Council Awards Crown Valley Widening Contract, Remembers Maddie James

The contract for was awarded at the March 15 Laguna Niguel City Council meeting to Oritz Enterprises Inc. in the amount of $5,972,138.96.  The project is being carried out jointly with the city of Mission Viejo. 

The project is expected to start within the next few months.  Once the project has started, Crown Valley Parkway will see a significant increase in traffic congestion for the projected 18-month period of construction.

Update on Traffic Light Synchronization Program

Director of Public Works Dave Rogers updated the council on efforts to improve traffic conditions, including a traffic light synchronization program, which he said is showing good results on Beach Boulevard). 

The Orange County Transportation Authority is carrying out the project.

Real Green Required to Enroll in E-Verify to Get Contract

Contingent upon its enrollment in the federal E-Verify program, Real Green Inc. will get a contract for landscape maintenance services for the medians and slopes, several local schools and other city parks and recreation areas.

E-Verify is a federal program through which employers run Social Security numbers through a federal database in order to rule out fraudulent use of numbers to gain employment. 

Investment Committee

The council voted 3-2 for the option to add alternate members to the investment, banking and audit committee.  The committee meets four times a year to review the city's investment policy, annual financial report and to periodically review the city's investment portfolio and investment practices. 

Robert Ming and Linda Lindholm voted no.

20 Years of Service

City Manager Tim Casey was honored with a cake for his 20 years of sevice to the city of Laguna Niguel. He accepted the honor while recognizing the many others who have also reached that milestone with the city.

"If these folks are putting themselves out there every day—well I'm just the guy with his name at the top of the box on the chart," Casey said. "But I'll be happy to accept this in their honor as well."

Nation's Motto Coming Soon

The also voted unanimously to add the national motto "In God We Trust" to the walls of the council chambers at the

Construction on the building continues at Alicia and Crown Valley parkways and is scheduled to be completed by late August.

Closing in Honor of Maddie James

The meeting was adjourned by Councilman Paul Glaab in honor of , 5, of Dana Point, who died March 13 from an inoperable brain tumor.  Her parents created the Maddie James Foundation to help the Ocean Institute in her honor.  The institute was one of her favorite places to visit.