Our Laguna: Week-by-week actions through 2009

Editor’s note: This is the first part of a two-part recap of weekly events in Laguna Beach as reported in the Coastline Pilot. The second half of the year will be recapped next week.

Folks were still shaking their heads as 2009 began about the lawsuit filed in December 2008 claiming the city’s anti-camping laws were aimed at the homeless and disabled, said to be the first such suit filed in the country.

A lot of residents who volunteer their services to aid the homeless couldn’t help but wonder why the American Civil Liberties Union targeted Laguna of all cities. However, others felt the claims were justified. It took almost a year of soul searching, strategy and policy meetings, and public hearings that threatened to splinter the city, to come to a solution that benefited the homeless and addressed the concerns of residents, businesses and the arts community.

The opening of the ACT V haven for the homeless, which has restored the intended use of Laguna’s parks and beaches, which is not a camp site, capped a year of often vitriolic skirmishing.

A 4-1 vote at the June 16 council meeting to support the closure of all of Laguna’s coastline to fishing for five years pitted an irate then-Mayor Kelly Boyd, who stood for the fishers, against Councilwoman Toni Iseman, the environmentalists’ standard bearer, who had been staunch partners in the resolution of the homeless issues.

Here is a brief review of the stories that appeared in the Coastline Pilot in the first six months of 2009 that reflect what makes Laguna so special, but didn’t make the top 10.

Jan. 4: The second home in two weeks was destroyed by a house fire. Rosalind Russell, her housemate and two cats escaped unharmed. Friends offered assistance.

Jan. 9: Three new police officers and a dispatcher joined the Laguna Beach department: Officers Rock Wagner, Alicia Gutierrez and Henry Duchene, and Dispatcher Jennifer Gumina.

Jan. 16: With an eye on data that indicate Laguna Beach students have the highest use of intoxicants of any school district in Orange County, school officials began organizing a task force to deal combat the problem.

The City Council voted to support a lawsuit challenging the passage of Proposition 8, which bans same sex marriages in California.

Jan. 23: Realtor Bobbi Cox hosted the annual Leadership Luncheon at which representatives of organizations and businesses report their achievements in the previous year and goals for the new one.

Jan. 30: Laguna’s seniors bade farewell to the Legion Hall at a choice performance by famed cellist Lynn Harrell, courtesy of Laguna Beach Live!

Ebell Club announced the celebration of its 75th anniversary in Laguna on Feb. 21. Ebell was the first community organization to present a scholarship for a Laguna Beach High School graduate.

Feb. 13: Permanent lifeguard towers recommended by the Marine Safety Department and approved by the city for five beaches were rejected by the California Coastal Commission.

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center said a fond goodbye Valentine’s Day to Makia and Alto, two inseparable sea lions rescued as pups.

Feb. 20: The council reaffirmed support for the SUPER Project to clean up Aliso Creek, with Councilwoman Verna Rollinger the lone holdout.

Michaela Bryant, Kelsey Laroche and Dayan Handel were honored as the Boys & Girls Club’s Youths of the Year.

Feb. 27: The council imposed a 45-day moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries.

March 6: A homegrown bloodhound, known as Rita, was honored by the council after winning Best of Breed at the 2009 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Rita was bred and owned by Susan Hamil and Evelyn Jones.

March 13: The 43rd annual Patriots Day Parade honored Patriot of the Year Don Segner, Citizens of the Year Lisa and Ed Sauls and Junior Citizens of the Year Rachel Busic and Ryan Lawler. Columnist Frank Mickadeit served as grand marshal. Taylor Addis won the essay contest. Art work by Steven Bell was chosen for the parade program cover.

March 20: City Manager Ken Frank announced the promotion of Lifeguard Capt. Kevin Snow to Marine Safety Department chief, succeeding retiring Chief Mark Klosterman.

March 27: Laguna Beach was given an AAA credit rating at time when many other municipalities were operating in the red, according to City Treasurer Laura Parisi.

The Beautification Council honored 25 homes, six businesses, the Laguna Art Museum and city parks for their contributions to the city streetscape.

April 3: Thurston Middle School was named a California Distinguished School, joining El Morro and Top of the Works elementary schools and the high school in the elite group.

April 10: Police Chief Michael Sellers quit to take a job in Fullerton. Capt. Paul Workman was named interim chief.

The City Council approved a modified version of the Climate Protection Action Plan proposed in January by the Environmental Committee.

Tom Klingenmeier was awarded the Exchange Club’s Book of Golden Deeds.

April 17: Iseman took Cox Cable to task for rate hikes, only to find the city is an even more captive audience than Cox customers.

Cox has the franchise for Laguna and has the right to raise rates every year without consulting the city.

April 24: The Laguna Beach Concert Band celebrated its 10th anniversary, growing from six members to 60 — earning the right to toot their own horns.

May 1: The 1933 bronze “Boy and Dog” sculpture at Jahraus Park was restored and rededicated. Mark Porterfieild helped fund the restoration.

The council approved the sixth version of a proposed Lifeguard Headquarters on Main Beach, larger but less obtrusive due to the city manager’s suggestion to include a basement.

Laguna Beach High School graduate Lauren Conrad, then starring in “The Hills,” launched a clothing line at Kohl’s department store.

May 8: The council was advised that the draft budget for 2009-10 had a $2-million deficit.

City law requires the city manager to come up with a balanced budget by June 30 and he was working on it.

May 15: An anonymous $500,000 donation to the fledgling Community Foundation was announced by Chairwoman Laura Tarbox. The foundation’s goal is to help community groups raise funds.

Garden Fanatic Steve Kawaratani wrote a love letter to roses in his weekly column in the Coastline.

May 22: Gina Kantzabedian’s animal rescue program at Animal Cracker was seriously threatened by the economic downturn which has reduced revenue at the store. Donations accepted.

The City Council extended the Business Improvement District which funds art-related programs that draw tourists to Laguna through voluntary contributions from Laguna’s hostelries.

May 29: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park added a new trail, deservedly named in honor of Mary Fegraus, founding executive secretary of the Laguna Canyon Foundation.

June 5: Community Clinic Director Dr. Thomas Bent announced that services for new patients might have to be curtailed because of state cuts in funding.

June 19: A $67-million budget was approved by the council, which reflected cuts made to reduce a $2-million deficit, due to the dire economy.

Laguna Art Museum Director Bolton Colburn was stunned by the news that the Orange County Museum of Art had sold 18 California Impressionist paintings acquired from LAM when the ill-conceived merger of the two facilities fell apart.

Alternatives to the county-sponsored and federally approved SUPER Project to clean up Aliso Creek were proposed.

June 26: The council voted to restrict drinking in ocean-front parks due to an increase in alcohol-related “incidents,” according to Assistant City Manager John Pietig.

Renovated Brooks Street beach access opened with huzzahs all around.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; call (949) 380-4321 or e-mail [email protected]