City Council Wrap-Up

The following is from the Dec. 15 City Council meeting.

Home Sharing program

During public comment, Sally Rapuano, director of La Playa Center for adults learning English as a second language, announced that the Cross Cultural Council has plans to begin a Home Sharing program in Laguna. The program matches non-related people who can share a home, providing the owner with needed services in return for renting a room at a nominal rent. The program has proved successful elsewhere, Rapuano said, and she expressed hope that the council would endorse the plan and perhaps offer financial support in the future.

Property tax index to decline

City Treasurer Laura Parisi reported that the consumer price index portion of Proposition 13 would probably be in the negative in tax year 2010-11 for the first time in the history of the proposition. Parisi also announced that she has been reappointed for the fifth time to the League of California Cities Revenue and Taxation Committee and that refund checks for Assessment Districts 84-1R and 93-1 are in the mail.

Aliso Street settlement

The council approved a settlement that created one legal building site out of two parcels on Aliso Street for one single-family residence and required compliance with all regulations and standards for the remaining parcel to be developed. South Laguna Civic Assn. opposed the settlement, which was approved unanimously by the council.

WHAT IT MEANS

A private driveway for the buildable site may be constructed as long as it does not interfere with the public use of the county-right-of-way used as pedestrian access to the beach.

Water-efficient landscaping referred

The council reviewed a proposed ordinance and implementation guidelines for water efficient landscaping, as mandated by the state and decided on a 5-0 vote that it needs more input.

Provisions include thresholds for irrigated square footage in public and private projects, use of a maximum applied water allowance that allegedly would reduce water use by 35%, irrigation design and maintenance standards and a requirement for all new construction and re-landscaping projects to submit an extensive documentation package prepared by qualified experts. The package must include a work sheet; soil management report; and design, irrigation and grading plans. A certificate of completion must be submitted after construction of the landscape.

WHAT IT MEANS

The proposal was referred to the Environmental Committee, which was directed to coordinate with the Laguna Beach County Water District that has considerable pertinent data to share.

Land-use amendment is approved

The City Council unanimously approved changes to the Land Use Element, as recommended by the Planning Commission, which update the element, land use map and zoning map.

Ten public meetings were held on the element since the first draft of an update was distributed for public review Sept. 8, 2008.

The council-approved draft will be sent to the California Coastal Commission for certification, with changes previously proposed by the city, but rejected by the commission.

WHAT IT MEANS

Now the city and the commission will duke it out in hearings for certification.

The revised draft is available for review at www.lagunabeachcity.net.

Arch Beach Heights walkways

The council approved a proposal to partially and conditionally accept portions of road dedications in Arch Beach Heights solely for pedestrian trails.

WHAT IT MEANS

The dedications are a necessary component for the view park planned for the neighborhood.

“” Barbara Diamond