A year in review of Our Laguna

OUR LAGUNA

The city made some major accomplishments this year, but the

council had to rethink some of its decisions.

“One of the nice things about local government is that we can do

something, try it, make a mistake and fix it,” Councilman Steven

Dicterow said.

Accomplishments:

* Improvements to the city’s rickety sewer system, including the

cleaning of 60 miles of sewer main.

* Renovations in the city’s parks.

* Free Festival Tram experiment was a big success. Ridership

doubled and parking at ACT V was up, which kept a lot of traffic out

of Downtown.

* The city combined resources with the Laguna Beach Unified

School District to create a new, full-sized soccer field at El Morro

Elementary School, construction underway.

* Added staff to enforce codes and a water quality analyst.

* Began weekly street cleaning in some residential areas.

Second thoughts:

* Council members changed their minds in February about a

requirement that all restaurants must install grease interceptors,

although it was getting credit from environmental groups for the

requirement. The interceptors were just too expensive and difficult

to install, the council decided.

* After about 30 years of proposals, the City Council picked

StudioOneEleven as the winner in the Civic Arts Design Competition,

which originally included city-owned property on Third Street, as

well as the parcel of land next to City Hall called the Village

Entrance.

In the last meeting of the year, the council took steps to move

the corporation yard from its present site, eliminating the

foundation of the winning plan, which was the yard.

* The skateboard park, on which the YMCA had spent a goodly sum

of money to design for the ACT V parking lot and thought was a done

deal, was moved to the Bark Park, despite the outcries from pet

owners and the dismay of YMCA officials.

* City staff worked long and hard with county officials and the

Army Corps of Engineers on a Laguna Canyon flood control project, to

be funded by the county and the corps. In March, the council agreed

to delay the project for one year to accommodate realignment of

underground utility lines.

On June 18, the majority of the council voted to scuttle the

entire project as proposed. Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman, the lone

hold-out, was distraught at the notion of turning down $10 million.

Kinsman reopened the discussion at the Dec. 17 meeting and was

appointed to a committee that would broach the possibility of getting

the county back to the table.

* The council voted in June to increase parking meter fees by 50

cents, and listed the projects that the increase would fund.

Harkening to the complaints of the business community, the council in

December reduced the fees back to $1 an hour. Now the council will

have to go back and cull the funding list for rejects, a job it

assigned to City Manager Ken Frank.

A look back, gleaned from the pages of the Coastline News and its

successor, the Laguna Coastline Pilot:

Jan. 11: Coastline staff members and friends of Elizabeth Quilter

mourned her passing on Jan. 4.

Planner Robert W. Balen told participants at a city workshop that

the California Environmental Quality Act requires an environmental

impact report on public projects before purchasing property for the

project. Property purchased for open space that will never be

developed is exempt, Balen said.

Jan. 14: SchoolPower announced that there would be no 10K run in

2002. The Laguna Beach Classic had been run, walked and trotted by

participants since 1983.

Seven teams that participated in the process to develop a

strategic plan for Laguna’s future made their final report to the

council, but learned, as Yogi Berra said, “It’s never over until it’s

over.” The Strategic Committee was told to come back with a

streamlined version before implementation could be considered.

Jan. 25: The Wastewater Advisory Committee decided it didn’t need

an outside consultant after all to assess the sewer system, the

original reason that then-Mayor Pro tem Wayne Baglin proposed the

committee in July 2001. “We have gone back to the council to say that

we don’t think this is necessarily a priority,” said Melissa O’Neal,

a committee member.

Treasure Island developer Kim Richards announced a proposal to

reduce the number of private home parcels from 17 to 14.

Feb. 15: The Council asked for legal advice to settle its dispute

with developer Athens Group about park construction costs, which

escalated from an estimated $2.5 million before construction started

to $9.8 million, $4.5 million above the costs approved by the city

manager.

Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Merv Griffin and Penny Marshall

visited the Laguna Art Museum to help raise funds for museum projects

and for AIDS Services Foundation.

Feb. 22: The Community Art Project grossed about $19,000 at the

second annual fund-raiser, held Feb. 15 at Wells Fargo Bank. Proceeds

were to be used to fund installations of public art on private

property.

March 1: The council approved free tram rides during the Festival

season. The goal was to increase tram use, thereby reducing Downtown

congestion, a boon to residents.

March 8: Artist Ron Rodecker, creator of the Dragon Tales TV

characters, was the grand marshal.

Neighbors of the proposed Driftwood development announced

formation of an association. “The goal of the Aliso-Hobo Canyons

Neighborhood Association is to prevent or to seriously modify the

development,” Jeanie Bernstein said.

March 15: The Art Institute of Southern California -- this was

before the name changed to the Laguna College of Art and Design --

held its 28th annual Color It Orange, one of the county’s largest

exhibits of art by children.

Five sea lions, restored to health at the Friends of the Sea Lions

Marine Mammal Center on Laguna Canyon Road, were released at Crescent

Bay Beach.

March 22: Bouquets were piled along the Laguna Canyon Road culvert

where Ryan Patrick McDonough, 29, a Laguna Beach High School

graduate, died March 15 in a car accident.

March 29: Laguna opponents to an airport at El Toro chalked up a

lopsided W in the March election. Almost 90% of Laguna’s voters

supported Measure W, which prohibited an airport on the former U.S.

Marine Corps Air Base

April 5: Vanessa Ettinger, known to many as the Spider Woman,

died. Ettinger was the poster child of Friendship Shelter, which took

great pride in her well-being after she was referred for treatment of

schizophrenia.

April 12: The bottom line topped the City Council agenda on April

10 as Councilman Freeman took exception to calling the difference

between what the city has to spend and what it wants to spend a

shortfall.

“It’s a case of too many good causes chasing too few dollars,”

Freeman said.

After 3 1/2 hours of debate, the council agreed to set spending

priorities.

April 26: North Laguna residents appealed to the city for relief

from noise they said ricochets off the Festival of Arts grounds and

echoes in the surrounding hillside neighborhoods. The festival board

scheduled a meeting to discuss the concerns.

A warrant was issued for Three Arch Bay resident Jon E. Jennet,

50. Jenett was charged with forging documents submitted to the court

during a trial for embezzlement.

May 3: The city began a monthlong celebration of its history with

a reception at Madison Square and Garden Cafe. Other events were:

guided tours of historic downtown, natural history hikes through

Laurel Canyon to Bommer Ridge, a backstage tour of the Pageant of the

Masters and a presentation by William Taylor on adventurer William

Halliburton sponsored by the Laguna Beach Historical Society.

Plans to expand St. Catherine of Sienna Church tore up the

neighborhood even before construction started. Neighbors opposed

expansion, which would have blocked their views and the pathway that

they previously used as a shortcut down the hill. It also did nothing

to relieve the parking congestion.

Razor blades were found buried in the sand Feb. 28 at Main Beach.

Police were advised of the blades by an anonymous telephone call.

May 10: The City Council cut a deal to cap the escalating costs of

the park at Treasure Island. $7.7 or $7.8 million (depending on

interest rates), a tad higher than the $175,000 cap City Manager

Frank had recommended in early negotiations. In return, the developer

was allowed to pull building permits for the condominiums on the

property. Then-Mayor Baglin called the deal “smoke and mirrors.”

May 17: The county approved a $667,001 loan to Related Companies

of California for the construction of affordable housing units at 450

Glenneyre St.

Laguna Beach County Water District took down the safety/security

fence that barred the public from the Richard Jahraus Reservoir at

Top of the World, the highest point in Laguna.

May 24: Then-Mayor Baglin and City Councilwoman Kinsman criticized

the $31-million draft budget proposed by City Manager Frank for

including quality of life projects at the expense of vital services

or projects. “Budgets are a matter of choices,” Councilman Dicterow

said. “We have focused on basics in the past. But great cities

enhance the quality of life and feed the soul.”

May 31: Laguna Beach veterans saluted their fallen comrades in

Memorial Day ceremonies held at Monument Point in Heisler Park. The

ceremonies were preceded by the traditional Exchange Club’s pancake

breakfast.

June 7: Planning Commissioners reviewed the proposed city projects

on Third Street and concluded they did not jibe with the city’s

general plan. The City Council has yet to consider the issue.

June 14: The Lifeguard Tower at Main Beach, a Laguna Beach icon,

was set to be rededicated in conjunction with the city’s 75th

anniversary, June 29.

City officials asked the public to help meet the new, much

stricter standards of National Discharge Elimination System Permit

regulations, designed to keep pollution out of the storm drains and

off the beaches. Sweep, don’t hose was the advice.

June 21: The City Council said thanks, but no thanks to $10

million of federal and county money to construct the flood control

channel project on Broadway. It was the second time the city had

pulled back from the brink of a project to control storm waters that

back up at Broadway and Beach Street, flooding the Downtown during

heavy rains.

June 28: A fire in Laguna Canyon alarmed the residents. The fire

began in almost the same spot as the 1993 fire storm that devastated

the town. Lessons learned then paid off. No homes lost this time.

Deputy City Manager Ken McLeod assumed the duties of fire chief

the next day. Before joining the City Hall staff, McLeod had held

high management positions with the Orange County Fire Authority.

Treasure Island got its third name change and fourth owner since

development as a resort was first proposed. A partnership of Montage

Hotels and Resorts, Athens Group and unnamed investors purchased the

30-acre oceanfront site for a reported $30 million and renamed it

Montage.

The City Council approved the 2002-03 budget, blending spending

proposals by Councilwoman Kinsman and Councilman Freeman, predicated

on increases in the parking meter fees to $1.50 per hour.

July 5: A newly installed stoplight at Beach Street and Broadway

signaled gridlock. It was out of sync with nearby lights and allowed

only a couple of vehicles through on each cycle. “I couldn’t believe

it added half an hour to my drive from the Sawdust to Downtown,” said

Lynne Powell, Sawdust event coordinator. Those probably were the most

polite words anyone uttered about the signal. The city worked with

Caltrans to fix the timing problem.

July 12: Paper towels were blamed for two sewage spills. About 100

gallons of sewage made it to the sand on July 6 at Picnic Beach, but

not much got to the surf. A second spill was reported from the same

line two days later. Workers filled a five-gallon bucket with paper

towels. It was the first beach closure in Laguna since Dec. 17, 2001.

Different Drummer bookstore closed its doors after 15 years.

Aug. 2: Laguna Beach businessman Sadiq Tawfiq helped revive

Crossroads, a nonprofit group which plans to bolster the art and

culture of Afghanistan, Tawfiq’s native country.

Aug. 9: The Laguna Board of Realtors presented checks to Laguna

Shanti, First Thursday Art Walk, Laguna Beach High School Scholarship

Foundation and a Youth Shelter program, proceeds from A Taste of

Charity, one of the board’s annual fund-raisers.

Aug. 16: South Coast Medical Center’s emergency department was

recognized as No. 1 in patient satisfaction by the California

Emergency Physician’s Medical Group.

Red Flag picked up another 25 recruits ready to help make Laguna

Beach more fire resistant. Trained Red Flag volunteers patrol

whenever the fire department declares conditions are ripe for fires.

The Planning Commission gave unanimous support to rules designed

to protect neighborhood character and reduce the effect of

“mansionization,” a catch-all phrase for structures that stick out

like a sore thumb. The commission recommendations were to be

forwarded to the council for approval.

Aug. 23: Residents learned that Mc Calla’s Pharmacy and

Generations on Forest Avenue probably would have to move to make way

for proposed expansion of Hobie’s. McCalla’s had operated at the same

location for almost 45 years.

Aug. 30: An Environmental Impact Report supported conversion of

the El Morro Village mobile home park to public camping grounds and

park. The state has owned the land since 1979. Sept. 6: Laguna Beach

High School students voted to change the school mascot from Artists

to Breakers. Some alumni called the decision wimpy and an ill-advised

break with tradition. The school’s first teams had been the Breakers.

A second vote confirmed the change. A compromise was eventually

reached to use the Breakers for athletic teams and leave the Artists

name for other functions.

Sept. 13: Sept. 20: Wildlife advocate Jane Goodall made a visit to Laguna

Beach to help raise funds for the Cougar Fund and the Jane Goodall

Institute. “I think it went really well,” Goodall told Coastline

Pilot reporter Suzie Harrison. “It was a wonderful atmosphere, and

people clearly enjoyed themselves. They stayed for hours.” Local

writer and filmmaker Cara Shea Blessley started the Cougar Fund.

Sept. 27: The City Council hammered “mansionization,” endorsing

Planning Commission recommendations to protect the integrity of

neighborhood character with architectural designs that fit, both in

size and appearance.

Oct. 4: Laguna Beach was off to the races. Bicycle racing fans

loved the first Laguna Beach Rotary Grand Prix, pronounced grahn pree

by racing aficionados, but the Downtown business people hated it.

Streets were closed most of the day and customers were almost

nonexistent.

The Council trimmed the Planning Commission recommendations to

forgo a hedge ordinance, voting 4-0 to put limits on the heights.

Local election campaign contribution limits were rescinded after

the Lincoln Club successfully challenged a similar law in another

Orange County community.

Oct. 11: A second federal grant to repair the city’s sewers was

awarded to Laguna Beach, again assisted by Congressman Cox. The

Environmental Protection Agency grant put another $700,000 in the

city coffers, followed by an EPA order to the city to create a

strategic plan to end spills and implement the grease control

ordinance.

Oct. 25: A lone burglar shot and wounded a store clerk and a

police officer Oct. 23 on South Coast Highway before he was killed by

a barrage of police gun fire.

The 10th annual “Lagunatics” tickled the audience and actors it

lampooned, proving again that Laguna folks take their causes

seriously, but not themselves. Bree Burgess Rosen founded

“Lagunatics” and its offshoot, No Square Theatre.

Nov. 1: Members of the City Council and staff were subpoenaed to

testify before the Orange County Grand Jury, presumably about

then-Mayor Baglin’s acceptance of a commission n the sale of property

to the city, although the subpoenas did not so state.

Nov. 8: Less than 400 votes separated top vote-getter Iseman in

the City Council race from the fourth-place finisher, O’Neal.

Incumbent Dicterow and community activist Pearson also got the nod.

Betsy Jenkins was the only newcomer elected to the school board.

She came in third behind incumbents Robert Whalen and K Turner. Susan

Mas retired from the board after 15 years.

The Orange County Grand Jury voted to indict then-Mayor Baglin on

charges of violating state code 1090, which prohibits elected

officials from profiting by doing business with the government they

represent.

Nov. 15: The Laguna Beach Club for Kids -- more often called TLC

-- celebrated its 30 anniversary. It began as the Girls Club when

there were separate clubs in town for boys and girls.

A spill closed a portion of Victoria Beach on Nov. 11. An

estimated 20-to-50 gallons of sewage hit the surf line, due to a

blocked lateral from a private residence. South Coast Water District

services the area.

Nov. 29: Business owners successfully protested permit fees for

signs that already were in place and in compliance with the recently

revised ordinance.

“Norwalk virus” hit 93 Thurston Middle School students on a field

trip to Catalina. The county Health Care Agency investigated.

Dec. 6: Santa Claus came to town for Hospitality Night, riding in

the city’s venerable Seagraves fire engine, driven by retiring Capt.

Eugene D’Isabella. Hospitality Night is sponsored by the city and the

Chamber of Commerce. It is the biggest, and many say, the best party

of the year.

In one of his final acts as mayor, Baglin signed the lease

agreement with the Festival of Arts on Dec. 3 before handing the

mayor’s gavel to Iseman. The lease was signed by all of the festival

board of directors and council members, including Councilman Freeman,

before he officially retired, to be replaced by Elizabeth Pearson.

Dec. 13: Councilman Baglin was arraigned on six counts of felony

conflict of interest. Deputy District Atty. Jeff Winter said Baglin

was warned not to the take the commission on the sale he brokered of

two pieces of property to the city. Baglin pleaded innocent.