After Long Labor, a New City Is Born : Government: It’s been less than a month since the voters created Laguna Nigual. Following weeks of frantic preparations, the new council will start passing laws as soon as they are inaugurated today.

It’s all over except the speeches.

With less than a month in which to work between the Nov. 7 election and today’s inauguration of the county’s 29th city, leaders of this upscale community have been frantically laboring to throw together a workable government.

And when the five City Council members-elect climb the dais to take the oath of office, they will be ending a madcap month of meetings, rehearsals and decision making.

“It’s really been exciting,” said Warren S. (Ben) Benson, general manager of the Laguna Niguel Community Services District, the local public agency that has been overseeing the transition of the county-controlled community into cityhood.

“This is the kind of thing that you only have a chance to experience once,” he added. “You can see it happening. The process is working.”

Orange County’s newest city has not exactly forged its own identity yet.

Consider this: Its most famous landmark is the Chet Holifield Federal Building. It may ring a few more bells by its nickname, the Ziggurat, so-called because of its resemblance to ancient Babylonian temple towers of that name. What’s more, it is a building that, for years, nobody wanted. In 1983, the federal General Services Agency viewed the Ziggurat as such a drag on its budget that it took out newspaper advertisements trying to sell it. Finally, in 1987, the federal government decided to keep the building after all.

Another well-known spot--the ritzy Ritz-Carlton hotel--is not in Laguna Niguel, but residents want it to be. The hotel is on the coastal strip of Monarch Beach, which was handed to Dana Point in 1987 by the local agency that oversees annexations and spheres of influence. Residents of Laguna Niguel now are suing to get Monarch Beach--and the Ritz-Carlton--back.

In fact, Laguna Niguel’s identity is so ambiguous that during discussions of a proposed city logo Wednesday night, city officials-elect were hard-pressed to nail down pictorially what their city is all about.

Some jokingly suggested beaches--despite the fact that, as of inauguration day, the city does not have a foot of oceanfront property--while others wanted more familiar trappings, such as family and church. In the end, they decided to wait for the results of a contest for the design of the logo, which will find its way onto lapel pins, street signs, letterheads and Orange County Sheriff’s Department patrol cars assigned to the city.

Thanks in part to the fact that voters approved the formation of the community services district two years ago, the 23-day transition to cityhood has proceeded with few problems, said Benson, who will act as interim city manager and who hopes to get the job permanently.

In working to ensure that there was a city government in place by inauguration day, Benson was guided by a long checklist that he began preparing the day after 89% of the voters opted for local representation.

The council will be sworn into office by Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) during a 10 a.m. inauguration ceremony in the YMCA gymnasium at Crown Valley Community Park on Crown Valley Parkway.

“This is going to be done very hometown,” said Susan Penney, chairwoman of the inauguration committee. Thomas F. Riley, chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, will deliver a short speech, and Marine Corps military police will make a presentation, she said.

After the selection of a mayor, the council will begin conducting city business, including adoption of a set of city laws and a series of resolutions ranging from a $400,000 reimbursement to the Laguna Niguel Community Services District to establishment of a street improvement fund.

Aside from the more mundane issues that needed to be addressed and ready for vote by today, city officials over the past month have been wrestling with more esoteric questions--such as the title of the council member who will act as as the mayor’s alternate. Should it be “mayor pro tempore” or “vice mayor”?

By Wednesday night, the more formal name has been chosen.

Councilwoman-elect Patricia Bates, who is considered a shoo-in for mayor, said that the more important tasks proved no problem.

Her biggest worry is whether the evening gala, which will include a champagne toast and a buffet for 700 guests, will go off smoothly. “I wish we had a couple of days for that,” she said.

Councilman-elect Paul Christiansen has likened the transition to cityhood as “giving birth after a long protracted labor. Now everyone wants to come see the healthy baby in the waiting room.”

During Wednesday’s evening session, Councilman-elect James Krembas put the past month’s workload in perspective. He said he had been spending so much time in meetings that he was forced to miss some work.

“I had to have a long talk with my boss today,” Krembas quipped to his peers. He leaned over and quickly added, “How much does this job pay?”

For the record, the council also will be voting on whether to pay its members $400 a month.