City to examine parking

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman will unveil on Tuesday her version of a

request for bids for a Downtown traffic and parking management plan

that will include data on peak traffic times.

“I have broadened the request for proposals/qualifications that

the Planning Commission approved in October,” Kinsmans said.

Copies of her version were not available at deadline.

“It includes a timeline,” Kinsman said. “And I will be thanking by

name all of the people who helped me.”

Kinsman had previously declined to name contributors or to propose

a timeline. If all goes without a hitch, the study could be done this

summer during peak traffic flows. However, Kinsman said, the traffic

study should not be rushed.

“We have already waited 30 years for it,” Kinsman said. “I want it

to be right.”

The council has already budgeted $110,000 for the study and $7,140

has been allocated for the collection of parking and traffic data

during the summer peak period.

“There are standard traffic models, but they don’t work here,”

said Carolyn Wood. “We need a traffic model that is unique to

Laguna.”

Kinsman took on the revision after the council declined in October

to approve the Planning Commission’s version, which has the support

of the city’s Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee.

“I urged the council to approve the request for

proposals/qualifications as recommended by the commission,” said

Wood, then chair of the Parking Traffic and Circulation Committee.

“The study will provide a valuable data base of necessary

information, when evaluating current and future development in the

Downtown area.”

The council’s agenda for Tuesday includes approval of a contract

for the Village Entrance Master Plan refinement, relocation of the

corporation yard and funding for the relocation, establishment of a

construction staging area at Big Bend and a proposal to relocate a

skateboard park from the Bark Park to Big Bend.

Kinsman said she would not support a delay in relocation of the

corporation yard to ACT V.

The ACT V parking lot is not included in the Downtown specific

plan area, but should be included in the traffic study, Kinsman said.

-- Barbara Diamond

Councilman Baglin scheduled to appear in

Councilman Wayne Baglin is scheduled to be arraigned and indicted

today on charges of felony conflict of interest.

Baglin declined to comment Wednesday.

The arraignment was set for 9 a.m. in Court C-41 in Santa Ana.

“He will be read the charges and will plead guilty or not-guilty,”

said Michelle Emard, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District

Attorney’s office.

“This is a felony case.” Emard said.

Baglin allegedly broke a state law that prohibits elected

officials from profiting from a contract with the agency they

represent -- in Baglin’s case the city.

He accepted a $36,000 commission from clients he represented in

the sale of two pieces of property on Third Street to the city.

Baglin owns his own real estate brokerage and has served as President

of the Laguna Board of Realtors.

Baglin denies any wrongdoing. He said he did not vote on the

purchase.

Voting on the purchase would have been reviewed by the Fair

Political Practices Commission, as was the case with then

Councilwoman Lida Lenney. Lenney’ s late husband, George Lenney,

owned stock in Waste Management at the time she voted for a new city

contract with the trash hauler and she was fined.

If Baglin is found guilty of violating state government code 1090,

of which he is accused, he could be fined $1,000 or jailed and

possibly barred for life from holding political office in California.

He was indicted Oct. 31 by the Orange County Grand Jury after a

closed hearing the day before, at which Baglin’s clients, Dorothy and

Edgar Hatfield; City Council members Cheryl Kinsman, Steven Dicterow

and Paul Freeman; City Manager Kenneth Frank and investigator Timothy

Craig testified.

Baglin was mayor at the time.

He pleaded not guilty on Dec. 6.

Mayor Toni Iseman, who succeeded Baglin, and City Attorney Philip

Kohn were subpoenaed by the grand jury, but not called to testify by

Deputy District Attorney Jeff Winter.

-- Barbara Diamond

Council gives Arts Commission kudos

The Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau gets 2-million hits a month on

its Web site from people who want information about the town and the

Arts Commission is getting some of the credit.

“You guys have done a phenomenal job,” said City Councilwoman

Elizabeth Pearson at a joint meeting of the council and the

commission, held Tuesday night. “You are our superstars. We are the

envy of other cities.”

The commission advises the council on art-related matters and the

selection of art in public places.

Public art includes artist-designed benches, which are

commissioned and installed in high visibility areas.

“We have our eyes on 75 locations,” said commission Chair Les

Thomas. “The most recent selection was in front of the Hotel Laguna.”

The commission selected a design by local artist John Alabaster.

The bench is composed of stainless steel and wood. It is called Five

Frogs.

“Some people hate it; some people love it,” Thomas said. “That’s

what art should be.”

More than $100,000 was allocated to the commission from the

Business Improvement District funds in fiscal year 2002-03. The money

was raised by a percentage of bed taxes the hotel owners imposed on

themselves to help fund projects that would attract visitors to

Laguna, particularly in the off-season.

The commission awarded $52,800 in grants to local nonprofit

cultural and arts groups: California Choreographers Dance Festival,

First Thursday Art Walk, Laguna Beach Alliance for Arts (a 22-member

coalition of arts organizations in town), the Community Concert Band,

Laguna Beach Live (which is promoting a week-long Chamber Music

Festival this spring), No Square Theatre (producer of musicals and

concerts), Laguna Outreach Community Arts (which sponsors Art

Escapes, weekly workshops taught between October and April by artists

at the Pottery Shack), the Sawdust Festival (which hold two

nono-Festival Season events) and the Laguna Institute.

Another $52,800 was spent by the commission on a cultural arts

information publications and public art programs.

A proposed sculpture competition for the entrance to Forest Avenue

at South Coast Highway has been budgeted at $21,375. The

artist-designed bench recently selected by the commission for

installation this summer will cost $16,375.

The commission is expected to get even more money for distribution

now that the Montage has opened. Next fiscal year’s allotment is

estimated to be more than $140,000 and even more in subsequent years.

When the council was asked for comment, Cheryl Kinsman said, “We

want a loan. In fact, we want a grant.”

-- Barbara Diamond

A day to help a little and enjoy a hike

The Hike and Help at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is set for 8

a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

There will be planting and exotic removal from 8 a.m. to noon on

Saturday. Helpers can meet at 8 a.m. at the park trailer and park at

the Willow Canyon Staging Area, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road, just south

of the El Toro Road intersection. Participants are asked to bring a

shovel, leather gloves and a hat -- and not to forget the sunscreen

and sturdy shoes.

The Hike and Help is sponsored by the Laguna Canyon Foundation,

Laguna Greenbelt, Inc., The Nature Conservancy and the County of

Orange Harbors Beaches and Parks.

Docent-led hikes include a 3.5-mile hike from Ridge Park off

Newport Coast Drive, moderate, about two hours along scenic ridge of

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park beginning at 8 a.m.; a 5-mile hike from

Dartmoor Street in north Laguna Beach, moderately strenuous, about

three to four hours beginning at 8 a.m. Park at Willow Canyon Staging

Area and ride shuttle bus to hike entry points. New hikes conclude at

Willow Canyon Staging Area. Reservations Please.

A 3.5-mile loop hike through Laurel Canyon and Willow Canyon,

moderately strenuous, about three hours beginning at 8 a.m. Park at

Willow Canyon Staging Area, meet at park trailer.

Donations to Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. accepted for all guided hikes,

$2 per hiker.

Hike On Your Own Opportunities are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dilley Preserve: Hike on your own in the section of Laguna Coast

Wilderness Park with access to Barbara’s Lake, the largest of the

Laguna Lakes. There are 2.7- to .3-mile trails. Check with the

volunteer at the Nature Cart for more information. Park at the Dilley

Staging Area.

Laurel Canyon: Hike on your own the 3.5-mile Laurel Canyon Loop

and the 6.5 mile-Emerald Canyon Loop. Check with the volunteer for

more information. Park at the Willow Canyon Staging Area.

Rain would cancel activities. Parking $2. Free bus shuttle service

to the guided hikes from Dartmoor Street and Ridge Park. Stewardship

activities and Guided Hikes Registration: (949) 923-2235

For Information: (949) 855-7275 (PARK) or www.lagunacanyon.org.

Rotary Club to host state cycling

The Laguna Beach Rotary Club has been invited to host the

California State Cycling Championships at its 2003 Grand Prix in

September.

The race is now scheduled to take place Sept. 27 or 28 depending

on the outcome of negotiations with the city and merchants.

The club is working with merchants to resolve issues raised after

last year’s event. Some of the concerns raised were timing,

notification, promotion, street closures, parking and course marshal

training.

Surfrider Foundation meeting scheduled

The Laguna Beach Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will hold a

meeting at 7 p.m. on March 26 at Wells Fargo Bank, 260 Ocean Ave.

One of two speakers, Mike Dunbar, general manager of South Coast

Water District, will speak on plans to build a seawater desalination

plant in Dana Point. He will also discuss diversions from the storm

drain system into the sewer system.

The other speaker will be Mike Lewis, from Surfrider’s San

Clemente Chapter. Surfrider is seeking support for a campaign against

a development project proposed at Dana Strand Beach, which would

include the construction of a revetment approximately the size of the

Dana Point Harbor breakwater. Surfrider has started a petition

opposing this revetment proposal, which will be submitted to the

California Coastal Commission.

Contact: Rick Wilson 492-8170

PFLAG meeting set for Wednesday

The South Orange County Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends

of Lesbian and Gays will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Sun Room of

the United Methodist Church at 24442 Moulton Parkway in Laguna Woods.

PFLAG is a secular organization that celebrates diversity and

envisions a society that embraces everyone. The group meets every

third Wednesday of the month.

All are welcome. Information: (949) 380-7035 or (949) 459-2834.

Healing Odyssey receives $5,000

Laguna Beach’s Healing Odyssey Inc. has received $5,000 from the

PacificCare Foundation. Healing Odyssey provides a weekend retreat

and follow-up support to women cancer survivors.

The money will go to provide partial and full scholarships to

female cancer survivors.

PacifiCare Foundation is a nonprofit organization devoted to

charitable and educational causes that enhance the health, wellness

and welfare of individuals and families.

Annual Literary Luncheon scheduled

The American Assn. of University Women Laguna Beach Foundation

will host the Festival of Women Authors on March 29.

The 16th annual Literary Luncheon will take place from 11 a.m. to

2:30 p.m. at the Surf and Sand Resort, 1555 S. Coast Highway.

The event includes a silent auction and opportunity prizes and

this year features authors Bette Anderson, “Close-ups”; Aileen Baron,

“A Fly Has a Hundred Eyes”; Denise Hamilton, “The Jasmine Trade and

Sugar Skull; and Jill Shure, “Night Jazz.” Kevin Duffy’s novel “The

African” will be presented by his wife, Assn. Of University Women

member Gerlinde Duffy.

Other honored guests will be two Thurston Middle School

seventh-graders, Allison Dial and Laura Renault, this year’s winners

of the Tech Trek Science Champ funded by the group.

Funds raised at the luncheon will go toward completion of a

$35,000 Research and Projects endowment established by the group

called AAUW California: 21st Century and Beyond.

Reservation deadline is March 22. Send $50 per person payable to

AAUW-LBF, to Katie Haven, 915 Hyde Court, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Information, call Jean Brotherton (949) 494-8796.