18 lagunabeachindy . com JULY 26 , 2024
GUEST OPINION : GREEN LIGHT
Laguna ’ s Green Legacy and Its Path Forward
BY TOM OSBORNE
Last week ’ s Indy ran a poignant memorial honoring a true environmental hero , Dr . Elizabeth Brown , whose name is synonymous with many of the good works of Laguna Greenbelt , Inc . I regret that I had too few interactions with her . Other local environmental luminaries with whom I had more interactions included Jim Dilley and Lida Lenny . The triumvirate ’ s examples of dreaming big and acting boldly are seldom far from my mind .
The thinking and leadership of these three Laguna advocates for nature have left a distinct imprint on the culture and official policies of our town . They inspired untold numbers of others , including myself , to work for cleaner air , more open space , coastal ecology , and , especially now , the overarching imperative for a livable climate .
Programmatically , this translates into our City Council transitioning our community away from fossil fuel energy . A first step would be council approving at the soonest date possible Laguna ’ s adoption of Community Choice Aggregation ( energy ) and joining the Orange County Power Authority . This move would align our city with best practices , as already evidenced by Irvine , Fullerton , and Buena Park . We would be buying competitively priced solar , wind , geothermal , and biomass-generated electricity like more than 25 million
other Californians whose cities have already made this move away from climate-warming fossil fuels . Switching to clean energy to run our homes and businesses is a cost-effective , practical step cities can take to mitigate the effects of a warming climate .
A second step would be for our City Council to take advantage of existing federal incentives via the pathbreaking Inflation Reduction Act to install solar panels on homes , government buildings , and business centers . Federal monies are available , including a $ 7,500 tax credit for purchasers of a new , qualified plug-in EV , or fuel cell electric vehicle ( FCV ). Hopefully , the long-anticipated Climate Action and Adaptation Plan being written for our city will provide vital information for residents on how to tap the IRA provisions to electrify our homes and modes of transportation .
Our coastal ecology would doubtlessly be served by restoring the Aliso Creek estuary , whose beauty has been famously captured on canvas by painter William Wendt and , likely , other artists . The Laguna Ocean Foundation has been doing the heavy scientific lifting to document how best to go about this restoration project that would address much of the riparian pollution that wends its way down Aliso Creek into the ocean . Once a healthy pond is restored at the site schoolchildren and others will have a living laboratory to learn about the functioning of natural systems to protect estuarine wildlife and habitat .
This dive into Laguna ’ s environmental legacy would be remiss if the efforts of local groups are not thanked for their recent and ongoing efforts to protect our trails and educate the community on issues that affect our health , our hills , and our shores . Thanks to the Laguna Bluebelt coalition leaders and their allies for educating the public on the risks of using the herbicide glyphosate ( Roundup ) to control the build-up of fuels that feed wildfires . Thanks to the Jim Dilley-inspired and Dr . Elizabeth
Brown-led Laguna Greenbelt for protecting the South Coast Wilderness and championing a wildlife corridor . Thanks to the Lida Lenny-founded Laguna Canyon Conservancy for organizing two recent forums publicizing the efforts of local groups involved in promoting open space ecology , water quality , and healthier coastal habitats . Thanks for initiatives taken by the Laguna chapter of Citizens ’ Climate Lobby to encourage the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and the electrification of our homes and city services . And thanks to the South Laguna Civic Association for managing our city ’ s only community garden , which provides the public with green space for the growing of vegetables and other plants that absorb carbon dioxide and help clean the air . Jim Dilley , Lida Lenny and Dr . Elizabeth Brown have bestowed on our town a priceless green legacy on which we are building a future for the Lagunans of tomorrow .
Tom Osborne , with his wife , Ginger , co-leads the Laguna chapter of Citizens ’ Climate Lobby .
Letters
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opportune time to review how various Treasury functions are performed and by whom . Let ’ s not lose focus on the position and its importance to the protection of city ( and resident ) resources . Mary Locatelli , Laguna Beach
If Nothing Changes , Nothing Changes
Listening and speaking at the City Council meeting Tuesday night , I found myself thinking about how little progress Laguna Beach has made since I first ran for office in 2016 on certain issues that residents care about .
One of the main topics my campaign focused on in 2016 was traffic . Eight years later , we are still planning our trips to local stores , beaches and medical appointments around gridlock .
We ’ re also still voicing our concerns about the sky-high cost of providing visitor services when so many visitors do not contribute financially to offset the cost of ensuring public safety while they ’ re here or cleaning up after them when they leave .
During my 2018 run , I argued that the city needed more public restrooms . That proposal was shot down because some were concerned unhoused people might use the restrooms . Without going into how dehumanizing that view is , the argument makes no sense : we ’ re a town where residents and visitors and even city staff spend hours at a time outside , yet we have to go way out of our way , or make a purchase , to have access to a restroom . Six years later , we ’ re hearing complaints from residents about people urinating and even defecating near their homes . These disgusting actions are not justified under any circumstances of course . But could they be avoided if we had more public restrooms ? I believe they could .
With some political will , these are all solvable problems .
Instead , our council has been focused on massive spending projects , including taking over Laguna Canyon Road and part of Coast Highway .
I applaud the progress the current council has made in some areas . But I believe the moment calls for accelerated efforts on other issues residents really care about . I am running for City Council in 2024 to bring bold thinking , solutions and action to the city council . Too many residents feel unheard . It ’ s time to take their concerns into account .
As I said in my first race , residents ’ needs should be moved from the trunk of the car to the front seat . I stand by that statement .
City Council candidate Judie Mancuso , Laguna Beach
City Audit and Inadequate Internal Controls
I sent the following letter to Mayor Sue Kempf :
I planned to ask these questions at the July 23 City Council meeting public input , but the line was too long . This is probably better as I can receive written answers .
I am typically proud of Laguna Beach , but I am quite upset to hear that the City terminated the services of an auditor after the auditor found deficiencies in the City ’ s internal controls .
Is it true that the City Finance Department did not complete a yearend audit on time for six years and that in 2023 , the completed audit was over a year late ?
Is it correct that the auditor found regarding “ Internal Control over Financial Reporting ” that the City had “ deficiencies in internal control ”?
Is it correct that in April 2024 , Assistant City Manager Gavin Curran terminated Eide Bailley , our auditor for two years , without consulting the City Audit Committee or the City Council ? I have an MBA from UCLA and these would be red flags to most that something is wrong and should be investigated . Are you investigating ?
Was Question 13 in the RFP for a new Auditor answered honestly , “ Did the Auditors identify any noncompliance , significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the FY 2022- 23 audit ”?
We need greater transparency . I agree that audit reports should be clean and available to the public and that the City Audit Committee should have members who are CPAs or have auditing experience .
The community deserves answers to these questions . Mayor Kempf , will you provide the answers ?
Gene Felder , Laguna Beach