Fountain will not return to City Hall

The City Council voted unanimously to permanently remove the fountain

sculpture formerly in front of the Fire Department on Forest Avenue

because of public safety issues and high costs for needed renovation.

The artwork, a piece called “Synetic Falls” by Washington artist

Tom Askman, was installed in 1992 and temporarily removed last year

as suggested by the Arts Commission because of rusting at its base

and complaints about creating a slippery sidewalk.

“It was defective from the very beginning,” Councilwoman Cheryl

Kinsman said. “Water was all over the sidewalk and the street.”

Askman chose not to attend the meeting and has been

uncommunicative with the city, Arts Coordinator Sian Poeschl said. At

about 5 p.m. Tuesday, Poeschl received a phone call from Askman

saying he wouldn’t be at the meeting, but wanted his statement read:

“I am vehemently opposed to the permanent removal of my artwork. I

will pursue federal and state recourse under existing laws to right

the situation if the city refuses to repair and reinstall the

artwork.”

Consultants said repairs and conservation of the piece could cost

$50,000. The piece was installed for $27,000.

Councilman Steve Dicterow asked for a show of hands in the

meeting’s audience for those who wanted the fountain back. Not one

hand raised. Eleven attendees raised their hands in favor of

permanent removal -- 12 including City Manager Ken Frank.

The piece will stay in city hands until City Atty. Phil Kohn comes

up with a solution, Poeschl said. Kohn asked that the culmination of

the process be on the agenda at a future meeting, and backed the

council’s decision despite the threat of a lawsuit.

“We believe, under the circumstances, this course of action is

justified,” Kohn said.

-- Mike Swanson

Wayne Baglin trial scheduled for Monday

The trial of Councilman Wayne Baglin on charges of felony conflict

of interest is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday in Superior

Court Department C-3 in Santa Ana.

“It is expected to last at least until Thursday,” Baglin said.

Baglin has pleaded innocent to six counts of violating a state law

that prohibits an elected official from benefiting financially from a

city contract while in office.

The councilman represented clients in the sale of property on

Third Street to the city and accepted a $36,000 check from them.

Baglin has appealed to the public to attend the trial, at which he

says he will be exonerated. Council members and city staff could be

called as witnesses.

The trial had been delayed from its original start date because a

criminal case bumped it off the schedule.

A new judge and an available courtroom had to be found.

-- Barbara Diamond

Council honors Congressman Cox

The City Council officially thanked Congressman Christopher Cox

Tuesday for his help in getting federal grants for city sewer

repairs.

“I thank all of you for the extraordinary job you do,” Cox said

when presented with a letter of appreciation by Mayor Toni Iseman.

All five council members signed the letter.

“Those of us who sit up here on the dais know how important Chris

has been to the city of Laguna Beach,” Iseman said. “He has managed

to find $1.5 million in a time of tight money.”

Cox is credited with procuring the grants for Laguna Beach, with

maybe another $500,000 to come, he said, if he is successful in the

next budget “go-round.”

“The ocean is a global responsibility -- certainly a federal

responsibility,” Cox said. “The financial burden cannot fall on the

shoulders of one small community.

“I am happy to be a member of your team,” he said.

-- Barbara Diamond