AROUND TOWN - May 22, 2009

Ebell Club receives city proclamation

The Ebell Club, a charity that has served Laguna Beach for more than seven decades, was honored last month by Mayor Kelly Boyd.

On April 28, Boyd presented Ebell Club President Dayva Stewart with a special proclamation from the city recognizing the club’s anniversary and 75 years of service to the community. Other Ebell members present were Vice President Amy Altieri, Treasurer Terry Halpern, Philanthropy Chairwoman Cristina Calderone, Publicity and Benefit Chairwoman Valerie Dalena, Parliamentarian Murphy Gerber, director Mitchellene Channels, and members Jane Knight and Margaret Warder.

In 1933, as the country was in the midst of the Depression, the Ebell Club launched to support the needs of Laguna Beach through fundraising and philanthropic service. Among the organizations the club has backed over the years are the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, the Girl Scout Council of Orange County, the Laguna Beach Playhouse, the South Coast Medical Center Foundation and the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

Spots open on arts and planning commissions

The City Council is currently accepting applications for four two-year terms on the Arts Commission and two two-year terms on the Planning Commission. The terms for both commissions are from July 1 to June 30, 2011. Additionally, the Recreation Committee has one unexpired term through Feb. 28, and the Environmental Committee has one unexpired term through Oct. 31, 2010.

Laguna Beach residents interested in these positions are required to submit an application, which is available at the City Clerk’s office or at www.lagunabeachcity.net. Applications must be filed with the City Clerk by 5 p.m. Tuesday. All applicants will be interviewed by the City Council at its regular meeting June 2.

The Arts Commission is a seven-member commission appointed by the City Council. Four of the seven must be actively participating in the arts. The Planning Commission is a five-member body appointed by the City Council for the purpose of advising the council on land-use issues, while the Recreation Committee handles recreation and park needs and Environmental Committee advises the city on water quality, pollution and other issues.

Garbage collection rates increase 83 cents a month

Residents will have to pay about $10 a year more to get their trash picked up, starting in July.

The City Council voted Tuesday to tack on a half-percent increase to the already approved 5% annual residential rate increase.

“The 5% increase in the contract is not enough to fund the program,” Public Works Director Steve May said. “The highest rate increase will be 83 cents a month, which will still keep Laguna in the middle of Orange County [rates].”

Waste Management is contracted by the city to pick up residential and commercial solid waste. Fees are included on annual property tax bills.

The rates for residential trash collected were last increased in July 2007. The 9% increase provided a balance between revenue and expenditures, but projected costs required the additional half-percent approved Tuesday, May said.

Council supports state arts bill to restore funding

An Assembly Bill that restores funding for the California Arts Council to the pre-2002 level was endorsed by the City Council on Tuesday. AB 700 authorizes 20% of existing sales tax revenue from music, art and crafts stores to be reinvested in the state’s arts community.

“California now ranks 50th among states in arts funding,” said Councilwoman Toni Iseman, who sponsored the agenda item.

Laguna joins San Francisco and Los Angeles in supporting the bill.