Comments on: Input on future city hall from Laguna Niguel City Manager Tim Casey

By: been around a while

been around a while — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:38:16 +0000

Larry, you are right in that the fiscalization of land use – the pursuit of sales tax generating properties – stymies logical incorporations and/or annexations. Other examples that come to mind: Midway City, Rossmoor, North Tustin. Perhaps if Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita became one?

By: Larry Gilbert

Larry Gilbert — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:58:24 +0000

been around a while.
Going through my files the verdict is that I am a pack rat. Case in point is a report from Dec 1998 on consideration of Mission Viejo “annexing” the adjacent unincorporated areas of Ladera Ranch and Las Flores as they each fall in our “sphere of influence.”
Our consultant looked at many factors and came to the conclusion that we would be absorbing a deficit from either or both areas that would require the County yielding a larger slice of the “County’s General Fund property tax revenue.”
The fiscal impact of annexing Las Flores was worse in that “the land use mix in the Las Flores community is unbalanced. It includes little non-residential property in the overall tax base.”

I mentinon this as the Register recently reported Las Flores desire to be annexed by Coto or RSM.
Perhaps the smallest community in OC to become a city was the community of Laguna Woods with 16,500 residents living in the Laguna Woods Village retirement community.
I attended the meeting of their city council when they used their eminent domain hammer to force the business owner, where they leased space on El Toro Road, to sell them that building for a City Hall.

By: been around a while

been around a while — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:37:29 +0000

Thanks, Larry. I did get my Laguna wires crossed in my post – wonder how that could happen? Seriously, I do question the efficiency of so many cities and also recognize, however, that residents are free to incorporate as they choose (by election), just that there is a limit to the amount of public funds available for these jurisdictions, as the current economic climate is proving. Local control does have quite a price. Consolidation, anyone?

By: Larry Gilbert

Larry Gilbert — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:05:12 +0000

casual observer.
Please be careful with south county city names. In this case we are covering LN, not LH. Laguna Niguel Vs Laguna Hills. We also have Orange county cities named Laguna Woods Village and Laguna Beach. Confusing?
As to the number of cities with thei rown city halls you do raise an interesting point. Most of these newer OC cities are less than 20 years old. Just as you will discover that we have 35 cities in the county a dozen have felt it to be more cost effective to contract with the OCSD to reduce costs.
The real question is the criteria set by LAFCO in determining when a community desires to form a city. Check them out on Google.

By: casual observer

casual observer — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:41:16 +0000

There are too many small cities in Orange County, each with their own civic centers/city halls and admin. structure. How about combining Laguna Hills with one or more nearby cities, thereby reducing taxpayer administrative costs and duplicate city edifices? We do not need approx. 36 cities in such a tiny area as OC – talk about the cost of government! Besides, isn’t it Laguna Hills that prides itself in contracting out virtually all services with a very small “core” staff? If so, why the need for 40,000 square feet? All seems a luxury the stressed taxpayers could do without.