Laguna Niguel : Forum Set Thursday to Discuss Services District

Local residents are being asked to attend a forum Thursday to discuss the possible formation of a community services district.

Laguna Niguel, like other unincorporated parts of Orange County, was told last year by the county Board of Supervisors that funds for street maintenance, lighting, and parks and recreation services would be cut and the money redirected to programs benefiting the entire county. If communities such as Mission Viejo, El Toro and Laguna Niguel wanted to maintain the county-provided services at current levels, the county said, they would either have to levy additional charges or take over the services themselves and form community services districts. Community Council committee member Nancy Lewis said the formation committee “has not had a lot of community input on this.” The measure will be on the ballot in June.

The Laguna Niguel Community Council has already voted in favor of forming the services district--sometimes called a junior city because it provides some basic municipal service. But at least two communities--Niguel Shores and Pacific Island Drive--are considering staying out of the service district because of concerns over availability of liability insurance, Lewis said. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Monarch Bank, 30000 Town Center Drive.