The two water districts that keep the taps flowing in Laguna Beach say they’ve been ordered to cut usage by 25 percent.
The district managers plan to appeal the decision since water use in most of Laguna has already dropped about 20 percent in recent years. They gave no assurance to the City Council on Tuesday that they would succeed.
To step up the city’s own water conservation measures, Mayor Bob Whalen on Tuesday won his colleagues’ support to put off turf and landscape renovations at two public parks. New landscaping requires more water than established plants, he pointed out.
Whalen urged city staff to quickly prepare a project to ensure that Laguna is in line to obtain some of the $1 billion promised by the governor for water conservation projects. He suggested a tie in for El Morro Elementary to a Newport Coast system that recycles water.
Lengthy discussions served to draw out a meeting that lasted til midnight.
By a split 3-2 vote, the council put aside public protests and went ahead to approve hiring a design firm for the landscaped pathway now envisioned as the village entry near City Hall.
Groups that organized to defeat a costly parking garage at the entrance two years ago voiced new protests over hiring designers. They contend a concept should be mapped out before a designer is hired. The mayor gave assurances to opponents that the consulting firm RBF will invite public participation in devising the design.
Residents should also expect a hike in sewage fees as early as June. Rates currently amount to $48 a month. The council agreed to a 10-year package of sewage infrastructure improvements. They will require nearly 5 percent rate hikes annually for five years and new borrowing by the city.
