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Los Alamitos staff during what they can to cut costs

David N. Young
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Los Alamitos staff during what they can to cut costs

In a variety of ways, the city administration of Los Alamitos has tried many methods to inform its citizens that without additional revenue, the services they have come to expect and the quality of life they expect could soon change.

In fact, city officials have accepted draconian cuts and drastic measures to bridge this year’s $1.4 million budget gap.

During the council’s discussion to put a sales tax measure on the fall ballot, city officials recounted the long fall from financial stability, citing mostly actions that predate the existing council.

City manager Chet Simmons said since 2009, the city has cut 26 full time positions, marking a 27 percent overall reduction in expenses while generally, maintaining the same level of service to the public.

Los Alamitos, like many cities across California, are facing financial troubles because of huge amounts of pension debt obligations for past employees.
Of course there are other factors, including the state changing procedures to capture revenues once enjoyed by the cities, said Simmons.

While the city had previously reduced health care benefits for employees and implemented a two-tier retirement system to save money, it wasn’t enough to stem the red ink.
According to Simmons’ research, even those actions were not enough so the city implemented a new tiered salary system and also cut benefits for newer employees.
“The city can no longer afford to pay them,” he said.

Moreover, Simmons said many employees in the city “are now wearing many hats,” doing the jobs of multiple employees.

Even then, he said, excluding the safety sector, current employees agreed to a five percent pay cut to help close the budget gap. “They (city employees) recognize the position the city is in,” said Simmons, and are willing to do their part.

Simmons said the cuts did not only affect the rank and file employees, as he, the Chief of Police and other top administrators also agreed to a five percent pay cut.

Even though the budget was balanced, the current strain on city staff “is unsustainable for the long-term.”
Simmons said the city was also ramping up its economic development efforts and taking other external measures to enhance the revenue streams coming into the city.

“Making cuts,” however, “is never enough,” said Simmons.

The city manager said the city was outsouring as much as possible to save additional funds. “The city’s workforce, have certainly done what they could to make a difference, he said.

The city has nonetheless voted to give voters an option to approve a sales tax on the November ballot to reverse the financial trajectory of the past decade (see related story).

All lives matter

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All lives matter

Dear Editor,
I half expected violins to pop out of the newspaper when reading the letter to the editor by Julianne and Caroline Bancroft. Sorry to make you gals upset, but ALL LIVES MATTER! Whatever your race, religion, gender or favorite sports team, ALL LIVES MATTER.
There is always room for improvement, but the United States is not a racist nation. We are a wonderful nation that welcomes all legal immigrants.
Americans are watching in horror as Black Lives Matter and Antifa groups destroy many Democrat-run cities. The destruction includes black and minority people and their homes and businesses. Don’t THEIR lives matter? Large stores can clean up the mess and reopen, but small mom-and-pop stores are gone forever. Besides businesses being destroyed, tourism is gone. Would the Bancrofts now vacation in Portland? Seattle? Chicago? Los Angeles?
No matter how many statues are destroyed, for Black Lives Matter and Antifa this won’t be over until the United States of America is destroyed. Patrisse Cullors is a Black Lives Matter founder. In 2015 she said in a Real News Network interview: “We are trained Marxists. We are super versed on ideological theories.”
People like Julianne and Caroline Bancroft are putting out the welcome mat for Marxism. What if Americans resist? On June 24, Greater New York Black Lives Matter Chairperson Hawk Newsome said: “If this country doesn’t give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it. All right? And I could be speaking . . . figuratively. I could be speaking literally. . . I just want black liberation and black sovereignty, by any means necessary.”
Do the Bancrofts want Black Lives Matter painted on Main Street in Seal Beach? Do they want the shops at Rossmoor burned and looted? This is the world they are supporting, and it goes against everything that law-abiding citizens believe is right about this country. BLM either stands for Black Lives Matter or Burn Loot Murder. We will learn the answer on Election Day.
G. Pat Irving
Los Alamitos

Support the initiative, but a few questions

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Support the initiative, but a few questions

I applaud the City Council for their recent action related to the ballot measure to increase the City’s sales tax. But I must note that there are still a few items of concern that could have a negative effect on the ordinance’s success in November.

I believe the current wording is not quite there yet. A reading of the recommended ballot question as well as the proposed ordinance, ‘No. 2020-06’, mentions a number of general action items. But I would offer that in some cases, the wording is open to interpretation, that may or may not be understood by succeeding City Councils.

A biggie in my mind is where, in the city coffers, this new money ends up. Is it targeted or does it go directly into the General fund? And if that is, in fact, the case, how are we assured that those new dollars will be directed at the exact programs delineated in the Ordinance description as reflected on the ballot

Let me be more specific. The ordinance refers to ‘…quality of life services…protect local businesses…other essential services…’ I would offer that those words sound good, but what exactly do they mean? It also says, …’create more good-paying jobs for residents…’. I have not seen that happen in the past 25 years, in good economies, how the heck is the City Council going to even attempt that?

Please note, that I am grateful for the hard work and long house put in by our public employees every day. But it is my understanding, and I may be mistaken, that a good portion of this new revenue brought in via the increased sales tax will need to go into the public employees’ retirement and medical accounts, CalPERS. How, exactly does that add to the quality of my life?

I am not trying to tear down what the Council is trying to do. But I want there to be realistic and measurable goals if we are to support an ordinance that will mean more money out of our pockets.

I support this measure, and firmly believe that it is the only path to stave off bankruptcy. And I hope that it passes muster with my friends and neighbors. But I would offer that there are a few loose ends that need to be addressed to assure passage.
I’m hoping the City Council can clarify these issues, and the wording adjusted, to gain our support for the ordinance. L’Chaim

Elliott Singer
Los Alamitos

 

Disheartened by ‘all lives matter’ response

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Disheartened by ‘all lives matter’ response

Dear Editor,
I was disheartened to read the July 29, 2020 letter from G. Pat Irving which was written in response to a letter from J. and C. Bancroft on July 22, 2020 about the Black Lives Matter movement.

Mr./Ms. Irving says, “All Lives Matter” when responding to the letter about the Black Lives Matter movement. The United States of America has never fully embraced the sanctity of Black lives. The writer cannot honestly believe that our country has afforded people of color a level playing field at any point in our nation’s history. The Black Lives Matter movement was begun in response to the discrimination against Black lives in our country; as a white citizen, I have never had to face such discrimination in my native Orange County or elsewhere in the USA.

Next, I suspect this will fall on deaf ears, but much of the destruction and mayhem alluded to by the writer has come from opportunists seeking to sow divisions among us (including many ultra-right-wing, conservative groups and individuals we are now learning). I know that the new boogeyman is “Antifa!”, but the facts don’t support those fears. I have marched in Southern California (masked up) without witnessing one incident of violence or destruction. The writer’s “law-abiding” comment illustrates the attitude held by the writer; furthermore, it illustrates the quiet racism and hypocrisy so many people continue to be fed from the same, tired sources. There was nothing “law-abiding” about the men armed with assault weapons who stormed the state capitol in Michigan. Likewise, the 3 white men arrested for making explosives in Las Vegas so they could “reopen” America and later disrupt BLM marchers were anything but “law-abiding”. Yet Mr./Ms. Irving is silent about these and similar actions by white Americans who use force. These actions, and so many others over our 400+ year history like them, are meant to threaten and intimidate fellow Americans citizens, not to strive for our nation’s stated ideals of freedom, justice, equality for all of her citizens.

The time is well past for the United States of America to come to grip with the racist actions of the past and the present so that we may finally move toward a future in which all Americans can proudly, fully and equally participate.

Denise Miller
Rossmoor

Witnessing racial prejudice

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Witnessing racial prejudice

I was born in Chicago and grew up on the South Side in a middle-class area. When I was in 6th grade, the first African-American student enrolled in my elementary school. When the first couple of African-American families moved into my neighborhood, a couple of people threw Molotov cocktails into a couple of houses and caused some destruction. Regardless, some African-American families remained.

By the time I was starting High School, 9th grade, 1959, “white flight” had progressed and the high school was by then about 90% African-American. I was very prejudiced of “N” people, because they were taking away my social life. I vehemently complained to my parents to move away, but they owned an apartment building and it would be difficult to sell it, so they remained. They did not embrace African-Americans. They just accepted the situation and behaved cordially to them. Having emigrated from the Soviet Union in the 1920s, they just mostly stayed to themselves and associated with relatives and their white friends. For me, at that time, racial prejudice was endemic within me. I hated those “N” people. It had penetrated within me.

I remember in my 1st year in high school, in a class when some of the African-American students were getting quite rowdy. The teacher stopped and asked them why they were so rowdy. One replied, “What is the use of education? I won’t ever get a decent job because I am black.” I was silent, but that memory remained.

My racial prejudice persisted until about my 3rd year in high school. The change may have started to occur, because many times in classes, we as students would start talking in class together about race and prejudice. We had some very interesting discussions and the teachers usually allowed us to talk freely. I can remember in one class when we asked if in the next 30 or 50 years if all this would change and would there not be the racial divisions that existed at this time. We wondered but could not come up with an answer to this conundrum.

So, around that time, my 3rd year, I started to say to myself that every person is an individual and I should ignore the color of one’s skin and accept a person for what he or she is. Eventually, I developed some good relationships with most students in my class and by my senior year, I was elected class treasurer, when the school by then was 95% African-American. I have attended some class reunions in Chicago and look forward to socializing with my classmates at the reunion.

Now that I look back, how much did things change since I was in high school?
There is more equal opportunity in getting employment, but most people at the top of corporate ladder are still white. African-Americans can move into white neighborhoods, but some white people I know still say that they do not want to live next door to an African-American family. Also, although redlining is illegal, it still occurs to some extent under cover. Schools in African-American neighborhoods still do not provide as high quality education as in white neighborhoods. Whites pretty much live with whites. African-Americans pretty much live with African-Americans. Lack of corporate investment and sub-standard schools in African-American neighborhoods are a couple of the major root causes of crime in those neighborhoods.

Black Lives Matter, because it is obvious to me that racial prejudice is still, to this day, endemic throughout our society. And I, by now living in a predominantly white neighborhood, am exasperating to some extent this situation.
Art Oster
Rossmoor

 

Los Al announces changes for city hall

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Los Al announces changes for city hall

Throughout this pandemic, the City of Los Alamitos has continued its unbroken tradition of excellent service to the community. As always, our first priority is the safety of our residents and business partners that rely on the essential services that the City provides.

As such, the City is constantly monitoring and adjusting its operations and protocols so that we can effectively serve the Los Alamitos community, while ensuring your safety.
In furtherance of these goals, and as a precaution to reduce further spread of the COVID-19 virus, the City will be enacting a number of small changes to the City’s operational plans effective Monday, August 3, 2020.
City Hall

Los Alamitos City Hall remains open to the public, Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. In order to limit unnecessary exposure to COVID-19, the City of Los Alamitos is requesting that business that can be handled via phone or email be considered by the public as an alternative to in-person visits. In-person visits for development and business-related front counter services are being accommodated according to the following schedule:
• Walk-in Visits: Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM
• By Appointment Visits: Monday through Thursday, 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM
• In order to ensure staff availability and to reduce wait times, it is recommended that visitors schedule an appointment with the appropriate division listed below:
• Planning Division: (562) 431-3538, ext. 303
• Building Division: (562) 431-3538, ext. 302
• Engineering Division: (562) 431-3538, ext. 110
Community Center

The Los Alamitos Community Center is open only to registered participants that are enrolled in a City class and/or program. On-Line registration is highly encouraged.
Please contact the Los Alamitos Community Center at (562) 430-1073 for more information or visit www.cityoflosalamitos.org.
Police Department

The Police Department lobby remains open to the public, Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, as the Department continues normal 24/7 safety operations. In order to ensure proper social distancing protocols, visitors can use the intercom system located by the front doors and be let in to the lobby area one person at a time.
Please contact the Police Department front desk for non-emergency inquiries at (562) 594-7232.

City Events and Recreation Classes
Please visit the online Recreation & Community Services Brochure on the City’s website to view the current schedule of classes and programs. Programs, such as day camp and certain classes that are able to be held outdoors and can follow specific industry guidance from the State and County are still being offered.
Please visit www.cityoflosalamitos.org for more information on classes and programs, as well as upcoming City events.

The City of Los Alamitos remains committed to meeting the community’s needs, while ensuring the safety, security, and wellbeing of all. For additional information and the latest updates, please visit the City’s website at www.cityoflosalamitos.org.

West Orange Republicans thanks law enforcement

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West Orange Republicans thanks law enforcement

West Orange County Republican Women Federated set up a table on busy Los Alamitos Blvd. and invited members of the community to stop by to write thank you cards to law enforcement. There were also petitions to recall Gov. Newsom and a letter urging Orange County Supervisors to maintain the John Wayne Airport name.

“We had about 175 people come by specifically to express their support for the men and women in law enforcement,” said West Orange County Republican Women Federated President Nancy Hathcock adding that the Silent Majority is very patriotic and unwavering in their support for the police.

Following the event, the thank you cards were divided with half delivered to the Los Alamitos Police Department and half to the Cypress Police Department. Some cards were specifically written to nearby police departments (Seal Beach, Anaheim, La Palma and Long Beach) and were mailed to those departments with a letter explaining the event.

The West Orange County Republican Women Federated is a grassroots organization which has been serving the communities since 1961. They are part of the National Federation of Republican Women, the largest grassroots political organization in the USA. To learn more about the organization and its celebration of the 19th Amendment 100th anniversary that allowed women to vote, contact Saundra Stark at sk********@*******nk.net.

Woman’s Club of Cypress shows appreciation to police

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Woman’s Club of Cypress shows appreciation to police

The Woman’s Club of Cypress made up 50 bags of packaged goodies for each of our police officers, plus some bags for office staff. Each bag included a handwritten thank you note, letting our Police Department know how much we appreciate all that they do for our City. Pictured above includes Chief Rod Cox and several officers. Club members from L to R: Patricia Boggs, Mariellen Yarc, Carole Shaw (Club President), Ginger Osman and Nora Gorton.

Los Al opens Phase II of COVID small business grant program

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Los Al opens Phase II of COVID small business grant program

The sustainability of our community businesses remains a priority and the City of Los Alamitos is dedicated to assisting businesses during these unprecedented times.

Commencing on August 3, 2020 through August 10, 2020, the City of Los Alamitos will be accepting applications from small businesses interested in Phase II of the Emergency Relief Small Business Grant Program, which will award grants to eligible businesses for $5,000. The eligibility criteria is defined as the following:

• The business must be a for-profit business and physically located in Los Alamitos;
• The business must be located in a commercial/industrial space or has a leased space;
• The business must have an active Los Alamitos business license for a minimum of three (3) months;
• The business must have at least one (1) employee (employee can be the owner – for example, hair stylists and real estate agents), but no more than 25 employees (full or part-time);
• The business must be in good standing with the City (current on bills, no liens or judgements, etc.), unless directly correlated to COVID-19 impacts;
• Any business that has received funding such as the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans, or Paycheck Protection Program loans, must certify the amount of funding received. Priority assistance will be given to those businesses that did not receive above 5% of their gross revenue from 2019. Applications received exceeding that threshold, will be prioritized in the following order:
• Group 1: Businesses that received less than 5% of Federal Disaster Funding
• Group 2: Businesses that received less than 15% of Federal Disaster Funding
• Group 3: Businesses that received less than 25% of Federal Disaster Funding
• Group 4: All other businesses
• The business must submit the application, and all required supporting documentation;
• The business applicant must provide proof of financial hardship causing business interruption due to COVID-19 in one of the following ways:
• The business has been deemed non-essential and has forced to shut down by the state or local government;
• Letter stating that sales from the business are down more than 25% compared to the previous three months (prior to February 15, 2020);
• The business has had to lay off at least one of its employees (full- or part-time employee); or
• One or more of the employees in the business have contracted COVID-19, while at work.
For additional information and the latest updates, please visit the City of Los Alamitos Business Page at www.cityoflosalamitos.org/resources-for-businesses.

Firefighters quickly extinguish Bolsa Chica wetlands blaze

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Firefighters quickly extinguish Bolsa Chica wetlands blaze

A blaze of approximately five acres that began about 5 p.m. Sunday quickly spread throughout the Bolsa Chica wetlands near Huntington Beach and forced the evacuation of area residents before it was finally brought under control.

According to television reports, the fire burned through 63 acres before the Huntington Beach Fire Department was able to report full containment about 7 p.m.

Some residents were evacuated in an abundance of caution and while no structural damages or injuries were reported, several homes were threatened, and firefighters stopped the flames about 100 yards away from reaching them.

Officials expressed concern about a large recreation area connected to the wetlands and the wildlife in the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, where more than 200 avian species have been identified.

“We have a lot of different wildlife in there, we have waterways in there, we also have the Bolsa Chica conservancy and it’s an area where people like to walk as well. The environment is always one of our main things that we look [at] and we want to save,” said Eric Blaska of the Huntington Beach Fire Department told CBS television in Los Angeles.
The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation.

Dr. Gates to replace Burns-Ellis as McGaugh Principal

David N. Young
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Dr. Gates to replace Burns-Ellis as McGaugh Principal

A former Los Alamitos Unified assistant principal has agreed to return to the system to become the principal of McGaugh Elementary School, Superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver has announced.

Dr. Issaic Gates, who currently serves as the Principal of San Marino High School, will replace Dr. Roni Burns-Ellis, who announced her retirement earlier this year.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that, after a rigorous selection process with participation from various stakeholders including certificated and classified staff, parents, Board Members, and administration, we have selected Dr. Issaic Gates as the new Principal for McGaugh Elementary School,” Pulver announced in a memo to the Los Al Unified community.

“Dr. Gates has devoted the last twenty years of his professional career to improving the lives and outcomes of students,” said Pulver.
Pulver said Gates began his career teaching 12 years as an elementary teacher, across multiple grade levels – kindergarten through eighth grade.

“In 2012, we were fortunate to hire Dr. Gates as an assistant principal at Los Alamitos High School where he served for five years. He has spent the last three years as the highly successful principal of San Marino High School,” he noted.

The superintendent said Gates earned his Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Central Florida, a Master’s in Educational Administration from California State University Los Angeles and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California.

Gates has also served as an Adjunct professor for USC’s Rossier School of Education doctoral program.

“Throughout his educational tenure, Dr. Gates has worked collaboratively with staff, parents, and students and has maintained a love for working at the elementary level,” said Pulver, adding that Dr. Gates “is thrilled to join the McGaugh family and is eager to partner with and serve the McGaugh Elementary and the greater Seal Beach community.”

Pulver characterized Gates as “excited” to return to the Los Al Unified School District, noted that he recently moved into a home within the “McGaugh school boundaries,” which encompasses mostly Seal Beach.

Gates’ wife, Dr. Rasheedah Gates, is a middle school principal in a neighboring Orange County school district. His two youngest daughters, Grace (4th grade) and Emerson (entering Kindergarten) will join him at McGaugh Elementary. Their oldest son, David, graduated high school this past year. When he’s not working, Dr. Gates loves spending time with his family, fishing, reading and spending time outdoors with loved ones, said Pulver.

The new McGaugh Principal will be recognized by the Board of Education as the new principal on Tuesday, August 11, at 6:30 PM in the Board Room, the Supt. said, noting the meeting will be broadcast live on the school district’s YouTube Channel.

Pulver said an informal Meet and Greet (virtual and/or outdoor depending upon conditions) for the McGaugh community will be held prior to the start of school.

Pulver said the district is still working with his current school district to set a start date, and hope to have Dr. Gates begin no later than August 10 in this new role.

Los Al council gives voters tax option to return to fiscal sustainability

David N. Young
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Los Al council gives voters tax option to return to fiscal sustainability

Facing a barrage of red ink, the city council of Los Alamitos voted 5-0 this week to put the financial fate of the city into the hands of voters.

Accordingly, voters in November will now have an option to levy a 1.5 percent sales tax that city leaders say is critical to the future of Los Alamitos.

“Waiting for this to go away is not an option,” said city manager Chet Simmons, as the Council methodically debated the proposed measure that they hope will return fiscal sustainability to the city.

After years of budget cuts and other money saving attempts to mitigate its deepening financial crisis, the city voted on Monday to ask voters to approve a 1.5 percent sales tax to effectively return the city to fiscal sustainability.

“I don’t want it (the ballot measure) to be misleading or have loopholes,” said council member Shelley Hasselbrink, a member of the Budget Sustainability Committee. Together with Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Chirco, the budget sustainability committee has worked with city officials, staff, consultants, and outside agencies over the past two years to develop an accurate representation of the city’s financial position.

Moreover, the entire council has, for the past year, held public meetings and forums with to interact with citizens and to inform them that city’s financial position is bleak.
During those meetings, the council eventually eliminated a series of other potential revenue measures as for one reason or another, voters told the council that they believe a sales tax would be most palatable.

Without intervention, however, this tight knit community is headed for bankruptcy or similar destination, they told those attending.

The city has made significant budget cuts (see related story) to make up this year’s $1.4 million budget gap, but without additional revenue enhancement, officials say the shortfalls will grow to $3 million a year and by 2025, exhaust the city’s entire reserve fund.

“The presentations clearly show expenses will outpace revenues,” said Simmons, citing a number of developments that have brought the city to this point. “We are looking at some very dire circumstances,” he said, “unless we are able to take some serious action.”
Before the vote, the council heard from a research firm representative whose firm surveyed city residents about the tax.

Adam Sonensheim, Vice President of FM3 Research, told the council that taxpayers in the city would support a 1.5 percent measure just about as much as 1 percent.
Also, he said residents now feel like the current council has the city “headed in the right direction.”

The state sales tax threshold is 7.25 percent, Simmons told the council, yet the state gives local governments an additional two percent for local needs.

When council members learned that a state agency, the Orange County Transportation Authority has already grabbed one-half cent of that authority, they began to discuss the urgency of utilizing the entire remaining authority of 1.5 percent before another entity of local government does so.

Under the current situation, the city’s everyday operations are strained and it has no funding for capital improvement projects, the city manager said.
Without additional revenue, the city cannot guarantee retaining the city’s unique qualify of life in the years ahead, he suggested.

If approved, the new sales tax will generate approximately $4.1 million annually, which officials say would allow the city not only to retain all city services and its quality of life but would allow for some limited capital improvement projects.

Officials acknowledge, however, there are economic uncertainties due the unknown impact of the pandemic.

Mayor Richard D. Murphy said he thought it was critical to emphasize the city’s “quality of life” in the wording as the Council spent time going through the wording and explanation of what voters will see.

Council member Tonya Doby thought it to be a good idea to include police in the description and council member Dean Grose suggested ideas to eliminate duplications.
Hasselbrink suggested forming some form of additional transparency mechanism to allow voters to be sure the funds, if approved, would be spent on exactly what has been proposed in the offering.

City attorney Michael Daudt made some suggestions but said it should be done later so the motions drawn up by staff could proceed as written.

Hasselbrink agreed but said “I want to make sure we’re as transparent as possible,” then moved the recommendation, which was seconded by Doby. It passed 5-0.

In a secondary motion, Murphy moved that Chirco and Hasselbrink, the members of the budget standing committee, should draft the city’s arguments for the tax. The motion passed and will be brought back before the Council later.

The measure will be called the “City of Los Alamitos qualify of life, 911 police response, business/job protection measure.”

The council finally agreed on the exact wording of the ballot measure, which is limited to 75 words.

Arguably, these could become the most important words in the city’s recent history as taxpayers go to the polls to decide the financial fate of the city.

Quirk-Silva announces $200k Orange County grant

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Quirk-Silva announces $200k Orange County grant

Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D – Fullerton) recently announced that Orange County will be receiving funding to support young adults, between the ages of 18 and 21, to secure and maintain housing, with priority given to young adults in the foster care system.

“I am excited that Orange County will be receiving necessary state funds to address the homelessness crisis in our communities,” said Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva. “It is important to make sure our most vulnerable populations have the resources to access housing.”

The California Department of Housing and Community Development provided the grant through funding from the 2019-20 Budget Act. Through this grant, the county can provide housing navigation services directly or through a contract with other housing assistance programs in the county.

“I look forward to the collaboration between the county and other key stakeholders in the implementation of these funds,” said Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva. “It is a combined effort between the state and local governments to ensure we help those in need within our communities.”

For more information, please visit: https://a65.asmdc.org/

L.A. Firefighter, victim of coronavirus, gets escort from La Palma

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L.A. Firefighter, victim of coronavirus, gets escort from La Palma

A 16 1/2-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department died Saturday from complications of the coronavirus, officials said Sunday.

Firefighter and paramedic Jose M. Perez, 44, is survived by his wife and three children, according to the Fire Department. He’s the first LAFD firefighter reported to have died of COVID-19 and officials could offer no explanation about being treated in La Palma.

“Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas and the entire Department send their deepest and most sincere condolences to the Perez family,” a statement from the department said.

LAFD late Saturday held a procession from La Palma to Perez’ final resting place near Whittier and thanked other agencies in “honoring our brother,” including the La Palma Police Department, the Orange County Fire Authority, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol for their participation.

A spokesman for the Fire Department could not confirm nor deny why Perez was being treated in La Palma or whether or not he lived here with his family.
At least 145 LAFD employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since March as 108 of them have returned to work and 36 of them are recovering or have recovered at home, the L.A. Times reported.

At the family’s wishes, the Los Angeles Fire Department said on Monday they could not provide any further information about Perez’s death.

KC Council to host blood drive Aug. 6

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KC Council to host blood drive Aug. 6

By Irv Cuevas

The Knights of Columbus Council 8599 of St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress wants you to be part of its annual lifesaving cause.

In coordination with the American Red Cross, the public is encouraged to donate blood Thursday August 6 at the St. Irenaeus Church Hall between 1pm and 7pm.

St. Irenaeus is located at 5201 Evergreen Ave. between Lincoln Blvd. and Orange Ave.
For more information or to make an appointment to donate, go to redcrossblood.org, and use the sponsor code SICC, or call (800)-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).

Cypress Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Richard Tkach said “hosting a blood drive coincides with the Council’s mission of giving back to the local community”. And Tkach added, “with a simple blood donation, we have the ability to help save the life of a loved one, neighbor or co-worker”.

According to the Red Cross, donors of all types are needed, especially those with types O negative, B negative, and A negative. The short amount of time it takes to donate can mean a lifetime to a patient with a serious medical condition.

Aquarium to offer free online classes July 27-August 21

David N. Young
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Aquarium to offer free online classes July 27-August 21

Two one-week sessions featuring live online classes with educators and take-home activities will be offered for kids and teens in different age groups, from kindergartners to twelfth graders.

From July 27 to August 21, the Aquarium of the Pacific will offer its Summer Kids Club as part of its Online Academy programming. This will include the existing Online Academy classes bundled with take-home activities, like scavenger hunts, crafts, coloring sheets, and guided explorations of the Aquarium’s exhibit webcams. The Aquarium will offer two sessions, each lasting one week, for various grade levels (the week’s content repeats, so students can participate in both sessions). Half-hour online classes led by an Aquarium educator for each grade level will be offered every weekday at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. Classes are available for the following grade levels: pre-K to kindergarten, kindergarten to second grade, third to fifth grade, and sixth to twelfth grade. No sign-ups are required, and participation is free.

The Summer Kids Club is part of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Online Academy, which offers free live and on-demand educational resources for both kids and adults. In addition to its virtual programming, the Aquarium is also welcoming visitors to explore its outdoor exhibits with advance reservations and safety protocols in place. For more information, you can visit the Aquarium’s website at aquariumofpacific.org.

Session 1: July 27-31 and repeats August 10-14, 2020 / Session 2: August 3-7 and repeats August 17-21, 2020. 30-minutes classes will be held at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. each weekday during the session. Where? Aquarium of the Pacific’s website: aquariumofpacific.org. COST: Anyone can tune in for FREE (no RSVPs required. For more information, call 590-3100 or aquariumofpacific.org

With many kids and adults staying at home, the Aquarium is offering them free online resources with daily live and on-demand content through its Online Academy. In addition to daily live classes, exhibit webcams, and other fun and educational content, the Aquarium is offering its Guest Speaker Series. You can visit the Aquarium’s website or follow its social media channels for live feeds and updates. A schedule and links to these resources can be found on the Aquarium’s Online Academy webpage.

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in search of sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium outdoor exhibits include Shark Lagoon, Lorikeet Forest, June Keyes Penguin Habitat, the Molina Animal Care Center, moon jelly touch tank, and the Seal and Sea Lion Habitat. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, including lectures by leading scientists. The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for 12 months, VIP Entrance, and other special benefits. NOTE: CURRENTLY ONLY OUTDOOR AREAS ARE OPEN. Visit the Aquarium’s website for the latest information during that time and after at aquariumofpacific.org or call (562) 590-3100.

August is water quality month in Orange County

David N. Young
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August is water quality month in Orange County

August is Water Quality Month, a perfect time to educate ourselves about how and why we can rely on clean water each time we turn on the tap. Groundwater from your local Orange County groundwater basin makes up about 77% of the total water needed for consumers. Your city or water agency buys about 23% of imported water from Northern California or the Colorado River to make up the difference.

The heart of the Orange County Water District’s (OCWD; the District) 87-year mission is to provide high-quality groundwater supplies for the 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County.

The District does this by continuing to protect groundwater supplies and increase reliability, despite the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Fullerton-Placentia-Anaheim (north basin) and Santa Ana-Tustin-Irvine (south basin), OCWD is dealing with groundwater contamination in shallow aquifers from industrial dumping in the 1950s and 1960s. The District is proactively seeking ways to clean up the pollution in a united effort with local and national regulatory agencies. Initial cleanup endeavors involve cutting off and preventing the spread of contamination before it travels further into the main aquifer.

New contamination threats, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have been found in air, earth, food and water across the nation and locally. These “forever chemicals” were once commonly used in many consumer products and industrial applications and are part of a larger group referred to as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). OCWD is at the forefront of this issue that includes testing, monitoring and discovering the most viable ways to deal with it locally.

OCWD’s Philip L. Anthony Water Quality Laboratory was the first public agency laboratory in California to achieve state certification to analyze for PFAS in drinking water. The District also recently launched the nation’s largest pilot program to test treatment techniques to remove PFAS in groundwater. A planning study will help determine how new treatment facilities could be rapidly implemented.

We encourage you to visit the OCWD.com website to learn more about what the District is doing to ensure your water meets state and federal drinking water standards.
Contamination encumbers portions of the groundwater basin and can eventually threaten the amount OCWD member water retailers may be able to pump. In addition to finding resolutions such as bringing PFAS treatment plants online within one to two years, the District is readying to supplement its current water supply.

OCWD has started the final expansion of the Groundwater Replenishment System that will bring an additional 30 million gallons per day (MGD) of drinking water for a total of 130 MGD—enough to meet the water needs of 1 million people—by 2023.

The system takes highly treated wastewater that would have previously been discharged into the Pacific Ocean and purifies it using a three-step advanced treatment process consisting of microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light with hydrogen peroxide.
OCWD is also evaluating other sources of high-quality water that include desalinated ocean water. This summer and fall, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Coastal Commission will determine if the desalination project in Huntington Beach will move forward. If permits are obtained from these two agencies, the OCWD Board of Directors will resolve whether desalinated water will be part of its future water portfolio.

Thanks to the District’s successful groundwater management and commitment to fulfilling its mission, it has been able to sustain the basin and more than double its annual yield. All of these new efforts and commitments continue to yield a bright high-quality water future for local homes and businesses.

This Orange County Water District article is provided by Jordan Brandman, a council member of the city of Anaheim who represents Division 9 of OCWD (www.ocwd.com). Contact Director Brandman at jb*******@*****im.net.

Los Alamitos Unified reopening costs could exceed $1 million

David N. Young
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Los Alamitos Unified reopening costs could exceed $1 million

A far-reaching collaborative effort established by the Los Alamitos Unified School District shortly after the onset of the pandemic has created a multitude of reopening options that were presented to its board on Tuesday.

Decisions to be made by the district staff about students returning to campuses will be informed by and engaged staff, but also by a very engaged committee of more than 70 teachers and staff working in multiple working groups, Dr. Andrew Pulver, Superintendent, told the board.

Pulver summarized for the board a detailed presentation made by Ondrea Reed, Director of Educational Services, at the board’s workshop before the actual board meeting.
He explained the many protocols and procedures being considering for reopening the schools.

“Mrs. Reed and our entire staff have come together to figure out the very best options for our kids,” said Pulver, which he said has resulted in three major options for fall instruction.
Like most systems, Los Al is planning three major options, including a traditional model (albeit adjusted for pandemic safety protocols), a hybrid model that alternates classroom instruction and remote learning and a self-contained remote learning option.

Pulver dicussed the ever-changing list of actions being planned for potential reopening scenarios, from management of traffic patterns, to face masks, desk shields, feeding changes, etc., noting the staff and working groups have studied almost any conceivable option.

Even as he presented the detailed plans, however, Pulver said the pandemic environment is so fluid that he reserved the right to make final decisions up until the first week of August. Schools will begin August 31, the board decided earlier.

Nevertheless, Pulver told the board that it will cost more than $1 million in additional costs for what they have planned, vowing “we won’t skimp on costs when it comes to opportunities for our students.”

Much of that cost, more than $500,000 was to purchase a robust distance learning project offered by Schools PLP. Reed said earlier that the special 72-member teacher task force took it upon themselves to review the most popular products available and recommended this software package for the system.

“A number of parents have already offered to help financially,” said Pulver. Traditionally, the parents of the Los Alamitos Unified School system voluntary donate to the system regularly, giving an unsolicited boost of more than $500,000 last year alone, according to board reports.

Nevertheless, he said the software will allow teachers to offer measured instruction online, and as well give the system back office monitoring capabilities to meet state standards.
Actually, Pulver and Reed resolved early after the first lockdown to radically improvement online instruction. What the system offered earlier was only “emergecy distance learning” the superintendent said.

He assured the board that the Schools PLP package would allow teachers to maintain the Los Al curriculum standards as the software offers an infinite number of apps and aids for teachers, students and administrators.

Pulver outlined the three options, including a tempered and safety enhanced return to classrooms, a remote learning option, and a hybrid of both.
Pulver said Los Al now has a roubush option for parents who choose to keep students at home.

Surveys indicate approximately 20 percent of parents are currently choosing online only, he said, but noted any student uncomfortable to return to the classroom can opt-in to remote learning at any point.

The scalability and complexity of the Schools PLP software offers teachers, and students, a wide range of options, he noted.

The superintendent also explained a range of safety protocols to be adopted throughout the district, including a $150,000 expenditure to acquire plastic “desk shields,” which is a three-sided made of a plexiglass type material enclosed that provides students additional separation from other students.

Holding up a desk shield, Pulver demonstrated the safety features and said one will be installed in desks throughout the district.
Board Vice President Marlys Davidson, commended Pulver, saying his refusal early to accept the easy way out “from the beginning” led to many options presented at this week’s meeting. “He was not satisfied” taking the easy way out, she said, praising the staff, teachers and everyone who are sacrificing their summers for the good of Los Al students. (see related story).

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order later in the week that tied reopening to county health info could prevent the physical reopening of school in several counties, including Orange.
The order just throws another uncertainty into the mix, said Pulver, who sent a letter of explanation to all Los Al parents following the Governor’s order/ Meanwhile, the superintendent said the working groups and staff will continue planning for all contingencies and will make final determinations in August.

“We’ve pushed the start date to Aug. 31,” said Pulver, and “we will use every moment to ensure the safety of our children.”

Mayor Murphy says he will not seek a new term on Los Al Council

David N. Young
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Mayor Murphy says he will not seek a new term on Los Al Council

Richard D. Murphy, the Los Alamitos council member currently serving as its mayor, announced on Monday that he will not be a candidate for re-election, which opens a new seat vacancy for the fall election.

Murphy made the announcement Monday during a portion of their regular meeting when each of the members have a brief opportunity to report of their individual activities.
“This is a bittersweet time for me,” began Murphy, “because I’m going to announce that I will not be running for re-election.”

He told the council and the public that “I have loved the eight years I’ve served,” who said he wanted to announce his intentions early to give other candidates a chance to qualify to run for the seat.

Murphy said he met his wife about the same time he first got elected and they have decided there are other things they want to do.

Murphy, a real estate executive, said the pandemic and other factors is “making it hard to be landlord” in the state of California.
Murphy manages real estate and observers say he used his financial acumen early in his first term to help the city avoid severe financial straits in which it perennially finds itself embroiled in.

Also on Monday, the council voted to place a sales tax increase on the 2020 ballot to secure revenue that the city desperately needs to avoid default. Past pension liabilities, among other factors, are expected to eat the city’s entire financial reserve before 2025, threatening “dire circumstances” if the tax is not approved (Note: the Event-News Enterprise will present an in-depth report next week on the Los Al ballot proposal).

Although he is not running for re-election, Murphy said he will continue to serve out the remainder of his term. During that time, Murphy said he still wants to accomplish passing a resident’s bill of rights regarding construction in the city and the mayor said he will work other traffic improvements that he has long championed before his term ends in January.
“My decision was kind of unexpected,” said Murphy, “even to myself.”

Cypress seeks to dissolve Sucessor Agency

David N. Young
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Cypress seeks to dissolve Sucessor Agency

When the state of California ceased operating local redevelopment agencies (RDAs) in February of 2012, local governments created “successor” agencies which, by law, prompted them to operate until they were able to dispose of all the issues related thereto.

Cypress Finance Director Matt Burton announced this week that Cypress would be the first in Orange County to resolve all the issues with their successor agency and will hopefully be cleared to dissolved.

Since World War II, the local redevelopment agencies were structured to promote affordable housing in communities across California. The state assembly voted to end them in 2011 and the law took affect in February 2012.

Burton said the decade long effort in Cypress will go to the Orange County oversight board in September for official consideration. To dissolve, the law requires any successor agency to have all of their obligations paid in full, all litigation resolved and get the oversight board of approval, he said.

There is a $500,000 note that matures in 2029 that will have to be transferred to a neutral agency, but when that note matures, the parties will be paid in full and the completely resolved, said Burton.

“The goal is to have all parties agree to this,” said Burton. The council voted unanimously to allow Burton to submit the plan to end the city’s successor agency.

Also this week, Burton announced that Cypress is expected to be eligible to more than $1 million in CARES ACT funding to resolve the city’s expenses related to COVID-19. He said the funds will be good news for the budget but does not account for ongoing reductions to the general fund budget related to the pandemic.

On other issues, Council member Stacy Berry complained about two projects that she acknowledged were “lost causes,” but nevertheless said the city was moving forward in a pandemic ravaged world without even considering what a post pandemic regulation might look like.

Berry pulled the Police Department’s seismic retrofit project from the consent calendar to protest the “expansive and expensive modernization” planning that has swelled the cost of the project to $5.75 million.
She said no city can know what “workplace best practices” will be after the pandemic and how architectural standards might change.

“I am not in favor of moving forward with this extensive modernization,” said Berry.
Council member Paulo Morales chimed in to ask Community Development Director Doug Dancs about why the project now includes much more than the seismic retrofit, which was the initial intent of the project.

Dancs responded by saying a simple retrofit was one of several options presented earlier to the Council but the Council chose the direction now being pursued.
Morales asked Dancs about possibly bringing the pared down version back to the Council.
Council member Jon Peat said he supported the project as is. He said it has been decades since the police department has been modernized.

Also, Morales said without specificity that he was concerned about vendors “gouging” the city amid the pandemic.

Mayor Pro-Tem Mariellen Yarc said she supported the project, not wanting to “defund” any police project. “Sometimes,” she said, “you have to do the right thing, even if it is symbolic.”

When Mayor Rob Johnson indicated he supported the project as is, Peat moved to proceed with the police department’s seismic retrofit as is.

Even though Morales had asked staff to bring back the slimmed down version, he voted with the majority to move forward as is as the motion passed 4-0.

An undaunted Berry also brought up another “lost cause,” as she moved to make the Cypress Sports Park double soccer fields all natural grass.

Peat said the Council had earlier agreed to create one of each (articial and natural) then later determine which has more benefit and moved to proceed as earlier agreed. Berry questioned why install “expensive artificial turf,” saying “real grass” offers natural benefits

for citizens.
Peat’s motion passed 3-2, with Berry and Yarc voting against.

In other action, the Council;
• Heard Recreation Direction Cameron Harding complain bitterly about Orange County reversing directions on youth sports. He said a directive issued by the county on June 15 said youth sports could continue, prompting officials in Cypress “worked incredibly hard” to meet the guidance, only to learn on July 8 that county reversed itself. “It is extremely frustrating,” to say the least.
• Learned there is another Red Cross Blood Drive August 13 at the Community Center.
• Heard Chief Rod Cox say the commercial alarm billing for business would resume in September.
• Accepted the Oak Knoll Park Restroom and Concession project as complete at a final cost of $364,674.14.
• Heard the first reading of local ordinances changes required to bring them into Orange County compliance.
• Approved a tree planning contract for $118,875 with an $18,000 contingency for Brightview Landscape Services of Santa Ana.
• Approved a contract in the amount of $100,801 with a contingency of $15,200 for Premier Pipe, Inc. for a sewer system evaluation.
• Adopted a one-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Police Management Association.
• Approved a settlement agreement recommended by legal counsel Anthony Taylor with Helen Taylor in the amount of $85,000.
• Approved a task order for $31,070 for LSA to prepare an “Addendum to a Mitigated Negative Declaration” for a parking structure at 5701 Katella to serve United Healthcare.
• Approved a contract for David Volz Design for $69,984 and a $10,000 contingency for the Katella Ave. median restoration project.
• Approved a task order not to exceed $45,000 for Annealta Group for contract city planning services.
• Awarded an “on call” contract to Advantec Consulting Engineers Inc., Hartzog and Crabill, Inc., Iteris, and Linscott Law and Greenspan Engineers LLG, for $175,000 for city traffic engineering.

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