EPA pushes sewer repairs

The city of Laguna Beach has been awarded $700,000 from the

Environmental Protection Agency section of the 2003 Veteran

Affairs-Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. This

announcement came after the EPA formally ordered the city to create a

plan that will put an end to sewer spills and to implement the

recently adopted grease control ordinance.

“This money will prevent sewer spills from reaching the Laguna

Beach coastline in the future,” Rep. Christopher Cox said in a

written statement. This is the second consecutive year Cox has

secured funding for the city’s sewer system.

However, the EPA’s order came long after the City Council approved

the sewer system strategic plan in March and passed the grease

control ordinance in August.

“Taking our strategic plan and turning it into a [Sewage Spill

Reduction Action] plan will not require a big effort,” said city

manager Ken Frank.

“We’re moving right with the plan the council adopted,” he said.

Between July 1, 1997, and June 30, 2002, the city reported 64

sewage spills, 20 of which reached coastal waters. The last spill

that resulted in a beach closure occurred on July 6 when about 400

gallons of sewage reached the storm drain and onto the sands and

waters of Picnic Beach, said John Pietig, assistant city manager.

“It appeared that someone was putting paper towels into the sewage

system,” he said.

Sewage workers filled a 5-gallon bucket with the towels. The beach

was reopened two days later.

A similar incident occurred on July 9, but that spill did not

reach the storm drains. City staff distributed fliers and knocked on

doors in the area where the blockage originated to warn people

against stuffing bulky items down toilets or drains.

In 2001, the city had the second worst record of sewer spills of

30 communities surveyed by the EPA.

Root invasion, grease accumulation and construction mistakes made

by private contractors contributed to the problems.

As a result of the city’s $18.9-million sewer strategic plan, the

city completed 45 high-priority sewer pipe repairs at a cost of

$250,000 in June. That same month the council approved two 10%

increases in sewer fees to fund future projects.

In August the EPA gave the city $873,000 for sewer system

improvement, which the city matched bringing the total to $1.6

million.

“City officials are aware of the problem and have already been

taking steps to solve it,” said Wayne Nastri, regional administrator

of the EPA’s Pacific Southwest office in a written statement. “Our

action simply commits the city to carryout their planned sewer

improvements.”

However, he commended the city for its efforts to improve the

system. In some areas of the 95-mile system there are pipes that date

back to the 1930s.

The city has reconstructed major portions of sewer lines, Frank

said, including a complete rebuilding of the neighborhood by the high

school.

City crews have also been lining many of the older sewer lines

with plastic, he said. This solution creates better flow and prevents

root invasion. The city has also doubled the size of its sewer

cleaning crew.

As for grease control, the city hired a trainer to work with

established restaurants to train staff on kitchen best practices

management.

On Tuesday the City Council will vote on whether to hire a

consultant who will evaluate sewer pump stations. City staff is also

receiving bids for a $1.5-million pipe lining project and is also

working on preparing a request for a $12-million loan from the State

Waters Resources Control Board that will allow them to rebuild the

system.

“It will enable us to get a lot of the work done and pay virtually

no interest,” Frank said.

-- Mary A. Castillo

Calling attention to breast cancer

In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Woody’s

at the Beach will hold a benefit. On Sunday the venue will host “One

in Seven -- A celebration of Breast Cancer Survivorship, Art Fashion

and Food.”

Alford Harrison, Woody’s marketing director, said that the

proceeds will benefit the Orange County affiliate of the Susan G.

Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Sunday’s event will include an afternoon champagne brunch, fashion

show and art auction from noon to 3 p.m.

Harrison said that Woody’s held a recent opening and reception for

well-known local artist Deborah Paswaters, and other local artists

have donated their work for the auction Sunday, including breast

cancer survivors who have used their art as a medium to heal.

For more information about the benefit, including ticket prices

and the art auction, call Woody’s at 376-8809 or www.woodysat

thebeach.com/oneinseven. Woody’s at the Beach is at 1305 S. Coast

Highway.

-- Suzie Harrison

Nyes Place residents object to the fast track

A group of Nyes Place residents would prefer life in the slow

lane.

A petition signed by 40 residents was presented Oct. 2 to the City

Council, asking for help to reduce speeding on the street, which is

to be repaved.

“We are concerned that repaving will only exacerbate speeding and

unsafe conditions,” resident Charles Michael Murray said.

The concerned residents had already presented their problem to the

Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee, but were not satisfied

with the committee’s action.

Speed bumps are not a good solution on steep streets -- vehicles

can get airborn -- and drivers already are ignoring stop signs so are

unlikely to pay attention to signs limiting speed, according to Nyes

Place residents.

“We are seeing excessive speeds,” Robert Proudlock said. “Trucks

and SUVs come down the extremely steep hill at speeds in excess of 30

mph -- and many experience difficulty in stopping at the sign, which

is about 30 yards below me.

“My count is that only two vehicles in 20 actually halt at the

stop sign at the foot of the hill, which coincidentally is just above

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Murray’s home -- the balcony of which was

destroyed by an out-of-control gardener’s cleanup truck two years

ago.

According to Proudlock, three out of 20 drivers make no attempt to

stop at the sign and the rest roll through. He also reported seeing a

city bus pass another vehicle by crossing the double line into

oncoming lanes.

“Parents have to watch their children like hawks,” he said. “In

summary, drivers must be forced by whatever means are available to

the city to reduce their speed to safe and acceptable limits.”

Traffic calming uses a variety of methods to slow traffic,

including keeping roads narrow, installing multiple stop signs and

constructing speed bumps on flat streets. Winding roads are usually

natural traffic calmers. Police presence also has a calming effect.

Murray said the city should immediately post 15 mph signs on Nyes

Place in the 200 to 800 blocks, add two speed bumps in the 255 to 370

block of Nyes Place, which is a flat area, and add crosswalks at all

stop signs.

The council could take no action on the residents’ request for

assistance because it was not on the agenda.

-- Barbara Diamond