JAN. 4 MEETING The City Council began...

JAN. 4 MEETING

The City Council began the New Year by honoring the Laguna Beach

High School boys’ cross country team.

Mayor Elizabeth Pearson Schneider presented the team with a

proclamation celebrating the team’s championship season in 2004.

“We were the [Pacific Coast] league champions for the second year

in a row and qualified for the state meet,” coach Dave Brobeck said.

“We shocked everyone, including us when we won it. It was an epic

moment.” The nine-member team included seniors Sean Fuszard, Ryan

Hedden and captains Shane Riehl and Shawn Pfendler; juniors Max

Mullender and Aman Bhatia; and sophomores Jeremy Eaton, Corey Hedden

and Andrew Raub. Steve Lalim is the assistant coach.

Although Brobeck teams have made the CIF finals race for the past

seven years, 2004 was the first time his team advanced to the state

meet.

The team competed against 25 other entries, running in a pouring

rain.

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

Claire Schlotterbeck announced she has been retained by groups

interested in the Montage Resort and Spa plans for Aliso Creek Inn.

“They will not be bullied into silence,” Schlotterbeck said.

“Grass roots are not wilting. In fact, they will be fertilized by

this land grab.”

Schlotterbeck did not identify her employers.

CITY FACILITIES STUDY

The council approved a task force report that prioritized needed

improvements in public facilities and specifically approved the

construction of a scaled down Lifeguard Headquarters and public

restrooms at North Main Beach and rehabbing Fire Station No. 4 in

South Laguna.

Councilwoman Kinsman voted against the proposal.

WHAT IT MEANS

A 3,501-square-foot lifeguard headquarters and restrooms will be

built on the same site now occupied by the dilapidated building that

has been the object of criticism by lifeguards and the public. It

will cost an estimated $1.6 million.

Fire Station 4 will be modified to accommodate the modern fire

engine to be purchased by the city next year, which the present

configuration could not. The rehab is estimated to cost $135,000,

compared to $3 million for a new station, complete with parking

facilities.

DRB APPOINTMENTS

Steve Kawaratani, Ilse Lenschow and David Michel were reappointed

to the city’s Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board. Caren M.

Liuzzi, a Laguna Beach resident for 18 months, was appointed as the

alternate.

WHAT IT MEANS

The board style and policies will continue, at least until a

report by the Design Review Task Force is presented to the council

for action, and maybe beyond.

FINANCE/PERSONNEL SYSTEM

The council authorized City Manager Ken Frank to execute a

purchase agreement with Springbrook Software and other hardware and

operating system vendors for a full-featured system, not to exceed

$400,000, including implementation and training.

WHAT IT MEANS

The system will provide the city with state-of-the-art office

management tools.

SUMMER PERIPHERAL PARKING

The council endorsed the idea of bookend peripheral parking lots

at the north and south ends of town to expand the summer shuttle

system.

WHAT IS MEANS

Additional peripheral parking on or near South and North Coast

Highway would reduce congestion on Laguna Canyon Road.

Councilwoman Iseman and Mayor Pearson Schneider volunteered to

serve on a search sub-committee.

The council will next meet Jan. 18, at 5 p.m. for a closed session

and 6 p.m. for public hearings.