6 lagunabeachindy . com OCTOBER 21 , 2022
Laguna Beach can be more than just another coastal Southern California community with inspiring views . We can be a community that prioritizes a commitment to improving the lives of our city employees . By providing meaningful work in a caring and compassionate environment , we can send them home feeling accomplished and fulfilled rather than fatigued and empty . As a community , we understand that individuals want to add value and be valued simultaneously . As a relatively small Orange County community , we have a unique opportunity to show and make our city employees feel positive , relevant , and , most of all , valued . In turn , our community as a whole will be better for it .
By implementing personal growth initiatives and striving for a people-centric culture , employees will be given the tools to be their best . When we actively work to bring out their best , they , in turn , will give their best to Laguna Beach , including colleagues , residents , visitors , friends , and family . This commitment to creating an improved employee experience will undoubtedly make a more inspiring , beautiful , and meaningful Laguna Beach . A community where everyone is safe , cared for , and thriving .
I urge you to keep this commitment in mind when choosing our new leaders and select Mark Orgill , Alex Rounaghi , and Jerome Pudwill for Laguna Beach City Council .
It ’ s time to return to Laguna Beach values : be kind , be thoughtful and do the right thing .
Brian Griep , Laguna Beach Police Employees ’ Association President
Letters LETTERS CAN BE MAILED TO : EDITOR @ LBINDY . COM
The City Council has acknowledged Measure Q addresses problems that need to be dealt with . In public meetings , they said so , then proposed and adopted Ordinance 1675--a watereddown version of the ballot initiative that attempts to address height , mass and scale — on Aug . 16 , 2022 . There goes the “ solution in search of a problem ” argument .
Opposition claims of “ uncertainty ” and “ unintended consequences ” are objections used by those who benefit from doing “ business as usual .” The ballot initiative makes it harder to get around our town ’ s General Plan and other well thought out guidelines . Measure Q can ’ t be as easily circumvented as three city council votes . That ’ s the crux of the issue and that ’ s why the pro-development faction is so upset . If Q passes , the ability to get modifications and variances as gifts will vanish .
Preventing residents from having a seat at the table in determining Laguna ’ s future is what this is all about . Just as it was when these same arguments were used to fight the height limit in 1971 . Trish Sweeney , Laguna Beach
I am neither pro , nor anti-development . Instead , I consider myself Pro-Laguna and oppose large-scale soulless projects . This little hamlet of ours spans the socio-economic , political and lifestyle spectrums . And yet we have always peacefully coexisted by virtue of our loving commitment to this one-of-a-kind town . To ensure Laguna continues to thrive while maintaining her unique vibe , we need to start pulling the rope in the same direction .
That is why I ’ m voting No on Measure Q .
Most locals were shellshocked at the thought of a few overzealous projects that have been proposed recently . “ Saving Laguna from Over- Development ” resonates within each of us . Thankfully , we already have the most restrictive building and zoning codes in the County and multiple ,
effective layers of scrutinous public review in place to ensure nothing remotely resembling those proposals is ever built .
Unfortunately , the “ Cumulative Effect ” language in Q ( 25.60.02 ( e )) could discourage the very small and funky businesses we love “ within one-half mile ” of “ developments submitted to be reviewed ” ( 25.60.02 ( f ) 2 ) for a period of 8 years . For example , the “ Museum Hotel ,” which had a Planning Commission review , is a block-long behemoth that could , by itself , ( per Q ’ s language ), trigger this “ cumulative effect ” and potentially force a vote on anything deemed “ intensification ” ( with rare exception ) throughout downtown and most of North Laguna . Fresh concept small storefronts and / or food offerings , the very kind we want to encourage , will get caught in the crossfire .
LAST WEEK ’ S QUESTION
Are you for banning the sale Mylar ballons ?
- Yes 83.5 % - No 16.8 % Total Votes 91
THIS WEEK ’ S QUESTION
Are you for or against City vehicles going hybrid or electric ?
- For - Against
To vote , visit the poll tab at lagunabeachindy . com . Submit poll questions to clara @ firebrandmediainc . com .
LETTERS , page 22
Staff
EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR Clara Beard clara @ firebrandmediainc . com
DESIGN
CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tracy Powell
JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ashley Littlefield
SALES
ADVERTISING SALES TEAM Julie Coleman Carol Josepher Chris Mattingley
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION MANAGER Tina Leydecker tina @ firebrandmediainc . com
SALES / MEDIA PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Taryn Metkovich
ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION : Tel : 949 715-4100 ; Fax : 949 715-4106
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Tiffany Thompson
MAILING ADDRESS :
900 Glenneyre St ., Suite B Laguna Beach , CA 92651 Tel : 949-715-4100 ; Fax : 949 715-4106 www . lbindy . com
Due to printing logistics , home delivery of the paper for next week will take place on Saturday , October 29 . Bulk copies will be available at our more than 100 locations on Friday as usual .
A publication of
PUBLISHER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Steve Zepezauer
CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tracy Powell
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER / PUBLISHER Scott Sanchez
CITY HALL MEETINGS :
Wednesday , Oct . 26 . Administrative Design Review Meeting at 3 p . m .
HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL
Sue Kempf Mayor 439-3001 skempf @ lagunabeachcity . net
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD 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
Bob Whalen Peter Blake Mayor pro tem
Council member
497-0796
584-1224 bwhalen @ lagunabeachcity . net pblake @ lagunabeachcity . net
Toni Iseman Council member 494-7648 tiseman2 @ aol . com
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 295-0832 gweiss @ lagunabeachcity . net
Ann Marie McKay City Clerk 497-0309 amckay @ lagunabeachcity . net
Laura Parisi City Treasurer 949-497-0327 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
OUR LETTER POLICY
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