6 lagunabeachindy . com FEBRUARY 3 , 2023
Much of the City Council planning session last Saturday was focused on financial considerations . What , then , is the value of the ocean to Laguna ’ s economy , ecology and quality of life ?
One metric we found from real estate experts is the value of the Greenbelt . A nature reserve is determined to add as much as 19 % to a property ’ s value , and this benefit extends to the neighborhood and city .
Using Surfonomics : Surfrider CEO Dr . Chad Nelsen researched “ What ’ s the Value of a Wave ?” and pioneered economics to determine the value of surf spots to their coastal economies . What is the value of Laguna ’ s Bluebelt and Marine Protected Areas to Laguna Beach ’ s economy ? Is there a metric for the value added by being a coastal community ? Does the ocean double the value of a property ?
In addressing climate change , Laguna , as a coastal city , has a special role in recognizing the value of the local ocean to mitigate human-generated climate impacts . The ocean generates 50 % of oxygen while absorbing 25 % of atmospheric CO2 . The ocean can make or break a climate plan . If we ignore the ocean ’ s key role in absorbing atmospheric carbon , Laguna will miss our unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference .
What can be done ? Let ’ s stop pretending our secondary sewage discharges amounting to half a billion gallons annually just 1.5 miles offshore are benign and magically “ goes away .” Nothing goes away in nature .
Instead of dumping contaminates into the ocean , other communities are harvesting methane and even hydrogen fuel from wastewater . For example , as much as half of Laguna ’ s drinking water is generated from wastewater at the Orange County Sanitation and Water Districts in Fountain Valley , using methane from
Letters LETTERS CAN BE MAILED TO : EDITOR @ LBINDY . COM
biosolids to power fuel cells filtering wastewater for reuse since 2012 . The facility has filtered wastewater and produced over 400 trillion gallons of “ new water ,” supplying 60 % of Laguna ’ s potable water otherwise destined for ocean discharge .
In Australia , solar power harvests hydrogen from wastewater and is stored for hydrogen fuel cells .
Laguna should be leading and be the first to adopt steps to repurpose our wasted wastewater fouling ocean waters - the lungs of our community and the source of our wealth . But we seem to lack the education , wisdom and commitment to move ahead as we choose to conduct business as usual .
Why does Laguna remain the only South County city without hi-purity recycled water from wastewater for wildfire prevention & suppression ? Why do we refuse to implement emerging know-how and technology to protect invaluable coastal waters and cherished marine life habitats ? Who will lead and get the job done ? How can those of us who love the ocean help ? Mike Beanan , Laguna Beach
Reading all of the letters lately being sent to your editor from members or “ followers ” of Village Laguna has been funny . They appear frustrated , angry , etc ., over the fact that they did not place their candidates on City Council during this past election in November and are being vindictive , nasty , etc . I guess they didn ’ t get the message . They resort to saying false things about certain folks , especially with whom they are most angry , with is even worse . For example , our city manager is efficient , effective , and does not play favorites . The current city manager is what we need to stop the corruption that ran many parts of city hall before her taking on the position . I was even a victim of such an event
many years ago . An attorney in Laguna Beach tried to intercept and was told that that person could make such a decision and , once made , could not be amended . I did nothing and followed all the guidelines .
What about all of these special committees like Design Review ? For years , they were formed and filled with “ volunteers ,” and Toni Iseman had full control of them , mostly with Village Laguna folks . With interception by these committee members , Village Laguna followers could get their projects approved . Anyone on a committee who wasn ’ t a member did not have a voice , and many left their positions frustrated . I have seen this happen countless times , and it was apparent who the Village Laguna members were . Why did Toni have this privilege ? I finally brought it up , and some of the processes were changed . But not all . Now we have a hard time getting volunteers to serve .
LAST WEEK ’ S QUESTION
Were you happy to see city council ban the sale and public use of balloons in Laguna ?
- Yes - 81.2 % - 72 votes - No - 18 % - 16 votes Total Votes 88
THIS WEEK ’ S QUESTION
Is a speed bump needed on the 800 block of Bluebird Canyon Dr .?
To vote , visit the poll tab at lagunabeachindy . com . Submit poll questions to clara @ firebrandmediainc . com .
LETTERS PAGE 8
Staff
EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR Clara Beard clara @ firebrandmediainc . com
DESIGN
CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tracy Powell
JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ashley Littlefield
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A publication of
PUBLISHER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Steve Zepezauer
CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tracy Powell
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER / PUBLISHER Scott Sanchez
CITY HALL MEETINGS :
Tuesday , Feb . 7 Laguna Beach City Council Meeting at 5 p . m .
HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL
Bob Whalen Mayor bwhalen @ lagunabeachcity . net
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
Sue Kempf Mayor skempf @ lagunabeachcity . net
SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS , 5 PM LOUIS WEIL : lweil @ lagunabeachcity . net KRISTINE THALMAN : kthalman @ lagunabeachcity . net DON SHERIDAN : dsheridan @ lagunabeachcity . net JESSICA GANNON : jgannon @ lagunabeachcity . net DEBORAH NEEV : dneev @ lagunabeachcity . net
Mark Orgill Council member morgill @ lagunabeachcity . net
Alex Rounaghi Council member arounaghi @ lagunabeachcity . net
PLANNING COMMISSION 1ST AND 3RD WEDNESDAYS , 6 PM STEVEN KELLENBERG , steve @ kellenbergstudio . com KEN SADLER : 616-0517 , ken . sadler @ cox . net JORG DUBIN : 497-2618 , jdubinart @ cox . net STEVE GOLDMAN : 203-554-2290 , steveg415 @ ymail . com SUSAN McLINTOCK WHITIN : 838-6317 , whitinsusan @ gmail . com
George Weiss Council member gweiss @ lagunabeachcity . net
Ann Marie McKay City Clerk amckay @ lagunabeachcity . net
Laura Parisi City Treasurer lparisi @ lagunabeachcity . net
OTHER ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES :
REP . MICHELLE STEEL , 1113 Longworth House Office Building , Washington , DC 20515 . 202-225-2415
ASSEMBLYWOMAN COTTIE PETRIE-NORRIS , 19712 MacArthur Blvd . Ste . 150 , Irvine , CA 92612 . 949-251-0074
FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR LISA BARTLETT , 333 W . Santa Ana Blvd ., Santa Ana , CA 92701 714-834- 3550 , Lisa . Bartlett @ ocgov . com
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