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LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

The following is from the Laguna Beach City Council meeting of Jan. 16:

COUNCIL/STAFF CHAT

  • Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman said she and Councilwoman Jane Egly and Assistant City Manager John Pietig are working with South Coast Medical Center on options to meet the state’s seismic requirements. Most likely, some financial assistance will be needed.

    • 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:

  • Minutes of the adjourned and regular meeting of Nov. 21, the adjourned regular meetings at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., Dec. 5 and the adjourned regular meeting of Dec. 12.

  • Denial of a claim by Ana Maria Patino for damages in the amount of $2 million and the claim of Patricia J. Rook in the amount of $1,710.

  • General warrants of $6,126,322.98 paid from Dec. 1, 2006 to Jan. 8, 2007 and payrolls in the amount of $7,755,347.42 from Dec. 7, 2006 to Jan. 5, 2007.

  • Resolution extending the Bluebird Canyon Emergency Declaration, which is valid for only 21 days and must be renewed.

  • Purchase of two Toyota Prius hybrid sedans and three Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks, for a total of $126,000.

  • Lot line adjustments and associated Coastal Development Permits for 2565 and 2575 Riviera Drive.

  • Purchases for the police department of a jail digital video recording system, at a cost not to exceed $30,000; a mobile video camera program system from LC Mobile Vision Inc., at a cost not to exceed $155,000; and a perimeter card system to enhance the department’s security jail facility funded by increasing grant revenue from the urban Area Security Initiative Homeland Security Grant Funding Program by $27,000 and appropriating an additional $27,500.

  • Bids for the purchase of a 2007 Toyota Highlander for $25,771 by Toyota of Rancho Santa Margarita and a 2008 Ford Escape for $17,049 from Capistrano Ford in San Juan Capistrano.

  • A deadline of 5 p.m., Feb. 6, to submit applications to the City Clerk for a seat on the Parking, Traffic and Circulation, Recreation or Housing and Human Services committees. Oral interviews and appointments will be made at the Feb. 13 council meeting.

  • A $33,500 contract awarded to KDM Meridian for the design of the Third Street retaining wall from Mermaid Street to the top of the hill.

  • Revocable encroachment permits: to construct front entry stairs and walls in the unimproved right-of-way at 2273 Crestview Drive, and entry stairs, planter walls and gates in the public-right-of-way at 1292 Cliff Drive.

    • TRAFFIC TICKET PROCESSING, 5-0

    The council authorized City Manager Ken Frank to contract with Turbo Data to process parking citations starting Feb. 7 and appropriated $36,000 from the Parking Fund to pay for the service for the rest of the fiscal year. Estimated parking citation revenue was increased by $34,000. The company will not be involved with the citing parking violations.

    CUSTOMER SERVICE

    UPGRADES, 5-0

    The City Council directed the city manager to develop a plan to improve customer service at City Hall. A percentage of the community will be surveyed on municipal services, at an estimated cost of $9,000 from the Community Services Department budget. Recommendations will be presented during budget discussions for the upcoming fiscal year.

    CIVIC ART DISTRICT CODE CHANGES, 4-1

    The council adopted a resolution to amend development standards for the Civic Arts District in the Downtown Specific Plan area, a resolution adopting the associated Local Coastal Program amendment and a request for certification of the amendment by the California Coastal Commission.

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    The revised building standards would include exceptions to the height restrictions on structures that benefit the public, including student housing specifically for a four-year art college in town, affordable artist housing and work space, significant arts-related uses, parking garages (such as the garage in the proposed Village Entrance) and/or public buildings that meet the intent of the Civic Art District.

    An increase was also proposed in the allowed number of three in-lieu parking certificates if approved by the council as part of a public/private partnership or other fees established under a parking management program for all parking demands resulting from an intensification of use.

    “If we sell the spaces, we better have the spaces,” Councilman Boyd said.

    Kinsman voted no, but asked to have the record reflect that her vote was an objection only to issue of actual in lieu spaces.

    “If someone pays for spaces, they should have an actual space, rather than a ‘phantom’ space,” Kinsman said.

    RV OFFSTREET PARKING, 5-0

    The City Council directed the city manager to explore options to keep recreational vehicles out of the public’s view in residential districts.

    UNIMPROVED ALISOS AVENUE ABANDONED, 4-1

    A resolution was adopted to conditionally abandon a 200-foot lineal portion of Alisos Avenue adjacent to 800 La Mirada to preclude the owner from granting access easements to the abandoned area and increase the total side yard setbacks to 25 feet, not necessarily evenly divided. Staff was directed to visit the property to ensure the terms of a revocable encroachment permit are observed. Mayor Iseman voted against the resolution.

    APPEALS

  • The council upheld a Planning Commission denial of a proposal by the owner of Landmark Plaza on Forest Avenue to reclassify the property from general retail to shopping center. The reclassification would have reduced the parking requirement for the property. In a 4-0 vote, Kinsman recused herself because she owns property within 500 feet of the project.

  • A Planning Commission denial to construct a 2,358-square-foot, single-family residence and attached garage in the Diamond Crestview Specific Plan area was upheld.

    • CLOSED SESSION

    Labor negotiations with the associations of the Laguna Beach Police and Municipal Employees; reviews of the City Attorney’s litigation status and tort claims; Broadway Partner; law suits titled Griswold vs. City, Miller vs. City and J. Kramer Corp vs. City; and possible acquisition of property. No action was reported.

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