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Crime & Safety

City Council Slamdance: Recapping the March 1 Meeting

Secret swimsuit snapshots; longer beach time for doggies; flood mitigation warriors; and hey, did we mention swimsuit snapshots?

Wildly Talented Committee Now Plans for Big Laguna Floods

Fifteen wildly talented and experienced residents, along with an out-of-towner, applied for seven positions on the new Laguna Canyon Flood Mitigation Task Force.

Before the applicant presentations began, Mayor Toni Iseman said that there is a tradition of not appointing committee members who live outside the city, but pointed out “There is one name on this list of someone who doesn’t live in Laguna, and he may be the most valuable name of all.”

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Iseman asked “that we take Carl (Nelson) off the list (of seekers) and put him on the committee at large.”

Nelson is a retired civil engineer and past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers with 50 years in Orange County flood control work. He worked specific planning projects in Laguna Canyon and is the primary author of flood control works, as well as holding office as Orange County Director of Public Works.

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The motion was approved to add Nelson, and the presentations commenced.

Flood damage will now be less likely to overrun Laguna, considering that the seven selected to serve with Nelson all have long Laguna ties and read like a Who’s Who of experienced flood mitigation volunteers:

  • Bob Borthwick, local landscape architect and environmental planner, served six years with Flood Control and Highways to develop the Aliso Creek Specific Plan.
  • Business owner and  member Susan Hamil has witnessed canyon floods and fires since 1981.
  • Eric Jessen, retired chief of Orange County Parks, personally negotiated and secured 6,400 acres of Laguna Greenbelt as well as serving as past Chairman of the South Laguna Water and Sewer Advisory Commission.
  • Karl Koski is a retired Air Force pilot and former city manager of Temple City.
  • William Lawson is a retired civil engineer with flood control background and over 30 years of flood control and drainage design.
  • Louis Longi, sculptor and developer, has five years canyon development experience working with Caltrans, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and private agencies regarding things like earthquake soil liquefaction and hydrology calculations.
  • Charles Quilter II graduated as a Marine from Quantico and has professional training in meteorology, weather phenomena, and writing.

An olive branch and invitation to participate was made to the eight not selected.

“There were so many people who applied that should be on that committee,” said Iseman, before mentioning that they were welcome to participate in committee activities and would be entered into the e-mail list announcing meetings.

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Top-Secret Laguna Bureau Breaking News: Visitors and Sports Illustrated Like US

A recap of 2010 by the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau related that the bureau got its own Facebook page, 15,000 people visited the office, and smart phones can now access the bureau site lagunabeachinfo.com in all its glory.

The bureau was also part of a top-secret Sports Illustrated contract in concert with the , as one of the seven SI International shots for the 2012 swimsuit edition, currently on sale.

Laguna Beach is the only 2012 location featured in the U.S.

“It was top secret for 10 months,” said Judy Bijlani, the bureau’s executive director. “Once the magazine came out Feb. 15, we were allowed to talk about it. It has only been the last week or two.”

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Short to Fill Big Police Shoes

Former Community Outreach Officer Jason Farris, a department Medal of Merit awardee, worked closely in that role with the homeless population from June 2008 through Dec. 2010. In his current duties, Farris will continue to help connect homeless people to helpful resources.

His six years of service on the force was applauded by Police Chief Workman and the city council.

The comments about him made during the meeting's extraordinary business portion formally marked the transition of Laguna Beach five-year veteran Mike Short to the community outreach position.

Councilmember Kelly Boyd told Officer Short, “You’ve got some big shoes to fill ..."

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Invasive Photos of Floras Non Gratis

City Environmental Committee Chair Chris Prelitz reported Tuesday that the city now has an invasive plants education flyer, a plastic bag ban, and a peak fuels recommendation tied to the Mideast situation. He warned Lagunans to start thinking about higher gas price effects on Laguna more than one or two years out. Mayor Iseman pointed out that photos of invasive plants can be found on the city website.

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Laguna Dogs get extra beach time This Summer

Public beaches in Laguna let dogs roam the surf without restriction, except for leashes, and except during tourist season.

And this summer, the 2,500 dogs licensed in Laguna Beach and the estimated 500 or so without licenses, plus visiting dogs, will no longer have to run their owners off public beaches by 8 a.m., thanks to a new city ordinance approved 4-1. Obedience class dogs and service dogs are exempt.

The lucky canines can romp an hour later from June 15 till Sept. 10, not having to exit city beaches until 9 a.m. They can return at 6 p.m.

Councilmember Verna Rollinger warned that owners should “... try and keep their dogs out of tidepools and from chasing birds.”

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