CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

March 16, 2007 12 AM PT

Meeting of March 6, 2007; all council members present:

PUBLIC COMMENT

Arts Commissioner Terry Smith thanked city staff members Steve May and Liz Avila, and Michelle Clark of Waste Management of Orange County for the relocation of trash cans away from the sculpture on Ocean Avenue of “The Shopper.”

Leah Vasquez urged better enforcement of the city’s leaf-blower ban. She said the problem is that by the time police arrive at the site of the violation, the blower user is gone. Vasquez said other cities are notifying property owners by mail that their gardeners are using blowers. Fines could be imposed if the violations continue. City Manager Ken Frank said he would research the letters and see what might be done.

COUNCIL/STAFF CHAT

Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider and Mayor Toni Iseman are scheduled to meet this week with the staffs of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman John Campbell and Sen. Dianne Feinstein during the League of Cities meeting in Washington, D.C.

CONSENT CALENDAR

[Editor’s Note: Consent calendar items get approved in one motion unless a member of the council, staff or public “pull” the item, which then requires opening it to public comment and a separate vote.]

Approved without comment:

Denial of a claim by Joann Parris for damages in the amount of $1,384.38.

Resolution extending the Bluebird Canyon Emergency Declaration, which is valid for only 21 days and must be renewed.

Resolution creating a no-parking area on each side of Hilledge Drive extending 20 feet from the easterly right-of-way line of Blumont Street and on the easterly side of Blumont Street extending 20 feet in each direction from the northerly and southerly right-of-way lines of Hilledge Drive.

Revocable encroachment permit for the property owner of 860 Park Ave. to construct front entry stairs, landscape walls and side yard gate in the unimproved public right of way.

A $599,595 bid awarded to Malcolm Drilling Co. for shoring the community-senior center site and an $85,000 bid to Premier Engineering & Grading for the Phase II demolition and grading the site.

Resolution authorizing the city manager to take steps to acquire the Jaysu property in Laguna Canyon for $1.3 million, which will be reimbursed by the California Coastal Conservancy, and to lease the property to the county as park of the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

HOUSING/HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

The council appointed Faye Chapman and Judy Randall to the Housing and Human Services Committee through Nov. 1, 2009.

HOMELESS TASK FORCE 5-0

The City Council voted to appoint Mayor Iseman and Councilman Kelly Boyd as its representatives on the Homeless Task Force, which also was approved unanimously. The task force will be composed of the two council members, three representatives named by the Housing and Human Services Committee, and one representative each from such agencies as Friendship Shelter, the Resource Center and the Chamber of Commerce. The task force is to keep the council informed of its progress and make recommendations in the future, no date certain, at the request of Boyd.

SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS 5-0

The council voted unanimously to direct the city’s Environmental Committee to consider recommendations for ways to promote use of materials and designs on municipal and private projects that would reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve the environment.

Kinsman made the motion.

WALK THIS WAY 5-0

SOUTH LAGUNA SIDEWALKS STUDY 5-0

The council directed the city manager to include plans in the upcoming budget deliberations for an initial study of sidewalk improvements in South Laguna.

MOSS STREET APPEAL DENIED 4-1

The council denied an appeal of the Design Review Board approval and Coastal Development Permit for construction of a new 5,093-square-foot home and 550-square-foot garage at 151 Moss St. The appellant testified that concerns that prompted his appeal on behalf of neighbors had been resolved. Iseman voted against the denial.

CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

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