LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

The following is from the Laguna Beach City Council meeting of Nov. 6.

? COUNCIL/STAFF CHAT

?City Treasurer Laura Parisi announced that author Ray Bradbury will be the guest speaker at a reception hosted by the Friends of the Laguna Beach Library, Dec. 14 at the library. Bradbury will autograph copies of his new book, “Now and Forever.”

?Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman announced South Coast Medical Center will provide free flu shots from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 1 at the hospital, S. 31872 Coast Hwy. No reservations are needed to come.

She also urged residents to show support for the hospital by buying a $200 ticket to Saturday’s fundraising gala, even if they don’t attend.

?Mayor Toni Iseman attended a mayors’ conference on climate in Seattle. Former President Bill Clinton, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and 102 mayors participated.

Iseman also asked the council for reimbursement for her $250 ticket to an AIDS Services Foundation function, which was approved unanimously.

? 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 for public comment and a separate vote.]

Approved without comment:

?Minutes of the Oct. 16 adjourned and regular meeting and the special meeting of Oct. 23.

?Denial of a claim for an undisclosed amount filed against the city by Christine, K.C. and Amanda Park and the estate of Joni and Kevin Park, who died in a police shooting in April at Montage Resort & Spa. The claim was referred to the city’s claim adjuster.

?General warrants totaling $2,916,829.09, issued Oct. 18; and $24,300, issued Oct. 23; payroll No. 8, in the amount of $635,830,46, issued Oct. 11, and payroll No. 9, in the amount of $669.920.66, issued Oct. 25.

?Treasurer’s September report

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

?Revocable encroachment permit for improvements in the unimproved right of way at 2055 Catalina St., including at-grade paving, low walls, fencing, irrigation and low-voltage lighting.

?A revocable encroachment permit to repair and reconstruct existing walls and stairs and to install an automatic driveway gate in the unimproved right of way at 830 Park Ave.

?Contracts for Community/Senior Center awarded to American Screen and Window Coverings, $51,500; Vomar Products Inc., $39,991 for signage; Bristolite Skylights, $31,69; Performance Contracting Inc., $20,897 for projection screens; Tim Jackson Contractor, $7,940 for plastic wall paneling; Strumbaugh & Associates, Inc., $4,135 for ballet bars.

?Recommendation by the HIV Advisory Committee to allocate direct services HIV/AIDS funds: $5,000 to Laguna Beach Community Clinic; $2,000 to Laguna Shanti and $1,000 to AIDS Care Team in our Neighborhood, known as ACTION.

?

Pulled for discussion:

?The Patriots Day Parade request to hold the 41st annual parade on Saturday, March 1, with “no parking” signs posted on Ocean Avenue, the parade route, and assembly areas; “bus parking only” signs on outbound Laguna Canyon road between Woodland Drive and Forest Avenue; closure of designated streets from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and use of public address systems. Approved 5-0

? COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT

Attorney and licensed real estate broker Lawrence D. Esten, a resident of Laguna for four years, was appointed to the Housing and Human Services Committee.

It took three votes for the council to choose one appointee from the four applicants for a seat on the Housing and Human Services Committee, all with excellent credentials.

Esten has served as a temporary judge, Orange County Superior Court, Westminster and Newport Beach; an officer and director of Westpark Maintenance District from 1993 to 2004 and organized his law firm’s participation in a Habitat for Humanity project in Cypress.

He also served as a member of the Measure M Citizen Oversight Committee.

? AMENDED BUILDING, FIRE CODES

The council voted 4-1 to adopt the 2007 California Building and Fire Codes with modifications.

Three other votes were taken on the bifurcated proposal:

?4-1, Egly opposed, to require sprinklers on the entire building that is to be remodeled, repaired or added to, if the valuation exceeds 50% of the existing valuation and to revisit the requirement in one year.

?4-1 to bifurcate the item by removing the Class A roofing material from the proposal

?4-1, Kinsman opposed, to allow Class A wooden shingles and shake roofing

The item was passed to a second reading.

? LIFEGUARD HEADQUARTERS PLAN REVIEW 5-0

The city manager was directed to prepare a report for the council at Tuesday’s meeting on the modifications proposed for the Marine Safety Headquarters and restrooms project at Main Beach.

“I would like to know what we have eliminated and why,” said Kinsman, who sponsored the request for a review. “We can’t compromise public safety for public views.”

? STREET NAME CHANGE 5-0

At the request of residents, Gainsborough Way will now be called Pacific Vista. Residents said the confluence of Gainsborough Way, Place and Drive created dangerous confusion for emergency response personnel.

? APPEALS DENIED 5-0

?The council unanimously upheld a denial of a variance and design for proposed upper level additions, elevated decks, terraces, landscaping and construction at 18 Lagunita Drive, an oceanfront parcel.

?A Design Review Board approval of a new 2,018-square-foot, single-family residence at 32182 S. Coast Hwy was unanimously upheld by the council, provided the construction plans conform to the dimensions outlined in orange on an exhibit shown at the meeting. Staff retained possession of the exhibit for purpose of comparison.