Low-flow sewer fees approved

Barbara Diamond

An estimated 240 Laguna Beach single-family detached households will

begin paying $6.50 less per month than others for their sewer service

in July.

The City Council voted 4-0, Mayor Pro Tem Steven Dicterow absent,

at the June 7 meeting to approve a reduction in the sewer rate for

ultra-low water users from $35 a month to $29. The remaining

single-family detached households, approximately 6,000, will see a

slight monthly increase, from $35 a month to $35.50.

Prior to the change approved by the council, the city charged a

flat rate of $33.83 a month, regardless of dwelling or lot size,

number of residents or water usage. The fees raised about $2.5

million a year.

Owners of smaller homes complained that they were subsidizing

larger properties and asked that rates be adjusted accordingly.

The city received nine protests against the proposed rate

structure out of the households given notice of the proposal. Only

five residents showed up for a workshop held in February.

As the name makes clear, ultra-low water users use less water. The

average customer uses 1,200 cubic units a month. Ultra-low water use

is calculated at one-fourth the monthly volume of the average use.

Individual property use of the sewage system cannot be identified

so easily, according to Assistant City Manager John Pietig. Water use

can be tracked because homes have meters, he said, but there is no

way to track how much of the water goes into the sewer system or

landscaping.

“How do you count how many times a toilet is flushed?” Mayor

Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider said.

The city provides wastewater collection and disposal services --

sewage collection and treatment, as well as water service -- north of

Nyes Place. South Coast Water District, which bills on a tiered

system, provides sewer and water service south of Nyes Place, the

city’s southern boundary before South Laguna was annexed.

Charges for city sewer services will continue to appear annually

on tax bills.

“If the rates are not on the tax rolls, it increases the cost,”

City Manager Ken Frank said.

The new rates will appear on the 2005-06 property tax bill.

Farrington new VP of Hospital Foundation

Martha A. Farrington, J.D., became the newly appointed Vice

President for Development at South Coast Medical Center and Executive

Director of the SCMC Foundation in early May.

Farrington, who had been serving as interim executive director of

the foundation for the past seven months, was appointed to her

permanent position with a joint announcement from SCMC President Gary

Irish and foundation board of trustees Chairman Timothy McMahon.

“Martha Farrington brings a valuable level of experience and

expertise to our hospital and foundation,” Irish said.

As the head of the foundation, Farrington’s responsibilities

include raising funds for SCMC programs, projects and medical

equipment; facilitating donor support groups, such as StarFinders and

Winners Circle, and coordinating major gift programs and fundraising

events.

Farrington has extensive experience in major gifts procurement and

planned giving programs in the fund development field, primarily for

hospitals, medical schools and colleges.

Of significance, Farrington was responsible for raising $500,000

for the Riverside, Ca. Community College Foundation where she served

as director.

As vice president for planned giving at Hoag Hospital Foundation

in Newport Beach, Ca., Farrington coordinated closing cash gifts for

a $50-million capital campaign to construct a new patient tower and

medical office building. She was successful in securing a single gift

of $2 million, the largest donation from an individual to the

campaign.

Farrington earned her bachelor’s degree at UCLA and her Juris

Doctor degree at Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia. For

more information, visit www.adventisthealth.org.

Mayor leads Great Park stakeholders’ conference

Mayor Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider will moderate a stakeholders’

conference on the Orange County Great Park, being planned for the

former site of the El Toro Marine Base in Irvine. Community members

are invited to offer suggestions for the design of the park. The

event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Chapman

University, Beckman Hall, One University Drive, Orange. Opinions

expressed at the meeting will be given to the board of directors of

the Orange County Great Park Corporation and the firms participating

in an international competition to become the master designer of the

Great Park. Information, www.ocgp.org.

Fundraiser for slide victims at Sandpiper

The Laguna Board of Realtors is planning a “boogie-thon”

fundraiser to help victims of the June 1 landslide. The event will

take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 26 at the Sandpiper Bar,

1183 S. Coast Highway. Raffle and live auction included. Minimum

donation $50. Tickets can be obtained from the board office, 939

Glenneyre St.. For more information, call (949) 497-2474.