City Council Meeting Wrap-Up

The following is from the Laguna Beach City Council meeting of Feb. 15.

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Murals approved for Hanauer project

The council unanimously approved the installation of five Marlo Bartels’ ceramic murals at 580 Broadway to satisfy the Art in Public Place requirement. The property is being redeveloped by Joe Hanauer, who also redeveloped the Old Pottery Place on South Coast Highway.

WHAT IT MEANS

Five hand-crafted, tile murals will be mounted on the walls below the existing first-floor windows. The estimated cost is $5,000.

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State of emergency extended

The council unanimously voted to extend the city’s declaration of a local emergency, due to the December rainstorms and flooding another 30 days. The council also voted to designate the city manager, director of public works/city engineer, police chief and the director of finance and information technology services as the city-authorized representatives after state or federal declaration of an emergency.

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Street light relocation in Canyon

The council unanimously awarded a $30,979 contract to Western States Construction Inc. of Anaheim for the relocation of street lights on Laguna Canyon Frontage Road.

Western States has recently done similar work in San Juan Capistrano, Lake Forest and Downey, and provided the city with favorable references.

The company was the low bidder by more than $4,000 at the least and by more than $22,000 at the most.

WHAT IT MEANS

Three streetlights will be relocated to the northerly side of Frontage Road. The lights will be upgraded to the “nostalgic” style; the project is also designed to improve pedestrian access to the main gate of the Sawdust Festival.

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Appeal granted

The council granted on a 4-1 vote the appeal of a property owner whose project had been denied by the Design Review Board. Egly voted against the approval.

WHAT IT MEANS

The property will be allowed to add 292-square feet to the living area of a home at 28961 Sommet du Monde — that would be “Top of the World” in French.

—Compiled by Barbara Diamond