Earlier this month, the County of Orange notified the City of Laguna Woods about a white film on the surface of ponded water at the outfall (location where stormwater exits the storm drain system) near Aliso Creek. The county believed the film to be paint but a final determination could not be made.

The county’s observation presents a good opportunity to remind residents to practice stormwater best management practices during routine household activities. By implementing best management practices, homeowners can keep common pollutants off the ground and out of storm drains. 

Water that flows into storm drains is not treated. Runoff from homes and businesses may contain pollutants that have harmful effects on downstream creeks, rivers, bays and the ocean. Unlike household sewage, this water is not treated and can negatively impact recreational use, wildlife habitat and even human health.

Many household hazardous materials and stormwater pollutants that may be used in and around residences during routine household activities include: 

• Oils 
• Paints 
• Cleaners 
• Bleaches 
• Pesticides 
• Glues 
• Solvents 

Adopt these best management practices to keep storm drains clear of polluted runoff during household activities: 

• Plan and complete household paint projects when rain is not predicted. 
• Rinse tools such as paint brushes, buckets and rags in a sink connected to the sanitary sewer. Never wash tools where washwater can drain into the street, gutter or storm drain.  
• Sweep up debris and dispose of it in the trash. 

• Do not hose down driveways or sidewalks into the street or gutter. 

• If safe, contain, clean up and properly dispose of all hazardous waste spills. If unsafe conditions exist, call 911 to activate a proper response team. 
• Household hazardous materials must be stored indoors or under cover, and in closed and labeled containers. 
• Dispose of household hazardous waste at a local household hazardous waste collection center. Laguna Woods residents may also call WM Curbside at 800-449-7587 for free door-to-door household hazardous waste collection.

• Only purchase the types and amounts of materials needed. 
• Share unused portions of products with neighbors or community programs. 

For information about preventing polluted runoff during home improvement projects, check out this brochure. 

How H2OC Helps Protect County Water Resources 

H2OC is a cooperative stormwater program that includes all 34 cities in Orange County, the County of Orange and the Orange County Flood Control District. Clean and healthy beaches, creeks, rivers, bays, wetlands, and ocean are important to Orange County. H2OC provides resources to residents and businesses to encourage personal action and prevent polluted runoff from entering our waterways.  

Visit h2oc.org to learn more about runoff, water pollution and how you can be the solution to runoff pollution and protect our water resources. If you witness a violation, reach out to the county’s 24-hour pollution reporting hotline: 877-89-SPILL (1-877-897-7455). 

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.  

This week, the Metropolitan Water District, which provides water to 26 agencies throughout Southern California, declared a regional drought emergency. 

The timing may seem odd given the recent rain and cold weather; however, it would take an entire winter of storms to make a dent in the drought. While the declaration has not changed existing water restrictions yet, it is a reminder that we collectively need to do all we can to reduce water consumption to avoid severe restrictions in the future.

VMS Landscaping Department staff has been working diligently with the landscape committees to reduce water usage throughout the Village. Grass is the biggest culprit in landscape water usage; United, Third and GRF have all completed projects this year to install drought tolerant plantings, with more to come in 2023.

Click here to watch a video in which El Toro Water District Board Director Vice President Kay Havens discusses, among other topics, how landscaping can be transformed from water-thirsty grass to a multicolored array of California-friendly plants that attract butterflies and beautify neighborhoods. Click here to view a presentation Director Havens delivered at the GRF Landscape Committee on Wednesday, December 14.

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The Department of Recreation and Special Events is pleased to announce that beginning Monday, December 19, staff will take reservations for Clubhouses 2 and 7 for events starting in January 2023. January 3 is the earliest date for which rooms in either clubhouse can be reserved. 

For more information, please contact Recreation and Special Events at 949-597-4273 or recreation@vmsinc.org.   

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The VMS Landscaping Department recently finished a beautification project at Gate 1 and found one of its notification signs “vandalized” in the nicest possible way. Thank you to the resident who took the time to write the note. It made for a happy day for the team that did the work. Bonus points for even using damage-free tape on the sign!

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Resident Services is always ready to assist you, but staff receive the most phone calls from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.—and especially Mondays. If you can, please consider calling during off-peak hours, which are from 1 to 4 p.m., and during mid-week versus Monday morning, when call volume is the highest.

In addition, you can always schedule an appointment with Resident Services or email your questions to residentservices@vmsinc.org. 

How the Resident Portal Helps 

Did you know that many things offered by Resident Services can be done from the convenience of your own home? Avoid lines, save gas and time, and go online for the following:

• Register guests for daily passes and overnight parking permits 24/7/365 with DwellingLive at lagunawoodsvillage.com/passes or download the app at Google Play or the App Store. 
• Process credit card payments, submit service requests, check account balances, print account statements, update emergency contacts and review resident and vehicle information at portal.lagunawoodsvillage.com. Click here to view a step-by-step tutorial on how to use the resident portal. 

Who to Call After Hours

If you experience an issue at your manor (leak, backup, etc.) during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, call Resident Services at 949-597-4600. However, if you’re experiencing an issue after hours or on a weekend or holiday, please call the Department of Security Services at 949-580-1400—staff will assign the right resources to address your issue. 

Find frequently called Laguna Woods Village phone numbers at lagunawoodsvillage.com/contact.

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.

Demand for higher levels of internet speed in the Village has grown 21.75% from October 2021 to October 2022. During the same period, subscribers to the lowest tier of service fell 6.73%. Recognizing the need to supply faster tiers of speed, the GRF board is working with its outside vendor, West Coast Internet (WCI), to increase internet speeds and adjust internet rates for the first time since 2014. 

As more residents use an increasing number of Wi-Fi-enabled devices (smart TVs, smart speakers, smartphones, tablets, laptops, watches, medical devices, video doorbells, security systems, etc.), as well as content streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, bandwidth demand has grown exponentially.

Working with WCI, GRF has been able to provide internet services to Village residents for substantially less cost than suppliers in other communities. GRF is committed to continuing to provide excellent value to residents. 

The GRF board will consider a new internet rate structure to support increased speeds at the December 6 open meeting. If approved, the proposed internet rate structure will undergo a 28-day comment period, and the board would consider the rate structure at the January 3 open board meeting.

Find the December 6 open board meeting agenda packet, complete with a full staff report regarding this matter, at lagunawoodsvillage.com > Calendars > Golden Rain Foundation. Find the December 6 GRF Board Meeting for 9:30 a.m., and click Agenda to view/download the agenda packet. 

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