Lake Forest City staff presented an update to the City Council on the city’s 2025–27 capital improvement program (CIP), saying the program now includes 58 projects with a total budget of $54,500,000.

“ We have, a total of 58 projects. 43 projects are defined in the 2527 CIP book. And we have 15, projects that are carry forwards from previous years,” Naz Makara, the city’s capital improvement program manager, told the council during the presentation.

The update outlined completed work, projects now under construction or design, and funding sources. Makara reported the city completed seven projects so far in the budget cycle, representing “more than $4,500,000 investment back to the community,” including synthetic turf replacement and roof repairs at Lake Forest Sports Park, turf and irrigation work at Baker Ranch Community Park and El Toro irrigation conservation work. The city expects an estimated $77,000 in grant reimbursement for the El Toro project, Makara said.

Traffic engineering manager Tran Tran summarized a series of developer-funded mitigation projects that are either substantially complete or in design. Tran identified the Lake Forest Transportation Mitigation Program (referred to in the presentation as LIFTHEM) as fully developer-funded, and highlighted completed or nearly completed intersection work at Los Alisos Boulevard and Rockfield Boulevard and Lake Forest Drive at Geronimo Road.

“ One of the projects that is under construction, is and substantially complete is Los Aliso's Boulevard at Rockfield Boulevard,” Tran said. He explained crews added a large shared through-and-right-turn lane at some intersections and that the city is widening several locations, adding dual left-turn lanes and signal upgrades.

Other traffic items described in the presentation include planned dual left-turn pockets on Geronimo and El Toro roads, Bay Parkway/Toledo Way improvements paid by a private development, and a traffic signal synchronization program that the presenter said covers 90% of project costs through external funding.

Makara said staff currently tracks 14 projects in construction, three in preconstruction and 13 in design; six projects are in predesign. Projects singled out for upcoming advertising and construction included HVAC replacement at the Lake Forest Sports Park, pickleball court installation at El Toro Park, and resurfacing and slurry-seal packages for arterial streets.

Councilmembers asked staff for detail on specific projects and schedules. Councilmember Serbo asked whether the traffic proposals came from resident feedback or studies; Tran said many are mitigation requirements and some stem from signal warrants and a city operational study the staff is finalizing. Councilmember questions also probed timelines and project costs for future years.

Makara closed by saying staff will continue public outreach on predesign projects such as Kavanaugh Park and Edna’s Skate Park and will bring additional design contracts and funding requests back to council as needed.

City staff emphasized the role of outside funding in accelerating work, and Tran urged patience from motorists while paving and widening projects are completed.