POLITICAL NOTEBOOK

Forum date changed

Sponsors of a City Council Candidates Forum announced for Tuesday scrambled to find a new date because incumbents Jane Egly and Cheryl Kinsman have a conflicting meeting with South Coast Medical Center officials.

The rescheduled forum will be from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the City Council Chambers, hosted by local branches of the American Assn. of University Women and the League of Women Voters, The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club, Laguna Beach Seniors, the Laguna Beach Resource and Relief Center and the Interfaith Council.

Questions will be submitted to the candidates by each of the nonpartisan groups. Questions also will be taken from the audience, screened to prevent duplications, League member Jean Raun said.

The forum will be televised live on Channel 30 and rebroadcast from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 14.

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Threesome Forum

The South Laguna Civic Assn. will join with traditional forum hosts Top of the World and Temple Hills neighborhood associations to host a candidates forum from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in the City Council Chambers.

Questions will be taken from the groups and the audience.

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Who should choose?

Council members Toni Iseman and Kelly Boyd squared off at the Sept. 16 council meeting, sharply differing on the date to choose new Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board members.

Iseman wanted the date delayed until the post-election, Dec. 2 meeting, which would allow the newly seated council, which could change from the present alignment, to vote on the applications. Boyd said no way.

“We are elected to make these choices,” Boyd said. “Why should we wait when the time has been set?”

In 2006, the council voted to develop a training program, which required a 90-day interim between the appointments and assumptions of office.

In order to satisfy the requirement by Jan. 31, when the terms of three regular members and one alternate will expire, the council must make the appointments by the end of October.

Staff recommended making the appointments at the Oct. 21 meeting, with applications due by Oct. 14.

Iseman’s motion to delay failed on a 2-2 vote, as did Boyd’s motion to move ahead. Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson was absent.

The item was continued to the Oct. 7 meeting, when Pearson is expected to be available to cast the deciding vote.

“” Compiled by Barbara Diamond