City Council Wrap-Up

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

Tax levies lowered for some

City Treasurer Laura Parisi announced a substantial reduction or elimination of assessment district levies for 711 Laguna Beach property owners.

The reductions or eliminations will be reflected on 2009-10 tax bills.

WHAT IT MEANS

Bonds for Assessment Districts 84-1R and 93-1 were paid off a year early, Parisi said. Levies were reduced by 50 % for district 95-1, due to construction credits and interest earnings.

Committee appointments made

Eleven applicants, two of them incumbents, filed for the four vacant seats on the Environmental Committee and four residents applied for the four seats on the Housing and Human Affairs Committee, two of them incumbents.

Terms will run through Oct. 31, 2011.

WHAT IT MEANS

The council reappointed Christopher Prelitz and Greg O’Loughlin to the Environmental Committee, along with newcomers Dr. Arthur Winer and John Steven.

Incumbents Faye Chapman and Lawrence Esten will be joined by A. Jane Fulton on the HHA Committee. The fourth seat was not filled. A new date will be announced for applications and the appointment.

Recreational Vehicle parking limits

The council voted 3 to 2 to approve a second reading a proposal to amend the Municipal Code to enable police to enforce five-hour limit on recreational vehicles parked on city streets.

Councilwomen Jane Egly and Verna Rollinger again voted against the proposed change.

WHAT IT MEANS

The amendment will go into effect 30 days after the date of approval.

Segways outlawed in some areas

An amendment to the Municipal Code that establishes rules for the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices, better known as Segways, was unanimously approved at the second reading.

The California Vehicle Code defines the operator of the Segway as a pedestrian, which allows unrestricted use on sidewalks and other public areas unless regulated by the city.

Segways can reach a speed of 13 mph, which the Police Department and Marine Safety Department consider unsafe on downtown sidewalks, in parks, on beaches and in the street or on the sidewalks along Coast Highway.

WHAT IT MEANS

The amendment will go into effect 30 days after the second reading is approved.

City to battle alien plant invasion

City officials want to root out alien plants on private property that have escaped and invaded the city’s open space.

A unanimous council approved at the second reading an ordinance that adds five plants to the list of noxious weeds that property owners must eradicate or the city will do it for them and bill them for the work.

The list includes Arundo donax, commonly called giant reed; Cortaderia selloana, better known as pampas grass; artichoke thistle, whose botanical name is Cynara cordunculus; Penniestum setaceum, commonly known as African fountain grass; and Cape Ivy “” all non-native plants to Laguna and identified by staff as highly invasive and injurious to native vegetation and possible fire or flood hazards.

WHAT IT MEANS

The ordinance goes into effect 30 days after the second reading is approved.

No ‘Poteries’

The council reiterated its opposition to medical marijuana dispensaries anywhere in Laguna, voting unanimously at the second reading of an ordinance defining the dispensaries and prohibiting them.

WHAT IT MEANS

The ordinance goes into effect in 30 days.

Fire Road trees to be explored

The council directed 5 to 0 City Manager Ken Frank to develop a plan to plant oak trees or other species along the road that connects Old Top of the World to Arch Beach Heights.

WHAT IT MEANS

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson said the road provides substantial protection from fires coming into Laguna from adjacent county parkland, but it could use some greenery to enhance the experience of walkers and hikers.

“” Compiled by Barbara Diamond