Menton a match, ad hoc committee says

Menton, France, may mirror Laguna’s topography, coastal location and interests in art, education and the environment, but that doesn’t make it the only candidate for a sister city.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider volunteered to seek community input on additional sister city candidates.

“The idea of being a sister city is a good idea “” or several sister cities for that matter,” Schneider said.

She encouraged anyone interested in helping to identify possible sister cities to contact her, which would not exclude Menton.

Newly seated Mayor Jane Egly asked council members Toni Iseman and Schneider to serve on the committee, but Iseman declined.

“There is such a thing as government time and by the time a decision was made, we’d all be dead,” Iseman said. “It was a gift to be chosen by Menton.”

Iseman recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Menton with an ad hoc committee composed of Visitors Bureau President Karen Philippsen, Community Band founder Carol Reynolds and Arts Commissioner Pat Kollenda.

They all extolled the virtues of Menton “” its cultural and educational facilities, as well as its beauty and the benefits of a relationship.

“It is absolutely one of the most beautiful cities in the world and I had never heard of it,” Kollenda said. “I was blown away. It has so much to offer.”

Ironically, one of Menton’s attractions is a museum devoted to Jean Cocteau memorabilia, donated by former Laguna Beach resident Severin Wunderman. Wunderman, who built the “Gucci House” in South Laguna, wanted to create a Cocteau museum in Laguna. But the city turned it down because the proposed location on Ocean Avenue, later occupied by Big Dog, is supposed to be reserved for resident-serving businesses or organizations.

Menton is known as a green city, Kollenda said, but resident Tom Osborne suggested Laguna should be on the lookout for partnerships in other parts of the world that deal with environmental issues.

The similarities between Laguna and Menton include the populations, which are nearly identical, and both have a summer influx of visitors.

But there are some significant differences.

“There is a mayor and city council of 30,” Kollenda said. “There is no public participation because they are all elected.

“Oh, and their budget is $100 million a year.”

Kollenda distributed to the council written materials on Menton that measured about a foot and half tall.

“This isn’t everything,” she said. “More was shipped.”

Kollenda also read a letter from Philippsen, who could not attend the council meeting.

Phillippsen said she was amazed at the similar interests in the two cities: visual arts, performing arts, education and student exchange.

Sisterhood would promote the exchange of Laguna College of Art & Design students, at no cost to the city, Kollenda said. LCAD officials are definitely interested, she said.

The local tourist industry also would benefit, Philippsen said.

The current exchange rate of Euros for dollars make Laguna a tempting destination, Philippsen said.

“To see the level of professionalism and competence and pure leadership was an inspiration,” Iseman said. “I hope we have the opportunity to have their leaders come here.”

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman, who helped vet possible sister cities for Riverside when her late father was mayor, said she would like to hear more from Menton. Iseman will make a formal pitch in January for sistership with the French city.

“Europe doesn’t call them sister cities, they call them twins,” Iseman said. “It think we found our twin.”