I'd like to officially call to order the
regularly scheduled traffic and parking
commission meeting of January 5th, 2026.
Let the record show that all
commissioners are present tonight. Vice
Chair Arando will lead us in the pledge
of
>> allegiance.
to the flag of the United States of
America.
We have one ceremonial item this
evening. I will hand it over to
Commission Secretary to present the
item.
Yes. Uh, thank you, Cher. We open
nominations tonight for the position of
uh, chair of the traffic and park
commission.
Nominations.
» I nominate Commissioner Riker.
» I'd like to nominate Vice Chair Armando
to chair position.
Any others?
Okay, we'll vote first for uh
Is there a second on any of these?
» Can I second for me?
» Second for Mark. Commissioner Mondo,
>> a second.
» a second.
Is there a second for
Commissioner Rickert?
» I'll second that motion.
» Vote for
Commissioner Rickert.
That motion passes for commission record
as uh chair of the traffic commission
meeting
three to two. Three yes's three nos.
Commissioner record, you are the new
chair for 2026.
not used to this. I'm very honored.
Thank you folks very much. Uh
nominations. Go ahead. Vice chairman.
>> Open nominations now for the position of
» Open nominations now for the position of
vice chair for the traffic and parking
commission.
>> I'd like to nominate Commissioner Patel.
» I'll second.
Uh, please vote.
The nomination for vice chair for
Anil Patil passes 5-0.
Cong congratulations, Commissioner
Patel.
>> Thank you, Madam Secretary. Thank you,
» Thank you, Madam Secretary. Thank you,
commissioners.
» Okay, next we'll move on to public
comments. Public comments are restricted
to three minutes per person. Do we have
any public comments, Madam Secretary?
» Uh, not at this time.
>> No public comments. Then we'll move on
» No public comments. Then we'll move on
to the consent calendar. Does anybody
want to pull any item from the consent
calendar?
I'd like to pull item three, ask lake
forest summary report. Just have a
question on one.
And I'll make a motion to approve item
two, which is the minutes.
>> I'll second that motion.
» I'll second that motion.
>> Motion made in second to approve the
» Motion made in second to approve the
minutes.
Vote to approve minutes.
Minutes for the November 23rd meeting
are pass unanimously.
Okay. Thank you.
In regarding uh the aslakes forest
summary report number three, there's a
comment at the beginning about the
calrans
controlled light on the five freeway
north on Lake Forest Drive always being
read at the wrong time and not and I
know we've talked about this before and
I I personally have asked Al Calrans
about about it and didn't get an answer.
Is there any suggestions you have? Can
we should the commission maybe write
them a letter and say, "Hey guys, can
you do something or is there any ideas
or suggestions?"
>> Yeah, at this point it is up to Cow
» Yeah, at this point it is up to Cow
Trans to obviously do their own signal
timing for their facilities. We do have
a cooperative agreement uh for the Lake
Forest TSSP that has come and gone at
this point. Uh so if uh you would like
uh I could certainly take the request
and then bring it up to their higherups
as well, but we could reach out again to
let them know that we would like to have
them cooperate in regards to that signal
timing at that intersection.
>> Okay. Is that something we need to vote
» Okay. Is that something we need to vote
on or something you can just do or
>> No, I could go ahead and do that on
» No, I could go ahead and do that on
behalf of the commission. I think it
would help. I what you fellow
commissioners think, but that light's
been a mess for a long time. And uh
people cross Rockfield and they get
greens and a hundred cars stop at that
light and it's it's just always red. So
yeah, I think that would help. Thank
you. I make a motion to approve item
three, which is the
uh Aslake Forest report.
>> Uh that's a receive and file item.
» Uh that's a receive and file item.
>> Oh, sorry.
Okay, next item on the agenda
is a ceremonial or is the uh discussion
of traffic and parking commission roles
and responsibilities.
I don't know who has that.
>> Good evening. Hi.
» Good evening. Hi.
>> Um my name is uh Michael Irvin. I'm from
» Um my name is uh Michael Irvin. I'm from
the city attorney's office from Best and
Creger. uh just invited tonight to give
a brief uh overview of the you know
legal boundaries of being a
commissioner, some of the roles and
responsibilities as well as just a a
general overview of the you know common
uh ethics and obligations. So uh have a
little bit of a presentation. I can turn
this on. Okay,
there we go. Okay. Uh so some of this
you may be familiar for however long
you've served uh on the commission. If
not it's a refresher. Uh but before
jumping in uh you know just a basic
overview uh between you know a the legal
framework of the city and the commission
uh Lake Forest is a general law city
which operates different from a charter
city. What this means in the context of
a commission uh is that there are
different rules for how commissions are
appointed and that in addition the
commission's duties uh are not just
found within the city's code but there
are also state limitations which uh I'll
go into
uh now you know why this uh is important
uh you know is uh the way that uh the
city has been set up with the city
manager form of government is that while
commission may interact with staff
operational authority rests with the
city manager and staff acts under that
oversight.
Now, uh I won't read off the qualities
of a great commissioner. I'm sure
everyone is doing a wonderful job. uh
but uh I will just make a general
observation that you know since we're
all here as uh in a public service
capacity that uh my primary focus is
maintaining uh and reducing conflicts of
interest uh and understanding
uh you know how to identify those and uh
making that clear when necessary to uh
the commission.
And what is important uh as I've noted
like I said commissioners are public
officials. We're bound by standards of
conduct, ethics and transparency that
ensures fairness. Uh so as you know as
you're representing the city's
interests, not your own personal views.
Uh this requires maintaining an
objective stance, encouraging public
trust, demonstrating commitment to the
community, really about impartiality.
Uh now when it comes to the relationship
with city staff, as I mentioned before,
staff has accountability to the city
manager. Staff is here. They're going to
provide support to the commission for
its initiatives and directives as a
whole. The way I like to say it, staff
supports the commission but not the
commissioner. So uh while uh you know
there's a structure that you know
there's a essentially a chain of
command. While the commission as a whole
can provide direction on a specific
issue uh within its purview uh staff
does not respond to an individual
commissioner's uh uh request. We have to
act collectively as a body for staff to
respond. This includes you know agenda
requests through commissioner uh
commission consensus and uh yeah making
sure that you know if you want to
discuss an item collectively during a
public meeting that that's done as a
body not individually.
Now as I mentioned before uh you know
commissions are an advisory capacity uh
or they can be either a decision maker
in advisory capacity. What this means
depending on the specific commission or
the agenda item. Oftentimes uh we're
acting in the capacity of making a
recommendation to the city council. Uh
and sometimes it may be your duty to
implement city council policy that has
already been uh enacted.
I think this one is pretty
straightforward but you know as it helps
you know what I like to always recommend
is that we just focus on the process uh
ra you know and try to demonstrate
impartiality and reduce even the
appearance of uh bias or prejudice.
So, and when it comes to some of the
best practices, number one, knowing
council priorities. This can involve
reviewing council agendas, even
attending meetings periodically. Staff
can also provide guidance on annual
objectives.
Um, navigating council and commission
disagreements. That is going to happen
from time to time where there's going to
be a disagreement between the commission
and the council on the decision. And
really all that's required is that as
respect of the process and recognizing
that differing viewpoints lead to
different outcomes. U like an appeal
court council has final authority and so
sometimes you know there may be
differences with the commission but we
respect that that's council policy.
Okay.
Yes. Uh when it comes to best practices
in decision-m, like I said, if you can't
be fair, don't participate. Avoid
statements before the close of a
hearing. Uh especially ones that might
be signed to signal bias, uh impacting
perceived fairness.
It's all just about keeping an open mind
so that it aligns with due process,
which you know, I'll cover a little bit
more.
Uh also, you know, making decisions
based on the administrative record. When
a decision is before the commission, uh
the facts of what is in the report have
to make up 100% of what is going to be
based off of what the count uh
commission recommends. Uh and so if
there is extraneous information or facts
that are not contained and not disclosed
to the commission, then that is not
something that can be a part of the
decision-m that is something that you
know could include the appearance of
bias or conflict.
Now going into uh what some of those
conflicts are. The most general one is
uh the common law conflict of interest.
Uh this one is not there's no specific
statute. Uh it is just about trying to
it's a doctrine against the conflict of
interest of public officials that
prevent you from replacing yourself uh
where your personal interests might have
a conflict with your duty to the public.
It doesn't even require a specific
financial gain. There just has to be a
reasonable perception of conflict. Now
you know I'm probably doesn't come up
often ideally uh but you know when it
does uh oftentimes the common law
conflict of interest will come up if
there is a personal relationship or
affiliation say with a club organization
that would influence your judgment on a
matter. So even if there's no direct
impact in such cases you would recuse
yourself uh in order to avoid you know
any appearance of partiality.
the
change. There we go. This one is
statutory. The Political Reform Act,
which is uh the state's primary conflict
of interest law as a commission. This is
for the most part what this commission
would be uh dealing with if we were
going to be looking at public interest
and avoiding situations where your
financial interest could appear to or
could influence or appear to influence
your decisions. Uh because yes, even in
a court law, even if there isn't a
direct financial interest, uh if it
could be seen that there is even
indirectly a financial interest in a
decision, that can be enough to violate
the political reform act. So for your
purposes, it's critical just for
maintaining transparency and public
confidence. If you're aware of a
financial interest in a matter that
comes up before this commission, all
that the Political Reform Act requires
is that you disclose it and you recuse
yourself from the vote.
We're missing the text on this one. Uh
but
» interesting. Okay. Well, the general
rule is you shall not make or
participate in making or attempt to
influence any governmental decision in
which you have a financial interest.
That's the essential rule.
Okay.
Where did that go?
Yes. Okay.
The next one I think the title is cut
off but this is ref reference to
contracts. Uh now this is entire only
apply everything else applies when
there's not a contract if and when the
commission is approving or entering into
a contract which um you know for TPC
purposes uh may not occur often. Uh but
this is what we would call se this is
section 1090. This is if a public
official who has a financial interest
participates in making a contract. Now
unlike the political reform act recusal
is not enough. If uh you have a
financial interest in a contract then
the city cannot enter into the contract
as a whole. This one is uh the stakes
are much higher. Uh in fact we would
probably you know want to know about
this far in advance in order to avoid
that kind of situation because in that
instance the contract is void penalties
can apply. uh the penalties are even
high enough to bar someone from holding
any public office in California. Uh so
it's one of the strictest conflict of
interest laws because it wants to ensure
that public resources are used
responsibly without self-interest.
So um that instance
uh yeah in the decision- making for a
contract you would uh we would avoid
uh participating in the making of a
contract.
Okay.
the per personal advantages and perks.
So, some bullet points uh might be
missing off of this one, but just as a
general overview, public officials have
strict rules around the personal
benefits that you receive when you're in
office in order to kind of prevent the
misuse of your position. This includes,
as you would see on I hope maybe it's on
your screen. I'm not sure, but I can't.
Okay. Interesting. Um but this would
include the receipt of uh gifts uh
travel and lodging, loans,
reimbursement,
you know, mass mailing, nepotism,
charity funding disclosures, you know,
things that are uh that signal undue
influence. Uh there there there are
strict rules around uh things that might
convey a personal benefit to you.
particularly if the person I'll give an
example with the gifts if they have
business before the city and you were
receipt of a gift the law requires you
actually to disclose that if it's over
$50. Um
yeah, there we go. At least that one's
on there. Yes, disclose over $50
disqualified if it's more than $590 uh
in any 12-month period or within any
count or f within any calendar year. uh
if you receive that amount uh from one
single source, one single person, then
you're disqualified from participating
in any decisions that could impact that
source. Uh the limit is, you know, kind
of discourage officials from being
influenced by large gifts,
uh golf, tickets to Disneyland, anything
like that, which I think a single ticket
probably would be over 590 these days.
Uh the options by the way if you are to
receive a gift and you probably con
consult with the city attorney's offices
you can uh refuse it uh return it donate
it there are some other options uh which
can also be used as an exception if you
are to gifts uh that you know the strict
rules that generally apply to gifts or
public benefits for officials. There are
certain exceptions uh that that we the
state law allows uh flexibility without
compromising ethics. Some of these would
be like if it was the if the gift wasn't
to the commission but it was to the city
uh in that instance you know you're not
impacted it wouldn't require disclosure
wouldn't require recusal. Now if it had
uh you know say uh chair Riker's name on
it uh on those tickets when they donated
it then now it is a personal gift rather
than a gift to the agency but you know
so long as it's a name as an individual
it's not earmarked for them then we
could say it's a gift to the agency. Um,
other exceptions, like I said, are gifts
that you refuse or reimburse the donor
within 30 days, uh, gifts from family
members, gifts of hospitality, you know,
a housewarming party and someone gives
you baked goods or something, it's not
going to count as a gift,
and certain tickets and passes to
certain fundraisers like for charity
events.
Okay. Uh next moving is that I'm not
sure what happened why the so much text
is removed but uh what you should be
seeing on your screen is governing
transparency laws i.e. the Brown Act uh
which I'm sure uh the commission is
already familiar with. Uh the Brown Act
requires transparency for all meetings
that involve a quorum of the legislative
body ensures public access. So the Brown
Act is why we have to have public
comment uh before approving any action
item before the commission and why we
have to have a general public comment
and allow the public to come and address
the body. Uh this happens any regularly
scheduled meeting anytime that there's a
quorum of commissioners that happen to
run into each other. So if there's three
of you that happen to meet in an event
and you're discussing city business
qualifies as a meeting and that needs to
be properly noticed and agendaized. So,
in the event that you're running into
each other socially, try not to discuss
city business.
Okay. Uh this goes on more to say about
what happens uh how meetings are
defined. Uh now a meeting doesn't happen
when you are just physically meeting but
could also happen say if you were to uh
one was to talk to one was to talk to
one was to talk to one. Soon as you hit
a quorum, you've officially se, you
know, if it's, if you're discussing
something that's within the purview of
the commission and its authority, you
discuss city business, it becomes a
meeting. That's what we would call a
serial meeting or or a daisy chain
meeting. Um, same thing can happen uh if
you're, you know, bccing commissioner,
you know, other commissioners on an
item. Uh, just because, you know, you
know, avoid replying all is what I would
say. That's that's my big advice. you
know take caution with all digital
communication. Uh in fact even um
publicly commenting on Instagram or
Facebook on other posts. Uh in last year
circuit court basically held that even
that can count as a meeting as well. And
so if you're replying to each other's uh
you know Facebook messages and
discussing uh city business within the
purview of the commission then that
could also potentially count as a
meeting. Um you know just something to
keep in mind.
Okay. And
there we go. Distribution of writings.
Uh so
for the most part, anything that's uh
related to city business uh must be made
available at the meeting. This is just
all about public access. Uh you know,
this is something that mostly staff will
take care of. But uh yeah, just upon
request things must be made available to
the public. legislative body must be
made publicly available at all times
during you know public you know when a
majority of the public majority of the
legislative body is gathered
and with that I've reached the end of my
presentation and if there are any
questions for me I welcome it but if not
>> thank you for the excellent information
» thank you for the excellent information
appreciate it you have any questions
from commissioners Mr.
Now, I'm just making this up, but just
as a as a for instance, let's say I have
a friend that has a business, whatever,
and he has a suite at Anaheim Stadium,
let's say, and then so he invites me or
invites, you know, somebody just as a
friend, and you go to the suite and have
a good time and whatever, whatever. No,
no city business involved. He's not a
business owner, anything in the city.
Never would vote. That's not a that
wouldn't be a problem. It as just making
this up, but as an example,
>> uh if the friend has no business before
» uh if the friend has no business before
the city, then I see no reason why
there'd be a conflict.
>> Okay? Because I know I know city of
» Okay? Because I know I know city of
Anaheim, it's a different thing. They I
think the city owns a suite and you
know, sometimes people will go go to
that, but since the city owns it, that
would be a different
>> that would be different. Yeah. That'd be
» that would be different. Yeah. That'd be
qualitatively different. Yeah. Usually
we're when we're talking about gifts or
receiving remun better remunerative
benefits money uh it would be from a
private source from a governmental
agency.
>> Great. Okay. Thank
» Great. Okay. Thank
>> any other questions Commissioner Patel.
» any other questions Commissioner Patel.
>> Thank you sir. Uh Mr. Irwin thank you
» Thank you sir. Uh Mr. Irwin thank you
for the presentation very informative.
Uh my question is more towards uh let's
say we've got a public comment uh from
the audience uh about a concern within
related to traffic and parking. Um I'd
like to understand more about that
situation. Uh can I meet with that
individual and ask questions, visit, you
know, a street for example where that
traffic and parking issue is is
occurring. Can I go uh on my own time
and investigate that that concern? Uh
and similarly also as a follow-up also
um during meetings can I research um on
the internet for information uh to
better understand uh the agenda items
also. Uh so in response to the first
question absolutely you can meet with
someone after public comment if they
raise a complaint or a concern uh about
you know some intersection that is of
concern to them. I would say and in fact
encourage that as a as as a wonderful
function as your duty as a commissioner
uh of public service to to meet with
them. Uh the the conflict of interest
rules just broadly speaking happens when
you have someone who has business before
the city. They're going to be there's
going to be a vote before the city
council. They're going to be receiving
some kind of benefit. Maybe a contract,
maybe a grant, maybe a a land use
entitlement like a zoning change. I mean
that's more for planning commission but
just to give an example that is where we
would have a concern about like you know
meeting with them uh exparte as in out
you've met with them outside of the the
publicly available meeting but if you're
meeting with a concerned citizen that is
that is within your prerogative as a
commissioner
>> and and do I have to disclose those uh
» and and do I have to disclose those uh
at future meetings also who I've met
with or
>> if that person ends up having business
» if that person ends up having business
before the city then yeah uh and if it's
related to that business but that's very
fact specific I I couldn't you know,
give 100% based off that hypothetical.
And then your uh second question, remind
me
>> um there's an agenda item uh in the
» um there's an agenda item uh in the
meeting and during the meeting, I'd like
to just better understand the situation.
Can I use a tablet to research that item
also?
>> Absolutely. Yeah. Uh and you know, I'm
» Absolutely. Yeah. Uh and you know, I'm
sure it' be encouraged and that's part
of the uh feedback that's given to staff
as part of you make your recommendation.
uh as a best practice anything you
discover that's germanine or pertinent
that you'd like to share I would
encourage it for transparency
>> and um the reason I as you mentioned
» and um the reason I as you mentioned
earlier in the presentation uh you have
to rely on the the staff report only to
make the decision
>> you have to rely on every information
» you have to rely on every information
that is publicly available so this is
I'll give the example if you were to
meet exparte outside of the meeting and
have private information and then to
vote upon an item based off that private
information you have bias appearance of
prejudice something like that if if
there's new information that's germanine
ideally this would be known by staff I I
think this is very rare hypothetical
where you know the staff is because this
is anything that's going to come before
the commission has already been vetted
very thoroughly by staff they've done a
excellent job of uh refining it
preparing it for the commission to be
able to deliberate and make its
recommendation but if there is something
ideally you would probably bring it up
with staff as they put it into their uh
agenda reports Great. Thank you, Mr.
Herman.
>> Any other questions?
» Any other questions?
>> Thank you again. Appreciate it for
» Thank you again. Appreciate it for
coming. Of
>> course.
» course.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Next item on the agenda is director
» Next item on the agenda is director
comments. Mr. Erdman, have any comments
tonight?
>> Nothing to add. Happy New Year.
» Nothing to add. Happy New Year.
>> Thank you,
» Thank you,
Mr. Patel. Patel.
Um, well, I just want to say thank you
uh for a great 2025. Uh, Chair Falset,
previous chair of last year. We will
obviously uh do a uh recap of that, but
uh just want to say thank you for your
leadership. Uh also congratulations,
Chair Riker, as well as Vice Chair
Patel. Uh just looking forward to 2026.
So that's all. Thank you.
>> So I think next meeting is there
» So I think next meeting is there
anything on our meeting agenda exciting
for next month?
>> Yes. uh we will finally be able to bring
» Yes. uh we will finally be able to bring
forth uh to obtain some feedback from
the traffic and parking commission
regarding the traffic operational
improvement study. So that will be uh in
front of you and the commission uh to
kind of provide us some feedback,
discuss what's on there, some
recommendations though, it will be in
draft form, so it'll be more of a
working type of uh discussion and so
we're looking forward to that.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Tren.
» Thank you. Thank you, Tren.
>> Commissioner comments, Mr. Camarina,
» Commissioner comments, Mr. Camarina,
Commissioner Patel.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I just want to
» Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I just want to
thank staff and my fellow commissioners
for uh continue to play a significant
role with this traffic and parking
commission for doing a wonderful job in
2025. I look forward to working with
every one of you uh in this coming year.
Uh for for the general public, I just
wanted to make a announcement about uh
Snowfest. Uh it's coming up this
Saturday, January 10th at 10:30 at
Pittsburgh Park. It's a it's a
long-standing tradition with the the
city of Lake Forest to celebrate our
winter season. So, looking forward to
seeing some of you at Snowfest on this
Saturday. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Armando.
» Thank you, Commissioner Armando.
>> Uh, no comment. Thank you,
» Uh, no comment. Thank you,
>> Commissioner Fost.
» Commissioner Fost.
>> I kind of had a general comment as well.
» I kind of had a general comment as well.
Uh, the city of Lake Forest uh does
passport services and my family utilized
them. It was very convenient and I think
most people don't know about it. I went
to the local AAA office and they sent me
somewhere else. They didn't know we did
it here. So, uh, for the public in the
audience and watching online, please
come into city hall. You can make an
appointment online. Very convenient.
>> Okay. Well, thank you. We're going to
» Okay. Well, thank you. We're going to
adjourn the meeting and happy new year
to all of you and thank you for all your
support and look forward to having a
really good year. Thank you everyone.
Meeting is adjourned. Thank you.
You have to sign with your