Residents say fiber trench patches leave streets blotched; city explains phased repairs and slurry-seal program

Multiple commissioners told the Planning Commission on May 7 that residents across Lake Forest are frustrated by the appearance and durability of recent fiber-optic trenching and temporary repairs. Commissioners described sidewalks covered in utility markings and streets with linear slot patches that "don't look good" and in some places are degrading.

Nazmul Karam, assistant director of public works, said utility installations follow a multi-phase process: microtrenching and cable pulling, temporary 1-sack slurry to fill trenches, fiber testing, permanent asphalt repairs to meet city standards, and later concrete repairs to disturbed sidewalks and private connections. Karam said the city can require permanent asphalt repairs per its encroachment-permit standards and that inspectors follow up as permits close.

Commissioners pressed whether the city requires utilities to return with grind-and-overlay restoration to provide a uniform street appearance; Karam said the city enforces a moratorium/maintenance window tied to slurry-seal cycles that can require full-width slurry sealing if the street was recently treated. She added that the city's pavement management update moved the residential slurry-seal cycle from seven to ten years and that the city's current average pavement condition index (PCI) is 77.

Commissioners urged more proactive quality assurance rather than waiting for resident complaints and recommended an agendized follow-up so the public can attend and review expectations. Karam agreed to provide encroachment permit standards and to follow up on location-specific complaints.

No formal policy change was adopted at this meeting; commissioners asked staff to pursue additional outreach and monitoring and to consider bringing a dedicated item back to the commission for public review.