 28. He thanked staff for all their hard work.
Council Member Voigts: Council Member Voigts reported on his attendance at the League of California Cities Annual Conference. He
commended staff for their hard work.
Council Member Yu: Council Member Yu reported on his visit to the Senior Clubhouse and the Sports Park. He commented on
the need for programs for those age 50 and under. He
requested an update on the Community Gift Card
Program at the next meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Tettemer: Mayor Pro Tem Tettemer had nothing further to report.
Mayor Cirbo: Mayor Cirbo reported on his attendance at the Scout- O-Rama event, the mixer at Stretchlab, and the grand
opening of Sound Healing Dance Center. He
reminded everyone that October was Breast Cancer
Awareness month, and that October 5 was National
Bring Your Bible to School Day. He reported that he
would not be in attendance at the October 17, 2023,
City Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: The Regular Meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted: APPROVED:
THY MERRITT MARK TETTEMER
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK MAYOR PRO TEM
October 3, 2023 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 4 of 4