Supervisor Bates visits Conservancy

Supervisor Pat Bates called her first 16 months in office “an eye-opener” during a speech before the Laguna Canyon Conservancy Monday evening.

The former assemblywoman and Laguna Niguel mayor said being part of the Board of Supervisors was a far cry from the halls of Sacramento, where she served for six years.

“There are many firestorms — real, everyday issues to be dealt with,” Bates said of the county panel on which she serves as vice chairwoman.

One of those she noted was October’s firestorms, which hit the 5th District especially hard.

Others included the indictment on corruption charges and eventual resignation of Sheriff Mike Carona, and questions surrounding Treasurer Chriss Street.

On the Carona issue, Bates explained that the supervisors were initially at a loss as to how to proceed, despite the calls from the public for the board to oust Carona.

“We do not have the power to remove another elected official from office or to place them on leave or suspend their pay,” Bates said.

Carona’s resignation has cleared the way for the board to appoint a replacement.

To that end, the board has hired a search firm to conduct an international head hunt for a new sheriff. So far, there are 48 candidates for the job, including the executive director of Interpol, Bates said.

The candidates will be interviewed by the board in a public session May 27, and a final decision will come later.

Toll road controversy

Conservancy members pressed Bates on the proposed 241 Toll Road extension through San Onofre State Park and asked why money was being set aside for public open space if the land could then be approved for development.

Bates claimed parkland used for a project such as a toll road would be given back in another location, and noted that funding for an alternative to the 241 Toll Road extension — freeway widening — was not part of the Measure M2 transit package approved by voters.

“That can’t be changed,” Bates said.

As for a solution to the county’s traffic issues, one man suggested double-decking the freeway to increase capacity.

“That should be on the table,” Bates said, but added that noise impacts from a double-decker freeway were a concern.

“The reality is that traffic is coming, and we already have gridlock on the freeway,” Bates said.

Water reclaiming

Conservancy members applauded when Bates announced she had requested $50,000 for a proposed water reclamation project at Aliso Creek, championed by South Laguna residents Michel Beanan and Jinger Wallace.

The funding was approved by the Supervisors Tuesday, along with three other local projects proposed by Bates:

 $400,000 to connect Aliso Creek Trail and Wood Canyon;

 $350,000 for signage at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park; and

 $150,000 to develop an educational complex at Aliso and Wood Canyon Regional Park.

Reelected to the Conservancy board at the meeting were Jeanie Bernstein, Max Brown, Catharine Cooper, Ed Drollinger, Steven Erger, Gene Felder, J.J. Gasparotti, John Keith, Sharon Larimer, John Pfeffer, Janine Robinson, Carey Strombotne, Kimberly Stuart, Patricia Turnier, Diane Valentino, Gail Waite and Carolyn Wood.

Steve Palessiro was elected to the board.

CINDY FRAZIER is city editor of the Coastline Pilot. She can be contacted at (949) 494-2087 or [email protected].