Development, El Toro Key to Council Race

Development and the proposed airport at El Toro are among the major issues in this year’s Laguna Beach City Council race, in which two challengers are joining three incumbents on the ballot.

One of the most controversial development projects has been Treasure Island, a resort hotel, bluff-top park and enclave of homes planned for the site of a defunct mobile-home park on scenic beach property.

The council has approved a preliminary plan for the site. But incumbent Paul Freeman said he wants to decrease the number of homes in the project, use alternatives to underground parking to decrease building heights, and increase the size of the park before approving a final plan.

Freeman also wants to ease downtown congestion with shuttles for tourists headed to the beach.

Another incumbent candidate, Mayor Steve Dicterow, said he wants to take an even broader view of development. He proposes that residents and officials gather to work out a vision for the city.

“I think we have a unique opportunity to really think through where we want to be in 30 years,” Dicterow said. “How do we retain the character of the town?”

But challenger Dave Connell said he thinks the council doesn’t often enough consider what is best for the entire city. Instead, he said, it succumbs to pressure from various neighborhoods, organizations, businesses and others.

“Many groups in the city are constantly badgering the City Council for very special favors,” Connell said.

Like many Laguna residents, all five candidates see the proposed airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station as a serious threat to their tranquil city.

“The airport at El Toro needs to be fought aggressively. We need a regional plan to oppose the airport,” said challenger Toni Iseman.

She also cited water quality and the threat of runoff from inland development as concerns, as did incumbent Wayne Baglin.

“I’ve set as a goal that we will stop sewage spills and nuisance water flow onto beaches,” Baglin said. He said he wants to continue pushing the acceleration of the city’s 10-year plan to upgrade and repair storm drains and sewers.

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Laguna Beach City Council

Here are the candidates seeking three seats Tuesday on the Laguna Beach City Council:

Wayne Baglin

Age: 55

Occupation: Incumbent

Background: Bachelor’s degree in political science, Cal State Northridge; U.S. Coast Guard, 1965-69; served on Laguna Beach County Water District; member, Orange County Coast Assn. and state Quality Control Board; chairman, Aliso Water Management Agency

Issues: Improve water quality and stop all sewage spills by continuing improvements to city sewer system; continue support and oversight of county improvements to Laguna Canyon Road; reduce density and building heights in final Treasure Island development plan

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David Connell

Age: 70

Occupation: Retired aerospace consultant

Background: Associate degree in electronics, Long Beach City College; management courses at Rockwell International; member, city’s ad hoc Safety and View Preservation Committee; past president, Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn.

Issues: City should be more efficient and less intrusive, rolling back restrictions on businesses and property owners; council should be careful to consider the needs of all residents, not only interest groups; city should be more concerned about effects of overgrown vegetation on views and potential safety hazards from fire and falling limbs

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Steve Dicterow

Age: 43

Occupation: Incumbent

Background: Bachelor’s degrees in anthropology and psychology, State University of New York at Albany; law degree, USC; member, North Laguna Community Assn., the Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn. and Neighborhood Watch

Issues: Continue improvements made to city’s infrastructure and fire and police coverage; engage public in creating a comprehensive vision plan for city’s long-term future; continue working with Laguna Drug Free, a program of meetings with students and activities to give them alternatives to drugs

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Paul Freeman

Age: 44

Occupation: Incumbent

Background: Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, University of Virginia; school board member, Fairfax County, Va.; organized bond campaign and facilitated Laguna Canyon purchase by city; former planning commissioner; board member, Laguna Beach Community Clinic and CREATE, a nonprofit arts education group

Issues: Continue city’s efforts against proposed commercial effort at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station; maintain quality of life for residents by increasing conveniences for them and reducing congestion from tourists; decrease number of homes and increase park size in final plan for Treasure Island development

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Toni Iseman

Age: 53

Occupation: Teacher and counselor, Orange Coast College

Background: Bachelor’s degree in English, University of Nebraska; master’s in counseling, Cal State Fullerton; founding member, Laguna Canyon Conservancy; member, Laguna Greenbelt; past president, Orange Coast College academic senate

Issues: Fight proposed El Toro airport and create regional plan to do so; improve water quality and force inland developers to pay for toxic runoff that pollutes Laguna Beach; show concern for neighborhoods and interests of residents to preserve special nature of Laguna Beach

Source: Candidates; Researched by STEVE CARNEY / For The Times