Merritt announces run for Laguna City Council
Paul Merritt arrived in Laguna Beach from the Pasadena area in 1964, and in the 50 years since has developed a real passion for his adopted hometown.
Last week, Merritt, 63, announced his candidacy for the Laguna City Council. He is among five candidates who have announced a run for one of three council seats up for election in November.
Other residents who have filed papers include former Laguna Beach Republicans President Michele L. Hall, Planning Commission Chairman Robert Zur Schmiede and restaurant owner Jon Madison. Kelly Boyd is the only incumbent council member to declare a reelection bid. The list of formal candidates won’t be finalized until Aug. 13.
“I want to be able to think that 40 years from now, this community is the same that I enjoyed,” said Merritt, “with a special, unique environment.”
Merritt said the Laguna culture — art colony, coastal preserve, vacation destination and residential paradise — requires special care. He thinks it’s important that the residents steer city government, not the other way around.
“That’s why I like to say Laguna is a masterpiece, because the council are only the curators at the museum,” Merritt quipped with his seemingly ever-present grin.
Active in civic matters for years, the 1969 graduate of Laguna Beach High, who has two legal degrees, has spoken out and filed petitions on problems and projects ranging from the village entrance and a proposed parking structure to homelessness and traffic safety.
“I ride a bicycle,” Merritt said. “The city has not been aggressive in facilitating bike lanes in our community. Other places have.”
Fiscal responsibility is a particular concern to him. Merritt said he wants the city to be more proactive in collecting business taxes as commerce moves deeper into the age of technology. He cites cable companies, delivery services and online travel websites as examples of big corporations that operate in Laguna Beach without registered business licenses.
“The law says all businesses in Laguna Beach must register,” Merritt explains, noting Cox Communications is taxed in nearby San Juan Capistrano but not in Laguna Beach. “A start would be to examine that a full-time city treasurer, not costing us much more in funds, could go and begin this transition of collection.”
Recognizing the need to balance compassion and safety concerns, Merritt argues that the city has been too complacent when dealing with the homeless.
“There’s a difference in my mind of a helping hand for people that are unfortunate as opposed to going too soft or too easy on people that are harassing or driving business out of our town or causing violence against our residents,” he said.
Having served on the Laguna Niguel City Council, Merritt said he understands the roles of civic leader and concerned citizen. His current profession in trust administration has him working throughout Los Angeles County, giving him an added perspective applicable to coastal Orange County, he said.
He said being acquainted with planning in a large city like Los Angeles — trying to maintain the rural atmosphere in some areas — gives him insight into “our little village,” which is “beset by urban and big-city problems.”
Merritt said he favors a proposed $15,000 limit on City Council campaign spending and will sign the agreement if the other candidates do as well.
“Why don’t we level the playing field once and for all and make the candidates go out and talk to each person and answer questions in forums and in debates?” he asked.