Learning a negative lesson It was an...

Learning a

negative lesson

It was an education to attend the July 6 City Council meeting to

see how our city government works.

First, City Manager Ken Frank and Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson

endorsed a proposal to use city funds to pay city employees to attend

a Coastal Commission meeting that would apparently show the strength

of the city’s backing of the upcoming vote to OK the move of the city

facility to the ACT V lot. This was a move that was also endorsed by

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman. It was voted down, although Pearson indicated

that she would get financing for the employees to be able to attend.

This would be on the employees’ own time, but who would do the

employees job while they are gone for the day?

In the portion of the program regarding the Pottery Shack, it was

interesting to hear the developer, Joe Hanauer, state that there was

much misinformation being circulated on the project. For example,

some of the people who signed the petitions to have an environmental

report done were told that the Pottery Shack project would be another

Montage. If the distributors of the petitions indicated that fact,

they were correct in that the parking situation that will result from

the renovation will duplicate the parking problems of the Montage in

the local neighborhood.

In addition, in reply to the question, “How many employees do you

expect will be staffing the project when it’s completed,” Hanauer

indicated about 20. If there are only 20 employees to run five or six

retail stores, an 87-seat restaurant and four or five offices, they

all must be self-service with a cashier out in the parking lot to

take the orders and money.

Hanauer was correct; there was much misinformation spread around

on the project but apparently not all by the opposition.

The crowning glory came about when the matter of the parking

allocation came to a vote. Councilman Wayne Baglin, who seems to be

one of the only council members familiar with the agenda bill, gave

his very informed opinion and at this time voted against the project.

Councilman Steve Dicterow also voted against the project with his

informed opinion. The balance of the council negotiated with the

developer and heard someone could come into the council with a

high-priced attorney and new architect and get anything approved that

was presented. The remaining council members then decided that with

that threat hanging over their heads, the vote should be in favor of

the project as proposed and voted in favor of the 55% parking

reduction.

Is that the way your city government should work? No matter, that

is the way it is.

TOM GIRVIN

Laguna Beach

Rangers put damper on fireworks show

On July 4, our California Department of Parks and Recreation El

Moro park rangers were present standing guard at the El Morro Village

beach.

I assumed they were present due to the heightened alert status of

a possible terrorist attack, or maybe they were just there to watch

the fireworks like the rest of us.

I would soon find out what the state park rangers’ true agenda

was. Yours truly was watching the fireworks display at El Morro

Village beach, just like in years past, when I was surrounded and

detained by three armed state park rangers. I was ordered to sit down

and was written a citation with a notice to appear at Harbor Court.

The citation is for being on the beach after posted hours. The park

rangers left soon after the fireworks show was over.

Hats off to our state park rangers for protecting El Morro beach

from the possible terrorist attacks and preventing the American

public from watching Fourth of July fireworks at their own beach.

BRUCE R. WHITE

El Morro Village

Voice your opinion about new business

This letter is an invitation to all residents of South Laguna to

attend the City Council meeting Tuesday. The agenda will include an

item that is of interest to all who live in this area.

The Counterpointe building at 31640 S. Coast Highway has been

approved for a conditional-use permit to allow Nextel Communications

to install six panel-type antennas on the side of the building. There

are already three use permits for wireless service at this address.

This building has become, in the words of the City Council members,

an “antennae farm.” There has been no testing of the existing 19

antennae on this building to ensure compliance with the FCC safety

standards. Is it appropriate to approve more? No.

As residents of the South Laguna Village community, we are deeply

concerned about this type of utility being allowed to operate,

unchecked, in a densely populated area. Not only that, but the South

Laguna Village Commercial Zone has a specific plan for all new

businesses that requires them to be pedestrian-friendly and

resident-serving. Can this business even be there in accordance with

the zoning? Not if the city upholds the ordinance that they wrote.

This will be the second meeting with the City Council regarding

this item. It was reviewed by them and sent back to staff and the

city attorney directing them to look at the zoning issue and to see

if this type of business was considered a nuisance in our

neighborhood, thereby devaluing property.

Living in our neighborhood with a major cell site would be like

living down the street from a sewage treatment plant or a pig farm.

It doesn’t belong here, and it stinks. Our residents should have a

voice when these types of businesses try to move into our community.

Please come to this meeting and voice your opinion. It matters.

TIM AND JEANNIE

RICHARDSON

Laguna Beach

What one wants

from a city leader

Re: “What kind of leader does the city need to see elected?”

A leader who can compromise the special-interest groups that

splinter city government in Laguna Beach.

There always seems to be bickering among these groups, and what we

do not need are candidates taking contributions from the Athens Group

-- no strings attached? Or other special interests.

I would also like to see what political party each candidate is

affiliated with. I think the above is important for any serious voter

to make an intelligent decision come election day. Remember, we the

people are the government.

BENJAMIN J. JONES

Laguna Beach

* The Coastline Pilot is eager to run your letters. If you would

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