Mailbag: Change in water-saving ordinance needed

The city’s [proposed] new ordinance will have little effect of curbing the town’s thirst for water, because it will apply to less than one-third of the town parcels.

We must understand that if we are to achieve an effective reduction in water use, this measure shall apply to “all landscapes areas” in town. That’s what is needed for a city that imports 100% of its water.

What is astounding is the ordinance doesn’t recognize that the most efficient use of water is by “reusing it.” To live with what we have, conserve and reuse and setting a goal citywide for the use of “gray water” for irrigation, gradually bring to an end the use of “potable water” for activities that are not essential for sustaining life.

A mandatory use of gray water on all new projects when feasible shall be the norm, and we should go even further facilitating more homeowners to retrofit existing homes, permitting the use of water from showers, sinks and washing machines for irrigation. Gray water shall not be considered a waste product, but a valuable resource.

The added benefit is that every gallon of gray water use for non-potable purposes, is one gallon of potable water we do not need to import from distance sources with intensive energy consumption and disrupting the environment.

As this issue is addressed, conservation is a priority by eliminating wasteful practices in new and existing landscapes.

One way to accomplish this goal is by modifying the design of our gardens.

We must end the race to see who could grow the most exotic plants and have the largest lawn, a practice that has been our gardening for too long. Competition that is only possible because our sunny climate and an endless supply of “cheap” water. Something that should be replaced by a properly designed rate structure that encourages conservation, minimizing turf areas and by promoting water-efficient landscapes.

More important, whatever the intended use, proper design and plan selection will ensure a healthy garden and reduced costs for years to come. This garden also provides a glimpse of California natural landscape, which connects to the past while demonstrating landscaping ideas for the future.

There are studies not only quantifying water savings up to 54%, but showing xeriscaping reduction in maintenance and resource requirements, such as labor needs by 25%, fertilizer use by 61%, herbicides by 22% and fuel by 44%. This is important in water quality, cutting the amount of contaminants that are carry downstream polluting our ocean.

The ordinance instead discourages turf use on slopes greater than 25% and while it recommends use of water-conserving plants and water conserving turf, fails to recognized that not all plants are created equal and that the burden when specimens consume too much water carried by the entire ecosystem.

Therefore noxious exotic material should be listed and banned, and the city should put more resources to promote California friendly gardens, starting with the one in front of City Hall as proposed by Chris Prelitz.

In order to get the best results, we should hold an open competition for ideas for the construction of this site, and once a project is developed, the needed funds can become available by the “City Makeover” program that provides grants up to $75,000 to transform highly visible spaces into native California gardens. This will engage the council to “walk the walk” when reducing outdoor water uses, and is going to inspire and educate our community.

Controlling irrigation is another key element to improve efficiency, and significant technologies that demonstrate contributions as Drip and Micro-Spray Systems that allow for precise delivery of water with very little waste should be encouraged, and “Smart Controllers” should be required.

The installation of such controllers can save a significant amount of water typically waste by automatic irrigation systems due to insufficient adaptation to weather changes. The Irvine Ranch Water District studies estimate a 10% reduction in household consumption, with outdoor reduction by 24% after installation.

Change in this ordinance is needed, providing incentives to homeowners to install smart controllers, convert landscaping to low-water-using plants, installing drip irrigation systems and more efficient sprinkler heads, as well as other water conserving devices, recommendations established by the Legislature’s Landscape Task Force.

Because dependence on imported water is greatest for Laguna, the council should have adopted a more stringent ordinance than the state and many other cities. Conservation and efficiency are in the blueprint for a water-sustainable future.

GUSTAVO GRAD

Laguna Beach

Editor’s note: Gustavo Grad is a certified sustainable building advisor.

City manager is a parking Scrooge

It is unbelievable the Laguna Beach city manager approved a new machine so that people who park in the Lang Park parking lot must pay to park up to three hours, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. How greedy is our city?

Hundreds of participants in community activities including Jazzercise and youth soccer leagues, plus friends and relatives of the 75 seniors who live adjacent to Lang Park and parents of children in the preschool are required to purchase parking space while using park facilities or visiting the preschool and senior complex, which already has parking problems.

What’s really shocking is that Ken Frank never asked the City Council about the installation of the new machine. Lang Park now has the distinction of being the only city park and community building that requires you to pay for parking.

Yes, some people take advantage of the lot to go to the beach, but in reality very few do so because the lot is posted three hours only and most beach people prefer other locations for parking.

Are participants, parents and Vista Aliso senior visitors suppose to park in Albertson’s underground parking lot? Reports from people say many are doing just that.

Are we actually encouraging people to participate in community and preschool activities and then threatening them with a $40-plus ticket?

Did Frank ever hear or watch “A Christmas Carol”? Maybe a few ghosts from Christmas past, present and future should visit him in the night and scare the very parking money right out of his hand.

ROGER CARTER

Laguna Beach

Galleries help mentor art students

Laguna Beach’s galleries not only make this community unique, they contribute significantly to the next generation of artists.

On Dec. 3, during First Thursdays Art Walk, 18 galleries displayed the work of 19 senior drawing and painting majors from Laguna College of Art and Design.

Now in its eight year, there is no other mentoring program like this in the country where galleries and the local art college work so closely together to foster the careers of fine art students as the young artists near the completion of a degree.

Leading up the exhibition of their paintings, students work with the gallery professionals to learn invaluable behind-the-scenes lessons of what it takes to run a gallery.

They are featured in pre-opening publicity. Some will end up with internships or part-time work in the galleries. And all were on hand to greet visitors and talk about their art and future careers. Ten student works sold.

On behalf of all the students at LCAD, sincerest thanks to these participating galleries: La Bottega Dell’Acquaforte, the Redfern Gallery, Bluebird Gallery, DeRu’s Fine Arts, the Esther Wells Collection, Pure Laguna Beach Gallery, Mandarin Fine Art Gallery, Dawson Cole Fine Arts, altfineart, DeBilzan Gallery, Studio 7 Gallery, Cove Gallery, Studio Arts Gallery, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Peter Blake Gallery, Whelan Art Galleries, JoAnne Artman Gallery and Arin Contemporary Art.

DENNIS POWER

Laguna Beach

Editor’s note: Dennis Power is president of Laguna College of Art and Design.

Grateful for restaurant’s support

I would like the opportunity to publicly thank Mozambique restaurant for hosting the Laguna Beach High School Girls Tennis Awards Banquet on Dec. 6.

Owner Ivan Spiers did not hesitate and had no stipulations when approached with the need for a private room to accommodate 24 girls and their parents for four hours, a full-service dinner and no alcohol revenue, at a fixed fee including tax and tip.

His manager, Nicole, was also extremely helpful and communicated promptly with me regarding menu choices, seating and table décor.

As we neared the actual date, I was disappointed and hesitant to let them know we would be 13 people short of our promised head count and yet there was no other response to the news other than, “We can make it work.”

Once the evening was here, the room was beautifully decorated with Christmas lights, crystal candles and tasteful decorations.

The tables had been configured to accommodate the girls and parents perfectly, and the busboys and waiters were eager to ask if anything needed to be done before the guests arrived.

Most often, when the budget is lower then the restaurant’s normal profit (especially with no alcohol sales), a noticeable portion of the usual dining experience is affected. And yet, there was an abundance of food; a crisp Caesar salad, followed by a huge plate of peri peri chicken, rice and mango salsa. And last, but certainly not least, a very large serving of bread pudding.

The service was first-class indeed, and the waiters easily passed the four-star test of excellence: to provide your customer with everything needed, but to not make it noticeable that you are doing it or it has been done.

I, personally, have no affiliation with Mozambique and honestly had not previously visited the restaurant. My intention was to find a local establishment that would support the high school and, in turn, hopefully introduce some new patrons to them as well.

I was somewhat concerned that the advertised Sunday night reggae may distract from the family atmosphere. Ivan assured me that the upstairs entertainment would not interfere with the banquet and generously offered to have all the guests shuttled to the restaurant from the high school if we would prefer.

As the parents and players departed, many spoke of how many sports banquets they had previously attended and commented this experience was by far one of the most enjoyable.

Thank you again to Ivan Spiers and his staff for their generous hospitality and for supporting Laguna Beach High School girls tennis.

Laguna Beach

Give marine reserve a chance to work

I am writing to correct the false impression given by writers to your paper who claim that all beach access and recreational activities will be prohibited by a marine preserve area.

Though the Marine Life Protection Act does specify that human access can be restricted, in actuality only four of the 80 marine reserves established in the last 10 years do so and those restrictions were in place before the MLPA was passed.

The public has enjoyed the use of Heisler Beach for decades even though it is a marine reserve.

This same unrestricted kind of use, except for fishing, is what we can expect if a reserve is extended along the coast of Laguna Beach.

Our City Council majority (4 out of 5) was right to support a citywide marine preserve area.

This 7.5-mile reserve best meets the MLPA science guidelines of any of the proposals.

While much or the entire Laguna coastline may be designated as an marine preserve area, in total such proposed preserves are small relative to the entire South Coast region from Point Conception to the Mexican border making up only 11.7% of the coast.

Set aside as an marine preserve area, a preserve can offer a safe breeding ground that will boost fish populations and begin to reverse the 50% reduction in fish catches over the last two decades reported in a 2005 Science article [305, 487-489].

For example, the marine reserve on Anacapa Island has resulted in six times more lobsters which improve the overall ecology by eating urchins that destroy kelp forests.

Outside the reserve, fishing has reduced lobsters and has led to 13 times more urchins.

Marine reserves work. According to scientists, who include Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, fishes, invertebrates and seaweeds typically have grown 28% bigger and have become 166% more abundant inside marine reserves.

On average, diversity has increased 21% and biomass has increased 446% inside marine reserves. Bigger fishes and invertebrates in marine reserves can produce more young than do smaller animals outside reserves. We all stand to win, including anglers, with larger, more abundant fish as a result of successful marine reserves. Laguna will too. Let’s give it a chance.

GINGER OSBORNE