Sister city plan on hold

Laguna’s new romance with a French city has gotten off to a rocky start.

Mayor Toni Iseman and an ad hoc committee left Nov. 23 on a 10-day fact-finding trip to France that might lead to a partnership with the city of Menton.

A proposal on the Nov. 20 agenda to enter into a sistership with Menton came as a shock to at least three members of the City Council and was amended to approval of a letter of intent to explore the possible relationship. Iseman had been pursuing the possibility since June.

“I was surprised to see this because no one on the council was aware of this except [Iseman],” said Councilman Kelly Boyd.

Iseman, who is paying her own way to France, will be accompanied on the trip by Arts Commissioner Pat Kollenda, Laguna Beach Concert Band founder Carol Reynolds and Visitors Bureau President Karyn Philippsen.

“I apologize that we didn’t do this in the right way, but we are really so excited,” Kollenda said.

The mayor said sistership would provide opportunities for the exchange of cultural and educational programs and information about energy, economic development, environmental conservation and governance, not to mention increasing tourism.

Didier Rousseliere, attaché to the French Consulate in Los Angeles, said Laguna would benefit from such a relationship with a city that is a perfect fit.

Rousselier told the council that Menton in a seaside community with a similar population and cultural interests to Laguna.

“I would have been a lot more enthusiastic if I have been brought in on it,” Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider said.

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman made the conciliatory suggestion of approving a letter of intent.

“I am familiar with sister cites because my dad was mayor of Riverside for 12 years and it had sister cities,” Kinsman said.

She traveled to many of the candidates and favors the concept.

“When I was elected to the council, I asked [City Manager Ken Frank] about Laguna having one, but he said it was too much trouble,” Kinsman said. “I think a sister city is great idea, but we need more specifics.

“It’s a very big deal to have a sister city and these [committee] people have worked very hard.”

She said a lack of communication accounted for the council’s response.

Iseman said the idea of a sister city germinated at a music festival attended by Kollenda, Philippsen and Reynolds in May at the French Consulate in Los Angeles, where they met Rousseliere.

“From the moment we arrived it was almost a courtship,” Philippsen said.

The trio stayed in contact with the attaché, who promoted the idea of the sister city.

“They said we should pursue this,” Iseman told the council “It would be a benefit to tourism. Then, during the fires, I had a letter from the Menton mayor expressing his concern.”

Schneider said the first time she ever heard of Menton was when she looked at the agenda.

Iseman didn’t contact the other council members because she said serial contacts would be a violation of the Brown Act. However, Boyd said the subject could have been broached during any of the council communication periods since June.

“I could apologize, but I don’t know that it would change anything,” Iseman said.

The committee is to report back to the council on its findings, at which time the council will consider a sister city relationship.