City Council Meeting Wrap-Up

The following is from the July 7 Laguna Beach City Council meeting.

Marijuana hearing postponed

School Board member Ketta Brown asked to have the City Council reschedule its Tuesday hearing on a medical marijuana ordinance to a later date because of the interest among district personnel who are currently on vacation.

WHAT IT MEANS

The new date will be publicized and posted.

Residential treatment centers

The council authorized a letter in support of Senate Bill 268 to be signed by the mayor.

WHAT IT MEANS

If passed the bill would require an applicant for an alcohol or drug recovery and treatment facility for seven or more people to certify that the facility complies with local zoning ordinances and meets the fire code, as approved by the local fire marshal.

Parking spaces altered

The council approved the Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee recommendation to convert four metered parking spaces to accommodate two-seat cars, such as smart cars or golf carts, replacing the motorcycle space in front of 265 Ocean Ave.

A PTC recommendation to designate two former three-hour spaces to 30-minute spaces in front of 1445 Glenneyre St. was also approved.

WHAT IT MEANS

The committee recommended tracking the income from the metered spaces on Ocean Avenue, and if it indicates sufficient usage then more spaces for small vehicles should be considered.

Laguna Terrace conversion

An administrative decision to require a relocation impact report for a mobile home park conversion was revoked, as recommended by City Attorney Philip Kohn.

WHAT IT MEANS

The subdivision of the Laguna Terrace Mobilehome Park property to 161-lots and the conversion from a rental park to a resident-owned park can proceed without the report.

Smoking ban in parks

Councilwoman Toni Iseman proposed an ordinance to prohibit smoking in city parks, citing second-hand impacts, littering and fire hazards as reasons for the prohibition.

Iseman said the litter also gets into coastal waters.

“At beach cleanups, I always take a colander from my kitchen to sift the sand,” Iseman said. “It is amazing how many cigarette butts and filters you find.”

WHAT IT MEANS

Staff was directed on a 3-2 vote to prepare an ordinance prohibiting smoking in city parks. The mayor, a smoker, and the mayor pro tem, a non-smoker, voted no.

Seniors’ cable rates

Iseman recommended looking into the possibility of reducing cable TV rates for seniors after learning that Cox Cable has done it in other communities.

She asked the council to approve sending City Manager Ken Frank to Cox to explore why Laguna’s seniors should not be afforded the same consideration.

“This is an opportunity for Cox to make nice,” Iseman said.

The mayor suggested if a reduction could be tied to income, Cox might be more receptive.

WHAT IT MEANS

The council told Frank to go for it.

Security cameras at parking lots

Iseman sponsored a proposal to install cameras in parking lots around City Hall to help prevent theft or vandalism of city equipment and private vehicles, despite the city’s tight budget.

Cost to buy and install a camera system for day and night surveillance is estimated at $25,000 to $35,000. Maintenance is estimated at less than $1,000 a year.

The number of crimes in the area was not reported in the proposal.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city manager was directed by unanimous vote to explore options for installation of a camera system to improve security around City Hall.

— Compiled by Barbara Diamond