The following is a recap of the...

The following is a recap of the June 7 meeting of the City Council.

JUNE 1 LANDSLIDE

Duane Cave, Southern California Gas Co. public affairs manager,

reported that service had been restored to 260 homes in Bluebird

Canyon by June 3. Gas lines were shut down on the day of the slide to

allow emergency personnel safe access to the areas.

Bluebird Canyon Homeowners Assn. members Todd McCallum and Steven

Huberty thanked the mayor, the City Council, the city manager, Public

Works, and police and fire personnel for their tireless efforts and

continuous and honest communications with the families displaced by

the landslide.

South County Bank executive Anne Morris reported that about

$40,000 had been contributed to the Laguna Relief Fund, 100% of which

will go to displaced families. The amount did not include all of the

funds raised June 4 at a breakfast in Bluebird Park and the Island

Party that night. More fundraisers are planned.

Verlaine Crawford, chamber of commerce executive director,

expressed admiration for the council and staff landslide efforts

Gene Gratz announced the formation of a landslide ad hoc committee

of attorneys. The committee will brainstorm about ways to assist the

displaced families and help with the recovery.

Laguna Canyon Conservancy spokesman John Keith said the board will

write letters to support the city’s declaration of a disaster. The

board also recommended a citizen’s oversight committee to monitor

spending for capital improvement projects.

SO. LAGUNA DEVELOPMENT

Referring to three residential projects approved on Ceanothus

Drive in South Laguna, Roger Von Butow said the city could avoid many

problems associated with development on hillsides if California

Environmental Quality Act provisions were followed, including a

prohibition of “piecemeal” development. He said that the proposed

development of houses in South Laguna should be looked at en masse,

to avoid future calamities like the June 1 landslide in Bluebird

Canyon.

South Laguna property owners Mr. and Mrs. John Kiehlemeier, whose

home is downhill from the proposed development, made a joint

presentation, expressing concern that the development of lots

previously considered unbuildable poses a threat. They also called

for a moratorium on all new hillside development and additions of

more than 50%, pending more rigid development standards, and

recommended obtaining surety bonds for hillside development in case

it triggers earth movement that causes costly damage.

Steven Johnson, one of three homeowners on Ceanothus whose home

plans have been approved, contended that new homes have the most

stringent geological requirements. He said his property is very

stable and safe, and hoped the council would overlook attempts by

project opponents to prevent the construction of his home as

approved.

DIP HOUSE

Sandra Sieg asked the city to reopen negotiations with the owner

of the property at 1530 Glenneyre St. where the so-called Dip House

was approved for construction. She also asked for a report on what

had transpired at the council’s closed session with City Attorney

Philip Kohn at the May 17 meeting when the house was approved.

Later, the council approved a document memorializing the

conditions of indemnification specified in the resolution that

granted an appeal and overturned the denial by the Design Review

Board. 3-1.