Laguna Beach City Council candidates, others participate in online forum

Candidates running for office in Laguna Beach streamed from homes all over the city Monday night to answer the call of an online forum meant to introduce them to local residents.

The forum, sponsored by Village Laguna and the Laguna Beach Community Summit, was moderated by residents Ann Christoph and David Raber. For about two hours, the five City Council candidates fielded questions submitted in advance, while candidates for other offices also participated. The forum was held through Zoom.

Council incumbents Bob Whalen and Steve Dicterow were joined by hopefuls Ruben Flores, who owns Laguna Nursery, land-use attorney Larry Nokes, and George Weiss, a co-founder of Laguna Residents First.

Laura Parisi, who is running unopposed for city treasurer, and city clerk candidates Ann Marie McKay, a law office manager and former city employee, and Mariann Tracy, the executive assistant to the city manager of Laguna Beach, joined the meeting.

The latter two are looking to replace City Clerk Lisette Chel-Walker, who said she would be retiring this year.

Candidates had about three minutes to introduce themselves.

Questions focused on the preservation of the city’s character and concerns about development. One question asked council candidates their opinions on a ballot initiative put forward by Laguna Residents First, which, if approved, would allow for voters to decide on large-scale commercial developments.

Other questions dealt with city budget priorities and tourism, as the city typically sees a tourist population of a little over 6 million annually. Candidates were also asked for their positions on parking and on a previous discussion where council members “seriously [considered]” reworking a $11.3-million Village Entrance project for a public art installation or a parking structure.

Incumbent Steve Dicterow pushed back on the question, saying he was opposed to redoing the entrance to establish a parking structure and that he supported preservation and restoration of the historic sewer digester at the site, adding that he felt it was troubling that the question made incorrect assumptions about what the City Council had discussed.

Whalen agreed, clarifying that discussion on the art piece came through the Arts Commission and was put aside.

“It was never a recommendation from council to move forward with the mushroom [sculpture],” Whalen said, adding that the digester would still be restored.

When asked about how they would correct a perceived decline in civility at council meetings, the candidates said they would work to restore it.

“We have to be serious that civility is important,” Flores said.

Weiss agreed, adding he feels a resolution adopted last year guiding conduct at public meetings is not enforced.

Moderators said a video of the forum will be available on villagelaguna.org.

KX FM and the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce will be holding a candidates’ forum on Oct. 9, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Email questions@lagunabeachchamber.org to submit a question. Craig Cooley and Alyssa Hayek will be moderating.

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