City Council Meeting Wrap-Up
The following is from the May 15 City Council meeting.
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EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS
Marine Safety Chief Kevin Snow read a proclamation signed by Mayor Jane Egly acknowledging National Beach Safety Week from May 28 to June 4.
The proclamation gave some safety tips for folks going to Laguna’s beaches and the reasons why the rules should be followed.
More than 4.5 million people visit city beaches annually and more than 3,000 of them are rescued every year by Laguna’s ocean lifeguards every year, according to the proclamation. In spite of lifeguards’ efforts, some people drown, due to a disregard for or ignorance of safe beach practices.
Those practices include knowing how to swim, always swimming near a lifeguard, swimming sober and always following directions from a lifeguard.
The don’ts include never swimming alone, never diving in the water headfirst, protect your neck and don’t fight the current.
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PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
The public is allowed to speak on any subject not on the agenda. Speakers generally are limited to three minutes, but the time can be adjusted by the council.
•HIV Advisory Committee Chairwoman Sarah Kasman reported that the committee last month provided HIV and AIDS educational materials and prevention information to Laguna Beach High School classes.
High school freshman Nicholas Rickoff distributed a brochure he developed titled “HIV/AIDS Update for Teens: What is the Risk No One is Talking About?”
The brochure includes a background on the HIV/AIDS, information on protection and advice to teens to get tested because of the risk of them contracting the disease if they are sexually active. According to the brochure, one in every three new infections will be someone between 15 and 24. Globally, 20- to 24-year-olds account for the second-most deaths from AIDS.
Councilwoman Toni Iseman, who is a member of the committee, said she was amazed at Rickoff’s maturity as such a young age.
•Christine Rhoades, president of the board of the Laguna Beach Dance Festival, announced that the “Smithsonian Magazine” ranked Laguna as one of the Top 20 small towns in the United States and singled out the festival as a terrific art event.
Rhoades thanked the council for its support of the festival and for past Community Assistance funds, which are allocated annually in the city budget
Rhoades said two stellar troupes will be performing at the Laguna Playhouse in September.
•Bruce Hopping asked to council to credit the Kalos Kagathos Foundation for its environmental protection murals and specifically Rachael Huessenstamm, the artist. Hopping stressed the importance of children learning swimming skills.
•Eli Grossman questioned the morals and ethics of the Laguna Police Department, city staff in general and the council.
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COUNCIL AND STAFF CHAT
Council members and staff report on events they have attended, people with whom they have met and other items of public interest.
•City Clerk Martha Anderson announced that the council will appoint one Recreation Committee member, two Planning Commissioners and four Arts Commissioners.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. May 29.
•Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson reported meeting with Orange County Transportation Authority Chairman Paul Glaab. She said he is willing to help the city pursue funding for the trolley and senior transportation programs.
Pearson congratulated the Boys & Girls Club on raising almost $400,000 at the annual gala.
•Mayor Pro Tem Verna Rollinger noted that during the discussion at the last council meeting regarding height limits in various zones, it came to light that the municipal code no longer states that the height limit in the city is 36 feet.
She asked City Attorney Phil Kohn to look into what would be required to restore the omission.
•Egly announced that Wyland Gallery would host a party on May 19 to present the city with the award for winning the water pledge. She thanked everyone who had participated in the pledge to conserve and use water wisely.
She announced with regret that the Water Quality Department’s Will Holloman has quit his position with the city to move out of state with his wife who got a new job, and she welcomed Ben Siegel, recently hired as director of Community Services and assistant to the city manager.
Egly praised the kickoff for the city’s Heritage Month at Madison Square and Garden Café and the two Sunset Serenades she has attended at the Heisler Park amphitheater.
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CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent calendar items are approved unanimously in one motion unless a member of the City Council, staff, or public “pulls” the item, which then requires opening it for public comment and a separate vote.
Among the items approved unanimously:
•Rental of an emergency generator for the new Main Beach sewer lift station until the permanent one is installed in the Lifeguard Headquarters and restroom facility that is expected to be completed in about two years
The rental cost of $25,000 is lower than the usual fee because the backup generator is not expected to be often used.
•Up to $333,012 in capital improvements for reimbursement from the Festival Capital Improvement Trust Fund, as recommended by the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee.
Among other duties, the committee is charged with making the recommendations to the council for expenditures from the trust fund.
•A $45,000 contract with Anderson Penna Partners to provide engineering services until the city’s vacant associate civil engineer’s position is filled, probably within three months.
The contract allows capital improvement projects to continue with supervision by Anderson Penna.
•An agreement with the county for the coordination and provision of emergency mass notification services to the city through June 30, 2013.
•Renewal of a contract with VenTek International for data hosting, connectivity and transaction processing services for the city’s 14 parking lot pay stations for two years, with total annual fees not to exceed $20,000; and a two-year contract with J&S Striping Company for fiscal years 2012-13 and 2013-14, for street paint and striping services, for a total annual fee not to exceed $40,000, both subject to adoption of the city budget for fiscal year 2012-13.
•Appointment of three South Laguna residents at the June 19 council meeting to four-year terms on the South Laguna Water/Sewer Advisory Committee.
Applications are due in the city clerk’s office by 5 p.m. June 12.
•Transfer of $1,300 from Outside Services into the Training, Travel and Dues account for the city treasurer’s budget.
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REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS
Items require separate discussion and citizen input, if desired, before the council makes a determination.
Extension of the Business Improvement District, 4-0; Pearson recused
The council approved the extension of the Business Improvement District for another 12 months.
Approved annually since 2001, the BID funds art projects and organizations that attract tourists to Laguna Beach. Funds are raised by a voluntary additional percentage of the bed-tax approved by the hostelries in town.
In fiscal year 2012-13, the BID will divide an estimated $1,520,000 between the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau, the Laguna College of Art & Design, the Laguna Art Museum, the Laguna Playhouse, Arts Commission and community arts organizations.
The estimated total is up about $45,000 from the current fiscal year. The Visitors Bureau will get the biggest single share: $760,000. The other five each get $152,000.
Pearson recused herself because she works for the Playhouse.
Artist Work/Live ordinance changed, 5-0
The council gave final approval to changes to the Artist Work/Live ordinance, including the name, which now reflects the emphasis on work space and the Local Coastal Program.
Amendments will be sent to the California Coastal Commission with a request for certification.
Retail sales of dogs and cats banned, 5-0
The council voted unanimously to outlaw the retail sale of cats, kittens, dogs and puppies and to require annual inspections of animal rescue shops.
Trash talks, 5-0
The council authorized City Manager John Pietig to begin negotiations with Waste Management of Orange County for continued services as the city trash hauler. The current contract expires at the end of fiscal year 2012-13.
R3 Consulting Group was hired to assist in the negotiations and will be paid a fee of no more than $35,000, appropriated from the fees collected last year.
City officials said the primary advantage of a contract with Waste Management is the company’s familiarity with the city and its quirky streets and not having to transfer to another company. However, opening the contract to bidding allows the city to test the going rates for trash collection and recycling, officials said.
Renegotiations were estimated to take up to six month, with the new contract in place before the old one expires. The bidding process could take from 12 to 1 8 months, with no guarantees of a better contract, according to the staff report, submitted by Director of Public Works Steve May.
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CLOSED SESSION
Conference with legal counsel on anticipated litigation related to the proposed Emerald Bay stoplight and 20321 Sun Valley Road.
Conference with real property negotiators on the price and terms of agreement for the lease of the Irvine Bowl Park, most often referred to as the Festival of Arts grounds.
Rollinger, City Councilman Kelly Boyd and Pietig are negotiating on behalf of the city.
Any action taken by the council in closed session must be reported publicly. None was announced.
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NEXT MEETING
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held at 6 p.m. June 5, in the City Council Chambers, 505 Forest Ave. It will be preceded by a budget workshop at 3 p.m.
Meeting agendas are available by 4 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the meeting in the city clerk’s office in City Hall, 505 Forest Ave. Agendas are also published at https://www.lagunabeachcity.net.
—Compiled by Barbara Diamond from information provided by the city clerk’s office.