Laguna Beach council appoints residents to water, emergency, housing, arts and planning panels

Laguna Beach City Council voted to appoint or reappoint residents to five advisory bodies — the South Laguna Water and Sewer Advisory Committee, the Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Committee (EDPC), the Housing and Human Services Committee, the Arts Commission and the Planning Commission — filling 17 openings across those panels.

The appointments, made during the council's interview and appointment session, put experienced volunteers back on committees that advise the city on large infrastructure projects and near-term policy work, including ongoing water projects, emergency lifelines planning, workforce and affordable housing prospects, a forthcoming public art ordinance, and a comprehensive code and permitting update.

Council members heard short remarks from multiple applicants before selecting candidates. Eric (last name not provided) and Steve Samuelson, both applicants for the South Laguna Water and Sewer Advisory Committee, emphasized recent and upcoming district projects. Eric said, "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 2 B and the $40,000,000 Lift Station Number 2," and cited ongoing public-information efforts. Michael Kovitch said he was motivated by sewage spills and tunnel stabilization impacts and cited his international project-management experience.

For the South Laguna Water…