LAKE FOREST : Council to Consider $13.7-Million Budget

The City Council tonight will consider a $13.7-million budget that includes three new employees and several public improvement projects.

As a newly incorporated city, Lake Forest did not lose any tax revenues to the state.

The city is free to move ahead with a preliminary budget that calls for an $895,000 reserve fund.

Scheduled for discussion are several changes to the proposed budget, including:

* Addition of a full-time community liaison position that carries a salary in the range of $35,500 to $43,000 annually.

The position deals with following up on citizen complaints and needs. Since January, the city has had over 860 requests for information.

* Installation of a traffic light at the intersection of Muirlands and Los Alisos boulevards near El Toro Mobile Estates.

The signal would help relieve traffic gridlock that starts at the busy intersection, blocking entrance to the mobile home park about 1,000 feet away.

The traffic signal would cost about $150,000. The funding would come out of the city reserve fund.

* Funding for recreation programs. About $12,000 would be set aside to help pay for activities such as a volleyball tournament for teen-agers, youth Halloween magic show and costume contest, open gym nights, community concerts, family bus tours and a youth holiday brunch with Santa Claus.

The Parks and Recreation Commission sees the funding proposal as a first step to establishing a city-run recreation program.

The council will also consider several options for beefing up police services, including improving patrol capabilities.

Spending could range from $82,000 to $541,950, depending on how much police support personnel the council wants to hire.