CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

The following is from the June 3 meeting of the City Council.

?

Recycling grant applications 5-0

The council approved resolutions authorizing staff to file grant applications for the state’s Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Grant and the Used Oil Recycling Block Grant.

?

WHAT IT MEANS

The city is eligible for $6,593 of the state’s container and litter reduction grant money in fiscal year 2008-09 and about $7,000 spread over the next three fiscal years, to conduct door-to-door collection of used oil, used oil filters and for public education and outreach.

?

Pump it up 5-0

The city will buy two Cornell pump and motor assemblies from Tekdraulics at a cost not to exceed $185,000, to be installed by Schuler Engineering at a cost not to exceed $18,000 at the Bluebird sewer lift station. The pumps must be custom fabricated because of the unusual design of the station and only two companies are equipped for the job: Cornell and ESSCO. ESSCO was awarded a contract in 2005 for four new pumps and assemblies, but only delivered the two for the Laguna station. ESSCO has agreed to reimburse the city for the about $213,000 for the new pumps.

?

WHAT IT MEANS

The city will get the two pumps needed to handle the millions of gallons of wastewater per day that flow through the Bluebird station, an average of 100,000 gallons per hour.

?

Flamingo project flies 5-0

A Flamingo Road project was approved with a two-foot reduction in the lower deck.

The project was appealed by a neighboring property owner, based on mass and scale and potential view concerns.

?

WHAT IT MEANS

The appellant’s architect opined that the reduction would improve the appellant’s view, although no plans have been drawn for a home.

?

Home loan 5-0

The council appropriated $520,000 from the Insurance Fund for a loan to Trisha and city Sewer Services Supervisor Graham Wright, to purchase a home in Laguna Beach.

?

WHAT IT MEANS

Normally, under the terms of the Essential Employee Housing Assistance Program the city splits the cost and ownership of a home in Laguna Beach with city employees whose timely response to emergencies are essential to the community, with both names appearing on the title.

However, recent banking problems made it impossible for the Wrights to get a traditional, fixed-rate loan with the city on the title, although they have good credit and would otherwise qualify for loans.

The city had already approved $400,000 for its share of the Wrights’ home. With the loan and the Wrights’ $160,000 down payment added in, the total sales price comes to $1,075,000.

Wright has been employed by the city for 35 years.

?

Appointments to commissions

Incumbents Joan Corman, Mary Pratt Ferguson and Mike Tauber were reappointed to the Arts Commission.

Incumbents Anne Johnson and Rob Zur Schmeide were reappointed to the Planning Commission. Former School Board member Robert Whalen will replace longtime Commissioner Bob Chapman, who retired.

?

WHAT IT MEANS

Terms for all the appointees run through July 1, 2110.

?

Agate Street encroachment 5-0

The council pulled the plug on a sink and a barbecue in the public right-of-way, which the owner of 490 Agate St. had installed, sans permit, claiming it was not a permanent installation.

Councilman Kelly Boyd said if plumbing and gas lines are in place, the installation is permanent.

“This is not a good idea; it wouldn’t have been approved if it had been submitted,” Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman said.

?

WHAT IT MEANS

The property owner will be required to remove all equipment deemed permanent by the council.

?

Egan Road encroachment 5-0

The council added a condition to the request of the property owner at 31520 to construct new at-grade stairs, low retaining walls/pilasters and at-grade paving in the unimproved Eagle Rock Way public right-of-way.

?

WHAT IT MEANS

The applicant will increase the size of an on-street parking space to a minimum of 8 feet by 22 feet.

?

Signs of the times 5-0

The council accepted a donation from the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau for a permanent sign to be installed at the ACT V trolley stop and requested the Planning Commission to conduct the required review of the project with the understanding that the council favors approval.

?

WHAT IT MEANS

If expeditiously approved, the sign will be installed in time for the summer Festival Season. It will include a city map, festival information and the Visitors Bureau location and telephone number, information that can be changed annually.

“” Barbara Diamond