LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

Sept. 15, 2006 12 AM PT

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The following is from the Laguna Beach City Council meeting of Sept. 5.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Tracy Klug supported construction of a partial sidewalk on Diamond Street near the corner of South Coast Highway and the addition of windows on the three proposed opaque sides of the proposed Senior/Community Center. She also urged the council to consider a barricaded bicycle lane on the ocean side of the highway, and to work with businesses to increase parking.

COUNCIL/STAFF CHAT

City Treasurer Laura Parisi reported that the city’s investment portfolio has doubled to $52.8 million during her seven years in office and has now reached the point where automated portfolio management should be considered.

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman announced that the fourth floor of South Coast Medical Center has been refurbished and an open house will be held from noon to 8 p.m., Sept. 20.

CONSENT CALENDAR

[Editor’s note: Consent calendar items get approved in one motion unless a member of the council, staff or public “pull” the item, which then requires opening it to public comment and a separate vote.]

Approved without comment:

Denial of a $4,200 claim filed by Michael Riley who said a police officer was unable to put out a fire in his vehicle because a fire extinguisher didn’t work properly. The fire was extinguished by the fire fighters.

Warrants and payrolls totaling more $7 million paid out between July 28 and Aug. 24.

Extension of the Bluebird Canyon Emergency Declaration for another 21 days.

A $15,000 contract with Todd Skendarian for the preliminary design of a parking lot at 31681 Seacove Drive in South Laguna; a $153,000 contract with Steve Bubalo Construction for the Starlit Drive storm drain; and a $160,820 contract with Dudek & Associates for the rehabilitation design for the North Coast Interceptor at Nyes Place.

An agreement with Trauma Intervention Programs Inc. and the Laguna Beach Fire Department for a volunteer emergency response program.

A request by the Chamber of Commerce to use the Glenneyre Street Parking Structure for the annual Community Business Expo on Oct. 18. Fees were waived. Amplified music was approved.

Pulled for discussion:

A proposal to delay the date for appointments to the Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board until after the new council is seated in December. Approved 3-2; Kinsman and Pearson-Schneider opposed.

Kinsman claimed the proposal was politically motivated. Mayor Steven Dicterow, who is not running for a fourth term, said he did not feel he should vote on the appointments, which he would have if the original date of Oct. 17 was kept.

SANITARY SIDEWALKS 5-0

The council approved the transfer of funds that had been allocated to purchase a sidewalk washing machine into a Streets Division account to be used for contract sidewalk washing downtown five times this fiscal year and to include funds in next year’s budget for five downtown sidewalk washes.

DESIGN REVIEW AMENDMENT 5-0

The City Council adopted an urgency ordinance to amend the city code related to recently adopted revisions to the design review process. The new process prohibited administrative approval of some changes in approved plans, including the relocation of windows or doors by more than one foot or if the location was determined because of privacy issues, even if the plans were approved during an administrative design review.

Resident Mark Gold said his project was delayed for two months because he had to obtain Design Review Board approval to move windows that had been administratively approved, changes that were not objected to by any neighbors.

Councilwoman Iseman said the section of the code needed to be re-examined or re-interpreted.

She said the problem could be solved with a slight revision: the elimination of a section in the code that refers to minor moderations. A noticed hearing would be held.

LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

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