Councilwoman would like to clarify points Art...

Councilwoman would like to clarify points

Art Casebeer’s letter reported that I’ve said I would “take off my

gloves.” (“Despite Iseman, the people have spoken,” Coastline Pilot,

Jan. 7) That I said.

The glove comment was made in reaction to the ugly City Council

campaign. If we don’t change the nature of politics it will damage

our town. Talented residents observing this slander might rightly

conclude that it’s not worth it to run for office with this trend.

Elections should be determined by candidates’ records, words, values

and vision.

The Los Angeles Times has been looking into the development plans

of the Montage for their newly acquired property, Aliso Creek Inn and

the surrounding land. The Laguna Beach City Council has yet to be

included in any meetings; instead, negotiations have been with the

county of Orange.

Laguna had its first peek at plans for a golf course and other

development through the reporting of Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter,

Christine Hanley. Thanks to the Times we have a clue of what is going

on.

I have been accused of causing the paper to investigate this

issue. While this is a false accusation, I appreciate a journalist’s

responsibility to expose the truth. My involvement with the article

was a quote in response to questions concerning Laguna’s future. My

comments reflected my fear that we may lose the essence be concerned

of our town because of economic pressures.

My relationship with Mayor Elizabeth Pearson is one of mutual

respect. We don’t always vote the same, but I believe we both agree

that we each work hard to make the city strong. As mayor, Pearson

runs a good meeting, and as a colleague tries to find creative

solutions. She recognizes that good political solutions involve

compromise.

The press is pursuing a potential conflict with the Montage. This

investigation was triggered by Pearson’s appearance before the

Beverly Hills City Council on behalf of the Montage, not anything I

said to the press.

Letters to the editor have complained about my lack of support for

the Montage. I wasn’t a rubber stamp. Thoughtful votes were made,

some in support of the hotel. But it was clear to me that at times

the council forgot that we work for Laguna, not the hotel.

The Montage Resort is a valued addition to our community. I have

always supported a hotel project at Treasure Island. My votes against

the project were frequently based on city negotiations.

Did you know ...

* We waived all permit fees for the construction of the hotel, a

loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the city.

* We gave them a full-time city employee to facilitate

construction, and they, in turn, charged us rent for his office.

* We paid millions extra for our park because we paid to haul away

dirt. The city failed to include two words in our contract -- at

grade. We agreed to pay for our park, but didn’t realize we would pay

for their grading.

* We were paying 10% interest, which started upon ground breaking,

at the same time you were refinancing your homes for half the rate.

My recent experience as a California Coastal Commissioner has

shown me that other large developments come with negotiated community

amenities, not city subsidies. Check Marblehead in San Clemente,

Headlands in Dana Point or a recent project in Pacific Palisades.

You’ll find free parks, money for libraries and senior centers, and

meaningful water qualities improvements. Those towns received the

checks for development, they didn’t write the checks to the

developer.

I don’t blame the Montage. They did their job getting the best

deal possible. But did the city do its job? This is history. We are

facing a new project. We will begin with a clean slate.

Village Laguna, South Laguna Civic Assn. and other hotel

watchdogs, who are now being vilified, worked hard to protect public

views, to maximize the park, provide public parking and keep the

hotel profile low. I’m proud of those negotiations and the residents

who worked so hard to achieve them. I wish we had all done a better

job with hotel employee parking.

I write this because of the onslaught of inaccurate letters to the

paper. The divisive politics now being practiced hurts Laguna in the

long run.

Will I continue to fight for Laguna’s future? You bet. Would I

seek to undermine my fellow council members? No. As we come together,

the council will better serve the city.

TONI ISEMAN

Laguna Beach councilwoman.

Montage is only five-star for some

Here’s great news about life here in paradise: Nobody has to think

anymore. Just wake up, turn in the direction of the Montage, bow low

and then do as Mayor Elizabeth Pearson and Frank Richiazzi do: Thank

God for the Montage.

Certainly, with 30,000 children around the planet dying daily of

starvation, homeless people right here in that same paradise sleeping

in the rain and millions unable to afford good health care in the

country, certainly God put at the top of the list making sure that

Laguna Beach would have a five-star resort.

How tragic it is to think of the poor and underprivileged people

living in Fullerton or Costa Mesa or Yorba Linda and having to endure

those treacherous raids by the state on their city coffers without

the saving presence of the Montage. What will they do since they

don’t have a five-star resort to save them from insolvency? How will

other cities in the county ever, ever manage without a $500 minimum

per night hotel to keep them afloat? It is too tragic to behold but

then remember, we live in paradise and we need not think of such

things; we need only thank God for the Montage but we must also do

something else.

According to the mayor, we must all diligently beware of

“outsiders.” Outsiders are those bad people who come poking around

and saying that maybe all is not what it seems here in paradise.

Maybe there are things lurking behind the walls at City Hall that

smell just a little rancid. “Look not,” the voice from behind the

curtain yells out. And so Lagunans may rest and play and revel in

paradise. Just remember to everyday turn in the direction of the

Montage, bow very low and thank God for the Montage and we will

certainly be spared from the catastrophe that was looming.

Oh, was there a catastrophe looming? Doesn’t paradise have the

finest city bureaucracy that was well aware of what was happening at

the state level and planning for it? Doesn’t paradise have a city

manager and underlings who do things the way people expect them to be

done in a land where codes and rules and standards for ethical

behavior are set forth in order to provide the best for the most and

should, for that reason, be adhered to?

What kind of paradise is this? It is the paradise of people who

believe that because they say it is so, then it is so. It is paradise

for people who believe that it’s true because they say it’s true. It

is paradise for people who say, “Don’t think too much about this or

that and just trust that we will take care of it for you ...” That is

what this paradise is and shame to those who go along, shame to those

who think it is up to someone else to protect a principled way of

governing and let a few continue to fight for what is right here and

not join them in their cause.

There is, to use the Bard to fall back on, something rotten in the

city of Laguna Beach and it’s going to take more than one council

person taking her gloves off to clean out the source of the rancid

smell. I hope everyone who can, will find some way to join in the

fight to bring accountability, honor and truth in government to this

city.

That’s got to begin with thinking, and here’s the last thing I

hope people will think about in relation to the Montage -- all those

“good deeds” and acts of charity amount to a peanut butter sandwich

and a bag of chips for a homeless and hungry person who knows this is

a “clear conscience” tax of around $ .50 that is gladly paid by those

who are spending $500 a night for a place to sleep and is a tax

write-off and zero sum contribution by outfits like our “good

neighbor” in South Laguna. Should those people be happy with their

peanut butter sandwiches? Under the circumstances, would you be?

MARY DOLPHIN

Laguna Beach

Deal with Montage expansion honestly

What would I like to see happen in Laguna Beach in the coming

year?

Thanks for asking.

I would like to see our elected city and county officials deal

with any expansion plans by the Montage in an open, honest, inclusive

way, and to listen closely to those whose lives have already been

impacted by the hotel. The Montage hasn’t been a dream come true for

everyone, contrary to the picture painted of it by our new mayor.

Once open space is gone, it’s gone for good, and our

representatives have a duty to be vigilant stewards of these

sensitive areas. Many people have fought hard to preserve a greenbelt

around Laguna. Aliso and Wood canyons are an intrinsic part of it. If

we allow the open space that buffers Laguna and makes it special to

go to the highest bidder, we’ve sold our city’s soul for a few

fistfuls of silver.

So please note, City Council members and county officials: We’ll

be watching carefully.

BARBARA MCMURRAY

Laguna Beach

Parking around Montage an issue

On Thurs., Jan. 6, I rose at 7 a.m., and at 7:30 a.m. noticed a

line of dirt-hauling trucks, perhaps five or so, parked in front of

my residence in Blue Lagoon and extending to probably half of the

turning lane into the Montage.

This has happened rather frequently lately, since work has started

there on what appears to be site preparation. Of course, the trucks

parked on the north side of our exit gate almost fully block our view

of any oncoming traffic in the outside southbound lane, which is a

definite hazard.

The trucks were still there when I started my exercise walk in the

Treasure Island Park at about 8:30 a.m. on this brisk, sunny morning.

Not surprisingly, they were also there when I returned at 9:30 a.m.,

but I was surprised to see two police cars and two officers on the

sidewalk.

I spoke to the first one I met, saying, “You’re saving me writing

a letter to the chief and the papers.” (I changed my mind about

that.) Asked how long they had been there, I could only say they were

there at 7:30 a.m., and returned home. Incidentally, I saw no

evidence that meters had been fed, but did not examine all of them.

Trucks were still there at 11:30 a.m., but there have been no

recurrences, I suppose because of our rainy weather or perhaps

because the drivers received a message from the police? It was my

understanding that the Montage was supposed to provide adequate

on-site parking to suit their needs, and there does appear to be

space for this need on their roadways to the work site and in front

of their condos, rather than ours.

FRANK S. WHITE

Laguna Beach

Montage has enough influence

As well we knew Montage is using their money and influence to talk

to officials behind the public’s back to secure an 18-hole golf

course in the Aliso Creek watershed of Laguna Beach. The informative

and factual article in the L.A. Times exposes Elizabeth Pearson with

her welcome-wagon mentality for the elite and rich in our community.

This begs the question: What about the rest of us?

Pearson has been an avid advocate of Montage.

Even if we did trust Montage, why on earth would we want them to

control our community like this? They have already got more than

their share of Laguna Beach and I for one do not want them to have

anymore, especially by manicuring and grooming a natural ecosystem

like Aliso Creek all for the sake of an 18-hole golf course for

outsiders. And does anyone really believe that they would clean-up

the creek particularly in light of how they have not responded to

solve the parking problem that they have created.

Past behavior is a good indicator of future behavior. We can do

better. The diversity of Laguna Beach is what made us. We do not want

to become a company town.

We are being Montaged!

CHARLOTTE MASARIK

Laguna Beach

Workshop not what it was meant to be

This Saturday, the City Council is having a workshop on the Act V

Corporation Yard Project from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the City Council

Chambers.

To better understand the project, the city has posted what they

call a “White Paper” report on the city’s website, for everyone to

read before they attend. Whether you plan to attend, I would

recommend that you take a look at this report.

You may recall that in July the Coastal Commission heard an appeal

in regard to moving the Corporation Yard to the Act V site in the

canyon. More than 100 residents attended. It was a near equal balance

of those for and some against the project. The commission continued

the hearing, to an undetermined date, to be scheduled after the city

submitted certain data and studies to the staff.

In the meantime, we made an effort to talk with folks from all

over the spectrum. What was interesting is that we found that

basically everyone wanted similar results. The disagreements seem to

center around how to get there.

Consequently, the Laguna Canyon Conservancy requested that the

City Council hold an informal workshop before the project went back

to the Coastal Commission.

The council agreed to a workshop and said that each side would

have 15 minutes or so to give the same presentation as given at the

Coastal Commission. The conservancy rejected this idea as we felt

we’ve been there, done that. The reason being is that the conservancy

had appealed the project, naturally our presentation focused on the

negative aspect of the project and what was wrong. There would be no

redeeming benefits in going over it again. Our idea was to bring the

community together, come up with some alternatives, not repeat the

past.

A few months ago, the council decided to hire a facilitator for

$5,000 and appointed a sub-committee of Mayor Elizabeth

Pearson-Schneider and Councilwoman Toni Iseman to plan a workshop for

Saturday. This was very promising, until we saw the agenda. While it

is titled, “City Council 1-15-05 Workshop Agenda”, it appears that it

is probably the furthest thing from a workshop format one could

imagine.

If the itinerary is broken down, you can see there is absolutely

no opportunity for the public to ask questions, get answers, clarify

objectives or make suggestions as to possible alternatives. This so

bizarre, it’s hard to comment except to ask, What is the purpose of

this meeting?

This whole meeting is focused on compromise. I truly believe in

compromise but I don’t understand how you can have a compromise when

you have only one proposal, no alternatives, undefined goals and

objectives and fail to accept public input during the process. There

is simply nothing to compromise.

It needs to be made clear that my disappointment has no reflection

on either Pearson-Schneider or Iseman, as I appreciate their efforts

immensely. The agenda was made up by the facilitator, whom I do not

know.

The public is urged to attend, bring your “White Paper” report and

come early. There may be a small chance that the council would

consider some public input and questions during the discussion

period, rather than limiting them to the very end. Hey, it’s worth a

try.

CAROLYN WOOD

Laguna Beach

Be on alert for Dip House meeting

The proposed Dip House is returning to City Council for the third

time after being dropped by the Design Review Board in only one

meeting. The newest proposal will be heard in council chambers at

7:30 p.m. Tuesday or as soon as possible, thereafter.

We urge you all to attend and express your concerns.

This is the sixth design the architect/owner has submitted for

this lot. The new carport floor, which is underneath the house, is

about 10 feet below what the owner claims is FEMA’s “base flood

event” for this project.

As of today, during this rainy period, had there been a carport as

proposed with a vehicle, the car would have water up to its wheel

wells. Look for yourselves and see how this ditch collects water.

The currently proposed vehicular egress (from the lot) is no

better than previous designs; there is still no visibility for the

exiting vehicle until it is about five feet into oncoming traffic.

Although drivers coming from Bluebird Canyon Drive toward Calliope

Street can see Calliope’s intersection, the dip is invisible to them

until they are 3 1/2 seconds from the proposed driveway and by then

it’s too late to avoid a possible accident.

A recommendation made by the Design Review Board when denying this

project was that “the City Council should either buy the lot and turn

it into open space or trade it for property of equal value.”

Please attend this important meeting that impacts us all.

ANNETTE STEPHENS

Laguna beach

What does he know? Not enough

Donald Nyre’s letter (“Completed airport would change minds,”

Coastline Pilot, Dec. 24) was good for a laugh. Since he lives in

Newport Beach obviously he has never heard the roar of marine jets

when they flew over Laguna.

JIM KREDER

Laguna Beach

Student giving us something to smile at

What a wonderful report you published about El Morro Elementary

School students offering aid to tsunami victims (Briefly In Schools,

Coastline Pilot Jan. 7)

It portrayed a simple, natural and spontaneous giving from the

heart without the intervention of some mysterious moral authority.

How refreshing.

NIKO THERIS

Laguna Beach

* The Coastline Pilot is eager to run your letters. If you would

like to submit a letter, write to us at P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach,

CA 92652; fax us at (949) 494-8979; or send e-mail to coastlinepilot

@latimes.com. Please give your name and include your hometown and

phone number, for verification purposes only.