Corona del Mar Today: Residents raises concerns about standing water at Buck Gully

The $2-million Buck Gully erosion control project is nearly complete and already has proven to work as intended, slowing down this spring’s storm waters that streamed toward Little Corona Beach.

But some neighbors along the gully say the system, which uses rock-filled cages to slow and divert water flow, might be creating an unintended problem — stagnant pools of water that could harbor mosquitoes.

“The water is starting to turn green, and I’m afraid it’ll be a mosquito farm,” said Sandie Haskell at the April meeting of the Corona del Mar Residents Assn. board.

Robert Stein, an assistant city engineer who oversaw the Buck Gully project, promised to visit the site.

Later, in an email, he said there were “no signs of mosquito larvae.”

“The contractor has made some adjustments and the water is flowing better,” his email said.

But Haskell and others who live along lower Buck Gully remain concerned.

City officials said they plan to monitor the project and standing water.

The Lower Buck Gully area was cleared of non-native vegetation as part of the project and has been revegetated with native plants.

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Shake Shack seeks beer, wine license

The Shake Shack soon may be serving beer and wine along with shakes and snacks, according to a liquor license application sign in the window of the old-time stand at 7703 E. Coast Hwy.

The Public Notice of Application to Sell Alcoholic Beverages was posted Tuesday. Applications typically take about 45 days to be processed. As of publication of this story, the Alcoholic Beverage Control’s online query system had new applications only as of May 7, and the Shake Shack’s application was not included or available.

The sign indicates the Shake Shack seeks to serve wine and beer.

The Shake Shack, which is owned by Ruby’s, reopened in June last year after an extensive remodel, reverting the 1940s-era stand to its original yellow and adding menu items.

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99% protest at Bank of America

About 20 members of the 99 Percent Coalition staged a protest this week in front of Corona del Mar’s Bank of America, waving signs and addressing passersby with a microphone.

The protest was part of a nationwide group of protests against Bank of America branches, organizers said.

“We are standing in solidarity with protesters at the Bank of America annual shareholder meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina,” an email about the event said. “We are protesting at BofA branches across the country to demand that CEO Bryian Moynihan hears that the 99% wants BofA to do more to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, get its money out of politics and invest its profits in USA, to help rebuild the economy that bailed them out.”

Some cars honked as they drove past the branch at 3300 E. Coast Hwy.

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Sharrows back on path

Sharrows — marked lanes that remind motorists that bicycles may share the road — are back in the plans for Corona del Mar after a 6-1 vote at the recent Bicycle Safety Committee meeting.

The possibility of adding sharrow markings along East Coast Highway had been a topic of discussion since December 2009, when the city’s Task Force on Cycling Safety first explored it.

However, the cycling committee, which was formed after the task force expired, voted 2-2 in June 2011. While sharrows didn’t die completely, and continued to be discussed from time to time, a few committee members were adamantly against them.

On Monday, however, one of the former opponents said he’d had a change of heart.

“I don’t have those reservations anymore,” Tony Petros told the group, describing a positive experience he had with sharrows in San Diego. “I’m a lot more comfortable now.”

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Navy flyover notification

An aide for U.S. Rep. John Campbell R-Irvine) has sent a letter to the Navy, forwarding a request from Newport Beach’s city manager to have advance notice for future military memorial flyover tributes.

“I would appreciate your thorough review of this matter,” wrote Chris Palmer, deputy district director for the congressman, in an April 23 letter.

So far, theU.S. Navyhas not replied, said Christopher J. Bognanno, Campbell’s communications director and legislative assistant.

The letter sent to Capt. John McClain, director of the House Liaison Office for the Department of the Navy, included a copy of a letter from Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff.

Kiff’s letter to Campbell on April 10 came after a military flyover tribute startled many residents in Corona del Mar, including Mayor Nancy Gardner. The flyover was part of a memorial service for John Francis (Jack) Callahan, a Costa Mesa man who was a war hero who died in February at age 94.

“There’s no questions this was a fitting tribute to a decorated, naval aviator…” Kiff’s letter said. “Our goal is to respectfully request advanced notice if and when a ceremonial flyover is planned.”

“This is a good request, it makes sense,” Bognanno said. “They’re pretty good about updating cities they are going to fly over. We want to make sure every city has a full and open line of communication. They are loud jets.”

The flyover occurred at 6 p.m. March 24 when four F-18s from the Miramar Naval Air Station flew from the south in formation until one peeled away in a missing-man tribute. The jets were followed by two World War II T-6s that circled several times.

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Twitter: @coronadelmartdy