Fixing brush clearing mishap

The city of Laguna Beach recently encountered two unusual cases

involving homeowners who were instructed by their insurance companies

to clear native hillside vegetation within 300 feet of their

properties at their own expense.

The problem is that the home owners did not own the property

designated to be cleared. It was owned by the county. But they were

told by their brokers that if they did not comply, their home

insurance policies would be canceled.

The problem became a big one because the city requires homeowners

to apply to and receive approval from the Design Review Board prior

to clearing vegetation from county-owned land. Failure to comply with

this regulation may result in a fine or misdemeanor charge.

Because of the unprecedented nature of these incidents, the city

has been trying to work with both homeowners to correct the

situation, said Louis Kirk, senior code enforcement officer.

“In these cases both homeowners are being very cooperative with

the city and are correcting it voluntarily,” he said.

However, the damage to the homeowner’s wallets and to the

undeveloped parcels of land adjacent to their properties has already

been done.

“One homeowner went far beyond their own property line to comply

with the insurance broker’s instructions,” Kirk said. “They went down

into a canyon and across other private property lines.”

Both homeowners in question declined to comment.

“The insurance carrier doesn’t distinguish between owned and

non-owned property,” explained John L. Campbell, an insurance

consultant. “They simply want to see brush cleared from the property

within the [designated] area.”

Some insurance carriers will allow homeowners to clear up to the

property line but charge them higher premiums, he said. Others will

simply cancel the policy if the homeowner doesn’t comply.

Homeowners who have been instructed to or desire to clear

vegetation from an undeveloped parcel of land adjacent to their

property may contact Louis Kirk, senior code enforcement officer at

(949) 497-0301.

-- Mary A. Castillo

New machine to be used to remove sidewalk gunk

Complaints about noise this summer sidelined a new machine that

sucks up water used to pressure-wash Downtown sidewalks, but city

officials expected to be put it back in use this fall.

“During the summer, our cleaning program starts at 5 a.m. because

we can’t do it in the daytime during tourist season,” said Steve May,

director of public works. “We started a new program and did it for

about a week. When we got complaints about the noise, we stopped. But

we intend to take it up again.”

The new sidewalk-cleaning procedure is a two-step operation that

includes use of the city’s mechanical sweeper, sandbagging the curbs

to prevent runoff, pressure-washing and collecting the dirty water

with the city’s recently purchased mini-vactor.

“We used to pressure-wash the sidewalks and let the water run down

into the storm drains, but we can’t do that anymore because of the

new [water-quality rules],” May said.

The city continued to use the sidewalk sweeper on a daily basis

during the summer, but the sweeper is not equipped to remove the

residue that sticks to concrete, May said.

“The mini-vac will be dedicated to storm drain cleaning for the

next few weeks to prepare for the winter rains,” May said. “We are

targeting its use in sidewalk cleaning for October.”

Sidewalk cleaning will begin at 7 a.m., the hour that city code

allows construction to begin.

-- Barbara Diamond

Arts supporters honored

Heroes and heroines of the battle to preserve the Festival of Arts

in Laguna Beach were honored Wednesday at groundbreaking ceremonies

for renovations at Irvine Bowl Park.

“It warms my heart that we are here today,” said former Mayor

Kathleen Blackburn, now a member of the festival board of directors.

“It couldn’t have happened without the artists who said, ‘[Heck] no,

we won’t go,’ the community which fought to retain its heritage, the

staff who kept things going during difficult times and the

volunteers.”

Artists and their supporters who led the effort to recall the

board that wanted to move the festival and pageant out of town now

sit as leaders in the program of restoration of the grounds and

facilities.

Mayor Wayne Baglin and festival President Scott Moore donned hard

hats to turn over the first spadeful of dirt on the $1.8-million

Phase I renovations. It was less than four days since the curtain

dropped on the 2002 Pageant season, which honored heroes and

heroines, past and present.

Work is expected to begin in earnest Sept. 23, said Guy Fowler,

project manager for the renovations.

The first phase of renovations also will include the demolition of

one building, grading and construction of retaining walls to support

the construction of new shops. Shop construction will take more than

a year to complete, with interruptions to accommodate the pageant

schedule.

Funding for the renovations will come from past lease payments

held by the city for renovations and the annual benefit galas that

close the festival season.

The 2002 gala, held Saturday, grossed more than $200,000,

including about $6,000 from the auction of donated art works.

“Every year, the gala raises money for improvements and we haven’t

used any of it yet,” Moore said. “The city has put aside money for

building improvements for several years. We haven’t used any of

that.”

Wednesday marked the first dip into that till.

Blackburn called Wednesday’s groundbreaking a significant event,

even if the golden spade wielded by Baglin and Moore made little

impression on the grass.

“This hole could have been dug in San Clemente,” Blackburn said.

-- Barbara Diamond

Water District seeks applicants for seats

The Board of Directors of Laguna Beach County Water District

announced that they are accepting applications for three seats on the

Laguna Beach County Water District Commission.

The commissioners whose terms are expiring are Gary Alstot, J.J.

Gasparotti and Bruce Shearer, said Michelle Boyd, executive assistant

to the human resources coordinator of the district.

Commissioners are appointed by the board and serve three-year

terms. They are compensated $120 per month.

Applications are available at 306 Third Street and must be filed

with General Manager Renae M. Hinchey by 5 p.m. on Sept. 30.

All applicants will be interviewed by the Board of Directors at

their regular meeting at 6 p.m., Oct. 15 in the City Council chambers

at 505 Forest Avenue.

-- Mary A. Castillo

Rotary ready for first Grand Prix

An estimated 850 professional and amateur bicyclists will compete

in the first Laguna Beach Rotary Grand Prix at the end of September.

More than 5,000 spectators are expected to line the half-mile,

closed-loop course beginning at 7 a.m. on Sept. 28.

Competitors will race north on Forest Avenue, south on Mermaid

Street, turn west on Glenneyre Street and dash for the finish line

back on Forest Avenue.

The day’s featured event will be a Category 1 and 2

USCF-sanctioned Professional Criterium Bicycle Race scheduled for

12:15 p.m.

Information: 289-0556 or www.lagunabeachgrandprix.com.

Pet Parade and Chili Cook-off set

The Laguna Board of Realtors, Laguna Animal Shelter and the Blue

Bell Cat Foundation are hosting the 6th annual Pet Parade and Chili

Cook-off on Sept. 15.

The event will benefit the Friends of the Sea Lion Marine Mammal

Center and is held each year at Tivoli II across from the Festival of

Arts grounds on Laguna Canyon Road. It will run from noon to 3 p.m.

The fee is $3, and children under 12 are free. It’s another 50

cents to taste the chili.

After the award for best chili is presented the pet parade begins.

Any pet can be entered at $10 per category including Prettiest

Female, Most Handsome Male, Most Talented and Best Costume.

Sponsorships and booths are available.Information, call the Laguna

Board of Realtors, 497-2474.