LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

The following is from the May 20 Laguna Beach City Council meeting.

Scoping DVD

City Clerk Martha Anderson announced the Aliso Creek Area Plan scoping session May 19 and the joint council and Planning Commission discussion of the Downtown Specific Plan are available on DVD.

WHAT IT MEANS

Anyone who missed the discussion or the scoping session in person or on TV can purchase a DVD at City Hall for $15.

Bond ratings reform 5-0

The City Council approved a resolution to support a nationwide campaign, led by California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, to reform the municipal bond rating system that imposes higher standards on the bonds compared to corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities and other debt instruments.

WHAT IT MEANS

The council supports asking the major rating agencies to treat municipal bonds on a par with corporate bonds that expose investors to the same level of risk. Rating agency studies show government or municipal issuers default less often than corporate issuers, according to city Treasurer Laura Parisi, who sponsored the resolution. A revision to the ratings would save billions of dollars in higher interest and bond insurance costs, Parisi said.

Block Grant participation 5-0

The council approved participation in the county’s Community Development Block Grant funding program for three more years, starting July 1, 2009.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city was required to renew its participation in the program to be eligible for the grants or other funding, although the county has not yet determined whether the agreement will be an amendment to the existing agreement or a new document.

Terms of the agreement include: acquisition of property for private reuse, especially for low- and moderate-income housing; rehabilitation of or financial assistance to housing; low-rent housing; disposition of land to private developers for appropriate redevelopment and condemnation of property for a low-income- housing community.

The $15,000 per-year-grants during the term of the existing agreement were earmarked for the Emergency Cold Weather Shelter.

Summer parking plan 5-0

The council approved a Summer 2008 Festival Parking Plan, outlining where public parking will be provided for the three major festivals and billing them in advance for the cost of maintenance and parking brochures.

WHAT IT MEANS

The Festival of Arts, Art-A-Fair and Sawdust Art Festivals will each pay $9,817.63 to the city on July 15 and the actual cost will be reconciled at the end of the season. Parking in the former city employee lot, Lumberyard, and city employee lot will be $10 per day; parking at the Act V parking lot will be $7 per day, with a $20 season pass. A free shuttle will service ACT V.

Up in arms and equipment 5-0

The council approved the purchase of 40 mm rubber bullet launchers from Adamson Police Products for $17,997 and 12 Rock River Arms AR-15 carbine rifles from Carbone’s Custom Firearms for $14,290.

WHAT IT MEANS

Purchase of the launchers will augment the police department’s less lethal equipment that is used to arrest violent people.

The 40 mm bullet is considered by law enforcement experts to be an effective alternative to traditional weapons, according to Police Chief Michael Sellers.

Three Arch Bay project denied 5-0

The council sustained a Design Review Board denial of a proposal for a new home at 109 South La Senda Drive.

WHAT IT MEANS

The property owner’s will not be allowed to build the proposed 2,468-square-foot single-family residence and attached 494-square-foot garage within the Three Arch Bay Specific Plan area.

Back to the drawing board 4-1

The council voted to return a proposed project at 31696 Seacliff Drive to the Design Review Board for revisions. Iseman asked to have the record show that her no-vote was made to protest that the council’s action did not go far enough.

She would have preferred a direction to the board to reduce the square footage by 800 square feet.

WHAT IT MEANS

The board was directed to open up the neighbor’s view, reduce the obstruction to her light and air, and the feeling of mass.

Landslide home continued 5-0

The council continued to June 3 a determination on an appeal of design review and coastal permits issued for a new 3,169-square-foot single-family residence and attached 647-square-foot garage at 1059 Flamingo Road in the Bluebird Canyon landslide area.

WHAT IT MEANS

The council indicated general acceptance of the project, but decided to continue the final decision to allow the parties to meet and confer about the corner of the deck to better meet the needs of the appellant.

— Barbara Diamond