LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

The following is from the April 15 meeting of the Laguna Beach City Council.

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Campaign Contribution Limits 4-0

The City Council approved a hike in campaign contributions to $360 for the 2008 election cycle. Adjustments to the limit are made in each even-numbered year, reflecting changes to the consumer price index for the Los Angeles/Orange County metropolitan area, rounded to the nearest $10.

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WHAT IT MEANS

Donations to candidates for city elections in 2008 will be limited to $360 per contributor for each candidate.

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Space Invaders Identified 4-0

The City Council approved production of a brochure that identifies the most aggressive plants that are invading the open space, to be available at City Hall or on the city’s website www.lagunabeachcity.net.

Landscape architect Bob Borthwick assisted the city’s Environmental Committee in the development of the brochure presented at the meeting.

Iseman was appointed to work with the committee and staff liaison Michael Philips to develop a brochure that would have more impact on the public than the prototype.

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WHAT IT MEANS

Brochures will be available in the future giving property owners advice on how to stop the spread of aggressive nonnative plants that threaten wilderness habitats.

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Pikers 4-0

A second continuation of a scheduled hearing on the subdivision of the Pike property at 1770 Thurston Drive was approved.

The subdivision was originally set to be heard at the Feb. 5 council meeting, but was continued to the April 15 meeting, at which a request was made to continue the item to May 6. The hearing will be re-noticed.

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WHAT IT MEANS

A hearing will be held May 6 on the proposal for a new subdivision at the Thurston Drive property.

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Weed Be Gone 4-0

The council adopted a resolution that ordered the Fire Department to clean up weeds, rubbish and refuse that remain on specified private properties, the owners of which were notified of the nuisances and failed to take action or to appear at the council meeting to argue their case.

The properties will be assessed for the cost.

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WHAT IT MEANS

The city will remove weeds and trash from some private property and the owners will be billed for the service.

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Road Extension Request Continued 3-1

The hearing on a request for a road extension, lot line adjustment, coastal development permit and variance recommended by the Planning Commission for a project on Ceanothus Drive in South Laguna was continued to the June 3 council meeting. Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman opposed.

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WHAT IT MEANS

A final decision on the proposed road extension at Ceanothus Drive will be postponed until another hearing is scheduled.