City Manager Frank has too much power...

City Manager Frank has too much power

I have written a number of times trying to expose the control our

city manager, Ken Frank, has over our city.

Let us use the Montage Hotel and Spa as one example.

He had the city waive around a million dollars in permit fees.

You and I need a permit to change a roll of toilet paper or trim a

tree.

We did get our public park by the Montage -- very nice.

But how much did it cost the city and taxpayers?

I had acquaintances who wanted to bid on the job, licensed

contractors and a landscape engineer.

There was no way we could get a set of plans and specifications.

How about the downtown parking structure?

For eight years it’s been on the council’s “urgent” agenda.

A citizens’ committee with the authority to represent the city

could create a workable plan.

DAN HUSTON

Laguna Beach

Just say no to sales tax increase

I do not support a tax or fee increase of any kind to cover repair

costs in Bluebird or “disasters,” for several reasons.

First, any well-run operation should have reserve funds for all

but catastrophic disasters.

Second, it is rare that any tax, levy or fee imposed for some

event is ever removed.

If governments gain a source for funds, they will always spend

them for something -- generally for more pay, perks and benefits.

Third, governments, like citizens and private businesses faced

with financial problems, should put off planned expenditures and cut

back on expenses.

In severe cases for businesses, this includes cutting back on

employees, reducing salaries and benefits and eliminating perks.

Governments have these same opportunities to reduce costs but

almost never use them unless absolutely forced.

DAVE CONNELL

Laguna Beach

Weighing property rights versus safety

The potential for disaster continues to knock on Laguna’s door.

There was a brush fire in South Laguna last week.

As usual, the firefighters did a fantastic job. Fortunately, they

were able to get to the site right away from Le Conte Avenue.

Le Conte is the street that runs along the ridgeline in Laguna

Niguel.

I was very disappointed with our three local papers.

Only one of the three even mentioned it.

t has certainly raised concerns among local residents. As they

fought the fire from above, we could see our fire engines sitting at

Mar Vista and Eagle Rock Way.

Why were they sitting here? Because the grade further up the hill

is nonconforming, and it is very hard on their fire engines.

Also, the Mar Vista project that the city approved cannot hold the

weight of a fire engine on the bridge to this property.

So what would have happened if the fire had started lower on the

hillside?

Fire engines would not have been able to access this site. Which

means that the ability for containing this fire during its early

stages wouldn’t be possible.

The city has missed the tree in the forest here. They required the

project approved at the site to have a hydrant at the entrance to the

motor court. What good is a fire hydrant if you can’t access it?

Unless they are planning on throwing their hoses across the canyon

in order to hook up.

I resent having my family and house put in jeopardy because of

“property rights.”

When do individual property rights end and safety of the

neighborhood begin?

The Mar Vista site, and in particular that bridge, needs to be

made accessible to fire vehicles.

DEBBIE HERTZ

Laguna Beach

Awareness more important than money raised

In response to the article about Blue Water Enterprises and Rick

Conkey in the September 16 edition, I have a few points to make in

defense of Mr. Conkey.

I plan several special events a year on a multiuse campus, and

many times there is no profit after the vendors, entertainment and

expenses are paid. As Mr. Conkey is new at planning and organizing

special events, as he said, I can understand that this may have

happened.

I have met Mr. Conkey and done some volunteer work at the events,

and I have observed that he has a good heart, works very hard, and

really has a passion for trying to help clean up the oceans. He has

only had a few events, I don’t think it’s fair to judge him so

harshly. He is a tireless promoter, handing out professional fliers

and posters all over town.

I was also at the February festival, and although they had some

really great silent auction items, very prominently displayed, with

several announcements throughout the day, people just weren’t

bidding.

I have run several silent auctions, and a Wyland print usually

goes for anywhere from $900 to $1200 at these auctions; if they are

live auctions, they can get upwards of $3000. However, I won a print

for only $320. I have done the same auction three years in a row, and

one year we took in $20,000, the next year $9,000 and the next year

$20,000 again, all with similar items at the same time of the year.

So you just never know.

I think the positive result of these events is increasing

awareness to the public about the organizations that work for

cleaning up the oceans, and I’m sure a great majority of those free

Surfrider members will renew -- I know I will. Rick Conkey gives a

table for free to all these organizations to show off their stuff at

Blue Water Events. He still has to cover the cost of renting the

tables, chairs, lighting, staging, audio-visual, etc. Yes, he should

have taken the money out first to reimburse Surfrider for the

memberships, if that was their predetermined plan, but then you would

be doing an article on how he stiffed the rental company.

I urge you to attend the next Blue Water event, because it is a

wonderful idea to support the organizations that help monitor and

preserve our environment.

DARLENE H. GRIMES

Laguna Beach