City to Join Regional Panel on a Trial Basis
Seven months after turning down an invitation to join the Orange County Council of Governments, a divided City Council changed its mind this week, voting 3 to 2 to join the group.
In six months, the council will review its participation and decide whether to remain.
The OCCOG was proposed by the county League of Cities to pool information on regional issues such as air quality and traffic.
Laguna Niguel declined in January to join the OCCOG until more information about the organization became available.
Councilmen Eddie Rose and Mark Goodman voted against participating in OCCOG.
Rose said the organization creates another layer of government that is not accountable to the public.
But the council majority backed joining OCCOG, saying they wanted Laguna Niguel to be represented in regional issues.
“We’ll be committed to making sure this is not just another level of government,” Mayor Patricia C. Bates said.
Bates will represent Laguna Niguel at the first OCCOG meeting Aug. 15.
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