LAKE FOREST

At the urging of staff members and residents--though for different reasons--the City Council on Tuesday delayed awarding a citywide $780,646 park improvement contract until June 1. “Staff had indicated that they wanted to further evaluate some issues that came up with regard to the contractor,” said Mayor Peter Herzog. He said he was not sure what all the concerns were, but said one had to do with the references the contractor, Emsico Inc. of Irvine, gave for the project. “My understanding is the references they provided weren’t for the same type of job,” Herzog said.

At the meeting, residents presented the council with a petition asking that no improvements be made to Village Pond Park, a four-acre site on Ridge Route Drive. The proposed improvements include the addition of a shelter and barbecue grills and are part of the overall contract to improve all 16 city parks. Residents fear the improvements will attract larger crowds. Herzog said he and the rest of the council would wait until staff members came back on the issue before making any decision.