CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

The following is from the Feb. 13 meeting of the Laguna Beach City Council:

COUNCIL/STAFF CHAT

All members of city commissions, boards and committees were invited to ride on the city’s trolley in the Patriots Day Parade. The council will be riding in cars provided by Councilman Kelly Boyd.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Approved without comment:

Pulled for discussion:

LIFEGUARD RECLASSIFICATION DENIED, 5-0

The council unanimously and without discussion upheld the city manager’s decision to keep the Laguna Beach Marine Safety Assn. in the Municipal Employees Assn. for purposes of collective bargaining.

Both associations had asked the council to move the Marine Safety officers to the association of part-time lifeguards.

“I denied it because we do not have any group in which hourly or nonbenefited employees are in with career people,” Frank said.

DRIED UP, 5-0

Booze has been taken off the table at Riddle Field.

The council voted unanimously Tuesday to amend the municipal code to ban alcohol consumption and containers at the park, as recommended by the city’s Recreation Department.

City-sponsored cultural events will be exempt from the ban, making Riddle Field the only park in town where alcohol consumption is not permitted with a meal.

The amendment ordinance will go into effect March 15.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

The council appointed incumbents Thasa Zuziak, Timothy Zevnik and James D. Howard and newcomers Linda Howard and Dr. Stanton Leemon to the city Recreation Committee, terms to end in March 2009.

Incumbents Darrylin Girvin and Victor Oppincar were reappointed to the Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee, through March 2009.

Donald Black was appointed to fill an unexpired term until November on the Housing and Human Services Committee. The council voted unanimously to make two more appointments at the March 6 meeting, to be renoticed with an emphasis on housing.

NO SALE 5-0

The council approved the second reading of additions and amendments to the municipal code that updated and made more defensible the city’s ban on the sale of services or products in city parks, while protecting the public’s constitutional rights.

GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT, 5-0

Proposals to ban unauthorized bins or containers for waste disposal, to define which demolition or construction projects need a permit, and a permit process for small haulers were approved.

Projects expected to generate less than one ton of waste are exempt.

I HEARD IT ON THE RADIO, 5-0

The TechComm Committee was directed to explore ways to improve vehicular radio reception in Laguna.

Mayor Toni Iseman is on a mission to enable residents to hear their favorite radio stations everywhere in town while in their vehicles — without having to install special equipment.

VILLAGE ENTRANCE STATUS, 5-0

The staff was instructed to prepare a status report for the March 6 council meeting on the Village Entrance project, including the addition of the preliminary plans for the Laguna Playhouse renovation.

APPEAL, 5-0

The council overturned a denial of a variance needed to keep a nonconforming, detached garage at 479 Oak St. in use as living area, which exceeds the maximum allowed lot coverage. Neighbors supported the resident’s appeal.

CLOSED SESSION

Prior to the public meeting, the council met in closed session to discuss existing litigations: Broadway Partners, Griswold and Miller, each versus the city; potential litigation and whether to initiate litigation. No actions reported.