City Council Meeting Wrap-Up

The following is from the Laguna Beach City Council meeting of Aug. 17.

Fireworks funds, Sierra Club

Michael Gosselin of the Laguna Board of Realtors presented the city with a check for $12,500 to go toward the July 4, 2011, fireworks show. The money was left over from the funds raised by the Realtors for this year’s show, which the council had eliminated from the annual budget.

Ganka Brown presented a summary of a report from the Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter. Laguna Beach was one of 28 cities surveyed for environmental sensitivity and earned the club’s congratulations, she said.

*

Irvine Bowl upgrades

The council unanimously approved $368,000 in costs for seismic upgrades at the Irvine Bowl as an eligible expense for revenues in the Festival’s Capital Improvement Fund.

*

Council meeting schedule revamped

Each year the council reviews its tentative meeting schedule for police conflicts. Historically, the council has met only once in August, although this year one September meeting was canceled.

Councilwoman Verna Rollinger asked to have more time off in July next year.

Besides regular meetings, the council also schedules its annual retreat, joint meetings with the School Board, the Planning Commission, Design Review Board and the Arts Commission and a budget workshop on May 17.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city manager found some glitches in the schedule and has put it back on the agenda for the Sept. 7 meeting.

*

Getting a charge out of Laguna, 5-0

Councilwoman Jane Egly proposed working to secure grant funds to install two or three charging stations in one city-owned parking lot downtown and if the grant was awarded to have staff make recommendations for installation and operation of the stations.

“It’s a good idea,” Egly said. “But like all good ideas, it is very complicated.”

Smaller steps were approved.

WHAT IT MEANS

The council voted to conduct more research on the subject of electric vehicles and to explore the possibility and the viability of installing electric vehicle charging stations within the city.

*

Diamond Crestview Specific Plan

Some Diamond Crestview property owners asked the city to formally include the Guidelines for Hillside Development to the DC Specific Plan.

The request was endorsed by the Planning Commission after public hearings and approved unanimously by the City Council.

WHAT IT MEANS

The inclusion means the guidelines can be referred to without reviewing a separate document. A second reading of the proposed ordinance is required before it becomes part of the plan.

—Compiled by Barbara Diamond