Laguna Beach council names members to water, emergency, housing, arts and planning panels

The Laguna Beach City Council at its afternoon session appointed members to five advisory bodies, confirming candidates for water, emergency-preparedness, housing, arts and planning panels.

Council members interviewed applicants for each committee and then voted. Several items produced tie votes that the council resolved before finalizing appointments. The appointments affect ongoing projects that council members discussed during applicants’ remarks, including major water-infrastructure work, emergency lifelines planning and local efforts to boost downtown vitality and arts programming.

The council reappointed two incumbents to the South Laguna Water and Sewer Advisory Committee and selected two other residents for regular seats; the council also recorded an incumbent’s preference to remain the alternate. During interviews applicants highlighted multi‑million‑dollar district projects and ongoing sewer and reservoir upgrades. “It’s been an honor to be engaged in such critical infrastructure projects such as a $105,000,000 sewer tunnel and $8,000,000 Reservoir 2B,” said one applicant, who asked to be considered for reappointment to the water advisory panel.

On emergency preparedness, the council reappointed three incumbents to the Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Committee (EDPC) and selected a fourth member after a 3–2 split. Applicants stressed work aligned with FEMA’s lifelines approach, evacuation planning and wildfire mitigation; one applicant noted the city’s work on Fire Station No. 4 and recent evacuation studies.

The Housing and Human Services Committee gained three new members chosen from the applicant pool; applicants emphasized affordable and workforce housing, outreach to residents in need and preserving existing affordable units. The Arts Commission appointments included two unanimous selections and additional members chosen after ties were resolved; candidates emphasized a forthcoming public-art ordinance, temporary public art programs and the city’s arts-driven tourism economy.

For the Planning Commission the council reappointed two incumbents. Candidates and incumbents discussed code updates, downtown vitality and a push to move some approvals to administrative review to speed business openings and reduce discretionary delays.

Votes at a glance

- South Laguna Water and Sewer Advisory Committee — Appointed: Eric (applicant; reappointed), Steve Samuelson and Michael Kovit as regular members; Mel Harwell designated alternate (per his stated preference). Tally: Eric 5, Steve 5, Michael 5, Mel 4 (John Thomas and one other received fewer votes). Council members recorded votes individually before the council adopted the resulting slate.

- Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Committee (EDPC) — Appointed: Sonny Myers, Edward Musali and David Horn (incumbents reappointed); Tony (last name not specified in the record) selected as the fourth member after a 3–2 vote. Tally reported: Sonny 5, Edward 5, David 5, Tony 3, Michael McKenzie 2.

- Housing and Human Services Committee — Appointed: Julie Hall, Slade Carlton and Steve (last name not specified in the record). Tally reported in council recap: Slade 5, Julie 5, Steve 3; Mary Fergus received 2 votes.

- Arts Commission — Appointed: Nicole Strathman and Donna (chair, last name not specified in the record) were unanimously confirmed; Joan Gladstone and Cindy Schwartz were later added, with Cindy named alternate after a tie-break. Candidates emphasized the pending public art ordinance and the temporary art program.

- Planning Commission — Reappointed: Ken Sadler and Steve Goldman (incumbents). Tally reported: Ken 4, Steve 3; Lauren Merho 2, Natalia Shenan 1.

What council members and applicants said

Council members organized the meeting as a series of short interviews followed by votes. Applicants largely used their allotted time to summarize relevant experience and priorities. Applicants for the water advisory panel emphasized large capital projects and ongoing operational risks; one applicant summarized recent and planned investments: “...a $105,000,000 sewer tunnel and $8,000,000 Reservoir 2B and the $40,000,000 Lift Station No. 2 and the $2,000,000 Sunset Avenue wildfire water line upgrades,” and said he provided monthly reports to keep the community informed.

EDPC applicants described committee work tied to FEMA’s lifelines and to city preparedness projects such as evacuation planning and Fire Station No. 4. One applicant noted training and shelter experience: “I have personally set up and run an emergency shelter during the Aliso fire in 2018 where we housed residents and animals,” and described his FEMA and Red Cross credentials.

Arts Commission candidates highlighted a forthcoming public‑art ordinance and a temporary art program that has drawn attention and visitors; one candidate said the arts bring substantial revenue to the city and urged completion of an ordinance to provide decision-making clarity.

Planning Commission candidates and incumbents discussed code modernization, more administrative processing for routine permits, and early engagement on projects to avoid bottlenecks. Several candidates urged measures to restore downtown storefront vitality and to streamline sign and other permitting so that businesses can open more quickly.

Meeting context and next steps

The interview-and-appointment session included more than two dozen applicants across five committees and produced several ties that the council resolved with additional rounds of voting. Most appointees are residents without city titles; many incumbents were reappointed. Several appointees indicated the committees will continue work already underway — for example, the water district’s major capital projects and EDPC’s lifelines-based reorganization — meaning the committees’ activities will feed into ongoing capital, emergency-preparedness and planning efforts.

The council adjourned the interview portion of the meeting and scheduled the regular business portion for 5 p.m.