City Council Wrap-Up

The following is from the Laguna Beach City Council meeting of Dec. 1.

Cellular sites go natural

The council approved a public meeting to review the proposal by T-Mobile to install cellular communications equipment at Fire Station No. 3, on Alta Laguna Boulevard.

WHAT IT MEANS

An agreement with T-Mobile to install cellular communications equipment at the Bark Park. T-Mobile has been trying for a year to put the equipment on utility poles in the public right of way in front of the doggy playground but city staff has worked to come up with an alternative. However, council and community members deplored the use of a fake tree to disguise the maximum 36-foot-tall communications pole. A proposal to plant three sycamores is designed to make the installation look more natural.

Committee appointment

Donna Rae Valenti was appointed to the Housing and Human Services Committee for a term that ends Oct. 31, 2011.

Valenti, a resident in town for 10 years, has helped raise funds for the Laguna Relief and Resource Center.

‘Green’ building code adopted

The council approved, 5 to 0, the adoption of mandatory provisions of the California Building Code to go into effect in March, ahead of the state schedule.

Architect Marshall Innins said Pro Laguna, a coalition of design professionals, supports the ordinance but would like some lead time.

“We encourage city staff to begin figuring steps to implement it in January rather than springing it on us in March,” Innins said.

Staff reported meeting with interested people on Nov. 23 to begin the educational process needed to implement the new code provisions.

WHAT IT MEANS

Effective March 1: Requirements for storm water management; energy efficiency; joint and penetration sealing; water efficiency standards; construction waste recycling; operation and maintenance manual; duct opening covering during construction; paint with low or no amounts volatile organic compounds, stains and carpets; limits on formaldehyde for composite wood products; vapor retarder and capillary break at slab on grade foundations; moisture content limits on wood framing before enclosure; exhaust fans in bathrooms; and high-efficiency air filters for heating and air conditioning systems.

Water-efficient landscaping rules

A state Assembly bill required local agencies to adopt a water-efficient landscape ordinance by Jan. 1. The council approved unanimously the first reading of the local ordinance, which is supposed to be “at least as effective” as the state model.

WHAT IT MEANS

Provisions include thresholds for irrigated square footage in public and private projects, use of a maximum applied water allowance that would reduce water use by 35%, irrigation design and maintenance standards and a requirement for all new construction and relandscaping projects to submit an extensive documentation package prepared by qualified experts. The package must include a work sheet; soil management report; and design, irrigation and grading plans.

Appeal granted, 4 to 1

A property owner submitted a revised plan for a project at 990-992 Ocean Front, including the removal of a Cypress tree from the approved landscaping plan.

The tree was damaged during approved construction.

Iseman was the only council member who voted against the appeal. She objected to the hearing because it included elements not reviewed first by the Design Review Board.

WHAT IT MEANS

The property owner will be allowed to rearrange parking for the project, replace the tree and be granted a revocable encroachment permit to maintain landscaping along the Anita Street Beach Access.

“” Compiled by Barbara Diamond