The following is a recap of the...

The following is a recap of the May 3 meeting of the City Council.

CONSENT CALENDAR

The council approved the following expenditures:

* Checks written between April 20 and 22 in the amount of

$1,229,949.25, and the April 14 payroll in the amount of $508,700.89.

* $299,315 to Top-line Construction for the installation of new

sidewalks around the perimeter of Laguna Beach High School and 20

curb ramps on Park Avenue and Short Street. A $29,000 contract was

awarded to KDM Meridian to survey the project site and boundaries.

A state grant under the Safe Routes to School program will pay

$258,000 of the estimated project total of $368,000.

* $24,500 for a half-ton truck for the parking facilities

maintenance division.

* $13,000 to Pyro Spectaculars to put on the annual Fourth of July

fireworks show this year and for each of the following three fiscal

years.

In other business, the council:

* Heard a report from city Treasurer Laura Parisi of an unaudited

city portfolio of $44,184,600.37 in cash and investments, as of March

30.

* Approved amplified sound for the Laguna Beach Chamber of

Commerce Hometown Barbecue, set for 5 to 8 p.m., July 7 in the Wells

Fargo Bank parking lot.

* Supported, without comment, the inclusion of the County of

Orange in the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority. ETRPA was created by

South County cities when a majority of Supervisors supported a

commercial airport at the closed U.S. Marine Air Base.

PLANNING GRANT 5-0

The council unanimously approved a staff request to submit an

application with other agencies for a planning grant for Proposition

50 funding.

WHAT IT MEANS

If granted, the funds will be used to develop an Integrated

Coastal Management Plan to protect areas of special biological

significance, including Heisler Park.

COUNCIL POLICIES 5-0

Reversing a controversial action, the council unanimously agreed

to restore council and staff comments to precede the consent

calendar.

The council also voted to install a timer and lighting system at

the speaker’s podium and to request speakers to print their names on

a clipboard provided by the city clerk, who will not determine the

order of speakers.

WHAT IT MEANS

These policies, previously discussed at the council’s annual

retreat, were put on the agenda after members of the public

questioned the appropriateness of decisions being made without public

input, although the retreat was open to the public, and an agenda

posted.

SNAPSHOT: “I was so angry about an article in a newspaper and I

had to wait until 11 p.m. to speak about it and I was pissed,” said

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman of her decision to reverse the policies.

SUMMER TRAMS 5-0

The City Council unanimously voted to extend the summer tram

southerly route to South Coast Medical Center.

“We are always searching for more places to hide cars,”

Councilwoman Toni Iseman said. “Part of the [hospital’s] coastal

development permit [requires the hospital] to make parking available

on weekends. Elizabeth [Mayor Pearson-Schneider] and I said, ‘Oh,

goody.’”

WHAT IT MEANS

The city picks up some additional public parking, at no additional

cost, and will promote the site to visitors.

NEXT MEETING

The council will next meet on May 17. The public hearing is

scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., following a closed session.