CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

The following is from the Oct. 7 meeting of the Laguna Beach City Council.

Pearson on leave

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson announced that she is on leave from the South Coast Medical Center, where she is the marketing director as well as the executive director of the center’s fundraising foundation.

Mills Act approvals

The council approved Mills Act Preservation agreements for 2110 Catalina St. and 455 Linden St.

WHAT IT MEANS

The Mills Act relieves the property owner’s property tax, with the understanding that the money will be used to maintain the property. The city’s Heritage Committee reviews the maintenance.

Design review board appointments, 3-2

The council split on the date to hold interviews for three regular seats and one alternate seat on the Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board.

Councilwoman Toni Iseman and Mayor Jane Egly wanted the appointments made after the City Council elections on Nov. 4, in case of changes in the council composition.

Councilmembers Kelly Boyd, Cheryl Kinsman and Pearson preferred to make the appointments on the date originally proposed, which allows for a council-mandated, 90-day training period before seating the new appointees on February 1.

WHAT IT MEANS

The council will hold public interviews and appoint the candidates on Oct. 21.

Oct. 14 was the deadline to file applications.

Water feature donation, 4-0

Resident Lee Winocur Field offered to donate a water feature for the patio of the Community/Senior Center, but the location was determined to be unsatisfactory and not cost-effective.

Four potential locations were identified. Field and the architectural and construction team preferred the exterior wall on the north end of the property, which was also the least expensive site at an estimated $5,000.

The council approved the concept of a water feature at that location.

Kinsman recused herself because she owns property within 500 feet of the center and is prohibited by state law from participating in discussions or voting on the project

WHAT IT MEANS

The next step is to design the feature and prepare a plan so the costs of the sculpture and installation can be determined. Once Field approves the costs, the water feature will be submitted for an administrative design review and approved by the council. Neighbors will be notified.

Heritage trees removed, 5-0

A resident asked permission to remove two sickly blue gum eucalyptus trees at 1930 Catalina St., both identified as Heritage Trees.

The landowner provided a report from certified arborist Brian E. Bishop that evidence of decay had been observed and the tree roots were adversely affecting the foundations of the carport and the house.

WHAT IT MEANS

Removal of Heritage Trees must be approved by the council, which voted unanimously to grant the property owner’s request.

North Laguna development, 3-2

A proposal to develop retail and commercial condominiums on the corner of Cliff Drive and North Coast Highway, where the city once approved a car wash, squeaked past the council.

Iseman and Egly opposed the development, which has been on the drawing board since 2006.

WHAT IT MEANS

The applicant will be allowed to build the project, which includes three retail condominium suites and two residential condominiums, with underground parking, accessed on Cliff Drive. The applicant and staff were instructed to review the three public parking spaces in front of the proposed structure to determine if a passenger could exit a vehicle without interfering with the landscaping.

Staff was directed to return the proposal to the council if a change in the parking spaces is recommended.

— Barbara Diamond