LAGUNA BEACH

Members of a newly formed water quality committee held their first meeting last week to discuss issues such as urban runoff, other sources of water pollution and creating a position to enforce violations of environmental laws.

The Ocean Water Quality Advisory Committee, which recommends action on environmental issues to the City Council, was created by council members last month because of numerous beach closures in the city this year, according to committee members.

Five committee members were selected by the City Council.

Michael Beanan, chairman of the committee, said the group voted unanimously to work on a number of issues, including reviewing city ordinances on urban runoff to determine if there is compliance; mapping out the sources of water pollution from residential areas and city property; and hiring a city environmental officer who would enforce violations and monitor beaches and streams, looking for hazardous waste.