Toni Iseman

Name: Toni Iseman

Age: 64

Birth place: Hastings, Neb.

How long have you lived in Laguna Beach? 40 years

Occupation: I worked for more than 35 years as a teacher/counselor from intermediate schools through college. My last 14 years I worked as a counselor at Orange Coast College.

Education: bachelor’s degree in English and social sciences from University of Nebraska; master’s degree in counseling psychology from Cal State Fullerton

Previously elected or appointed positions: In addition to being elected to the Laguna Beach City Council, I have served twice as mayor. While at OCC, I was elected by the faculty to be president of the Academic Senate and served two terms. I was selected to serve as one of 12 California Coastal commissioners from 2003 to 2005. The appointment was made by the head of the California State Senate.
In 2006 I was elected chairwoman of South Orange County Wastewater Authority and am on the finance committee and executive committee. I represent Laguna Beach at Orange County Vector Control and serve on the Personnel Committee. We are in the process of selecting a new director. I served on the Homeless Taskforce with Councilman Kelly Boyd and the Business Taskforce with Mayor Elizabeth Pearson and am the liaison to the HIV Advisory Committee and Housing and Human Services Committee.

Community organizations you belong to: Village Laguna, Laguna Greenbelt, Laguna Canyon Conservancy, Women’s Club

What is the most critical issue now in Laguna Beach? We must work to assist our businesses to be successful. A vibrant business climate is essential to our community. A crucial part of that is addressing the parking and traffic issues that effect locals and visitors.

How would you resolve that issue? Pearson and I co-chaired the Business Taskforce. Ideas from all segments of the community were gathered to help new and existing businesses. We are making it easier to start a business and understand the city guidelines. We surveyed the community and can give insight to businesses about needs stated by local shoppers. Future business owners can meet with planning commissioners, city staff and local business owners to jump start the process. We have relaxed the public display requirements. There is more to do. We can’t take for granted an essential part of our unique town. We must keep reminding locals to shop in town.

The free summer shuttle is a good start with parking and traffic concerns. I would like to extend the trolley to the weekends the other nine months of the year. Additional parking must be found throughout the town, not just the Village Entrance. We must find financial incentives to encourage businesses to allow the public to use private parking spaces when the business is closed.

What qualities would you like to see in a new city manager? Ken Frank has served us well and will be missed. But Frank is leaving the community in good shape. A new manager will come to a town with a strong financial base. Our streets, sewers, parks and public buildings are in good repair. We have strong leadership within our Police, Fire and Lifeguard departments. But Laguna is not an easy town to manage. A town of 25,000 that serves more than 3 millions visitors a year needs to be prepared for the unexpected.

Nearly everyone in Laguna has an opinion. A good city manager will hear new ideas, respect public input and seek a creative solution to our differences. I would like our new leader to have confidence in our staff and be open to new ways of doing things. Making our community greener benefits all of us.

Looking at Laguna through a prism of the experience of our new leader will give us all a fresh look at ourselves. A seasoned manager will bring us new ideas.

The three incumbents have all signed each other’s nomination papers. Why do you think the incumbents are all supporting each other? This is the best council I have served with. We don’t always agree, but we are agreeable and respectful of each other and all segments of the community. No one is guaranteed three votes on an agenda item. We discuss, compromise and forge solutions. Signing Boyd and Pearson’s papers was a measure of respect I have for the hard work they have done.

What are qualities you bring to the table? I have creative solutions for our problems. Making the summer shuttle free was my idea. Ridership in 2001, the last year we charged to ride, was 129,508. In 2009 we reached 499,080 riders. Imagine the cars we took off our streets. That is easy to see, but often it is the small things can make a big difference. I pushed for us have a trained staff direct our traffic in the summer. I love to see those young people pull our cars through the intersections. What a difference! Left turns are limited for south bound traffic on Coast Highway. It has substantially improved traffic flow. That idea took years to manifest but it is clearly working. We now have parking meters that accept credit cards. When I see a problem I seek a solution.

You can count on me to hear your concerns. I advocate for the individual, the neighborhoods and our environment. Conflicts fester and neighborhood disputes can go on for years. Clear communication can help create a peace. There is much to be done. I have the depth of knowledge and the enthusiasm to find better ways of doing things.

Laguna Beach, a town of natural beauty, rich history, an vibrant art community, breathtaking beaches and a mix of unique, diverse citizens, deserves a council member that never loses sight of the treasures of our community. It has been an honor to serve. There is more work to be done.