The following is from the Sept. 19 meeting of the Laguna Beach City Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Endangered Planet Gallery owner Charles Michael Murray presented a proclamation for the council to endorse that recognized Sept. 21 as International Peace Day. Mayor Steven Diction sympathized with Murray’s intent, but said the city needed to do its own wording. The proclamation was signed the next day.
Paul Bovi complained about the condition of the alley between Chiquita and Cajon streets and asked the city to cooperate with him on a solution.
COUNCIL/STAFF CHAT
Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider announced with regret the death of Joey Masella, 14. She said he inspired everyone who knew him or knew of him by the fortitude with which he faced a rare and painful disease.
CONSENT CALENDAR
[Editor’s note: Consent calendar items get approved in one motion unless a member of the council, staff or public “pull” the item, which then requires opening it to public comment and a separate vote.]
Approved without comment:
Denial of a claim filed by Peter Gerard Wahl for the loss of personal property following his arrest. The missing property was recovered and the claim was withdrawn. However, a formal denial was advised by the city claims adjuster to complete the process.
Resolution extending the Bluebird Canyon Emergency Declaration, which is valid for only 21 days and must be renewed.
A $119,630 contract to Kabbara Engineering for the design of the Laguna Canyon Area and Lower Bluebird Canyon Area street rehabilitation projects.
A resolution authorizing $80 a month reimbursement to council members for the cost of doing city business by Internet or cell phone.
Re-appropriate expenditures of $46,410,136 to provide continued funding for projects in progress at the end of the last fiscal year and $24,700,323 in revenues that are expected to be received during the current fiscal year, with formal notation of the specific items on which individual council members abstain.
A direction to staff to request that utility companies prepare design plans and cost estimates for the proposed undergrounding utility assessment district for portions of Summit Drive and to solicit proposals for legal and financial services and engineering for the proposed district.
Pulled for discussion:
A proposal to adopt relocation plans for homes on Third Street, which must be moved or demolished to make way for the proposed Community/Senior Center. Councilwoman Kinsman recused herself because she owns property within 500 feet of the Third Street project and the state bars elected officials from voting on projects within 500 feet of their property. Approved 4-0.
HUMPALUMPS 4-0
The council approved the installation of two speed humps — not speed bumps, which are higher — on Glenneyre Street between Upland Road and Alta Vista Way, as recommended by the Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee. The humps will be installed at that location on either side of a reversing “S” curve on Glenneyre Street. Councilwoman Toni Iseman recused herself because she owns property on Glenneyre.
APPEALS
A proposal to add 427 square feet to an existing single-story residence at 30812 Driftwood Drive was returned to the Design Review Board by a unanimous vote of the council, with instructions that the owner honor the conditions, covenants and restrictions of the neighborhood.
The property owner at 17 South Encino Road will be required to maintain the hedge on the property at 8 feet, not the 9 feet, 6-inch-height sought by the owner and denied by the Design Review Board. The council voted 4-0 to uphold the board’s decision. Councilwoman Kinsman recused herself because she owns property in Three Arch Bay, where the property is located.
The property owners at 360 Radcliffe Court were sent back to the Design Review Board to reduce the square footage from their proposed 1,252-squarefoot single-family home.
Other changes mandated by a unanimous council decision included lowering the heights of ceilings on both levels, adding articulation to the side of the house, creating two covered parking spaces and looking for another location for the spa and its pumps further from the neighbor’s property.
An appeal of a Planning Commission denial of a reclassification from general retail to shopping center at 381 Forest Ave. was tabled by a 4-0 vote of the council until Nov. 21. Kinsman recused herself because she owns property downtown within 500 feet of the proposed shopping center.
Staff was instructed to analyze the parking required for the original tenants compared to the proposed uses.
CLOSED SESSION
Actions taken in closed session must be publicly announced.
No announcements were made concerning ongoing labor negotiations with the Laguna Beach Firefighters Assn.; three lawsuits filed by Griswold, Lonberg and Paul against the city; and the possible acquisition of vacant lots on Baja.
