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Eye on SC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SC S a n C le m e n te

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO The developer who wants to build a retail center, condos, homes and a 500-horse equestrian stable on La Novia in San Juan Capistrano has put $145,634 into fighting a referendum against the project. The “Yes on B” group has spent $121,454 on the campaign through May 21, according to mandatory campaign-finance reports filed with the City Clerk. Capistrano residents vote on the referendum on June 7. The residents fighting the project, calling themselves “Citizens for Sensible Development,” have raised $7,086 and spent $7,670. Measure B offers residents the choice between a new development—the mixed-use project—or a 440-home project approved two decades ago. The mixed-use project includes 94 single family detached houses, 130 condominiums and apartments, the equestrian center and a retail center about the size of Marbella Plaza.

DANA POINT

News

Next Door W hat ’s goin g on in our n e ig h b oring towns

Orange County Sheriff’s investigators are looking into whether kelp tangled in a boat propeller led to a fatal accident Sunday off Dana Point. When authorities, including an Orange County Fire Authority helicopter, arrived on scene, they rescued three passengers, one male and two females, and were told a fourth was still unaccounted for. The fourth passenger, Mark Benet, was found in the water by lifeguards from Laguna Beach and OC Lifeguards, who swam out to him and brought him to shore. Benet, who would have turned 47 in June, was pronounced dead at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach. Authorities on Tuesday would not say who owned the boat, but it did not belong to Benet. Survivors of the accident, which was reported at 6:12 p.m., have been questioned by Harbor Patrol and the results of the inquiry are preliminary.

S A N C L E M E N T E ’ s T o p 5 H o ttest T o p i cs

What’s Up With... 1

… Poche Making the Beach Bummer List Again?

THE LATEST: Despite efforts to clean up water near Poche Beach it still made Heal the Bay’s Beach Bummer List this year, reaching No. 5. Poche was one of only two Orange County beaches to make the list of 10, including Dana Point’s Doheny Beach, which took sixth place. A nearly $3 million, ultra-violet disinfection system installed in spring 2009 was expected to eradicate the bacteria causing the pollution and ultimately earning the beach failing grades by the nonprofit. The report card grades beaches on a 100point scale and then subtracts points based on a formula for severity of bacteria counted in regular samples, according to this year’s 98-page report. On the other end of the spectrum, San Clemente’s T-Street, Calafia and Las Palmeras beaches were named to the report’s honor roll for clean water throughout the year. Assistant City Engineer Tom Bonigut said the disinfection system, which collects and treats water feeding in from about 4,000 acres of watershed, was originally designed to clean the water and return it directly to the ocean, but the Coastal Commission rejected the plan. Instead, they required the water first discharge into an outlet pond that would eventually release the water naturally to ocean. Since the system installation, the water has been directed into the pond but the pollution still remains, according to Heal the Bay’s report. Assistant City Engineer Tom Bonigut said the project was originally designed to clean the water and return it directly to the ocean, but the Coastal Commission rejected the plan by requiring the water first discharge San Clemente Times June 2–8, 2011

into an outlet pond that would eventually release the water naturally to ocean. “Everybody except the Coastal Commission kind of figured what that was going to lead to because the pond water itself is not necessarily that clean,” Bonigut said. “The pond takes away the benefit.” WHAT’S NEXT: The assistant city engineer said Orange County officials, who are overseeing the project, have closely monitored the water into and out of the system. “The treatment system is performing well,” he said. The county presented their results to the Coastal Commission, who agreed at their May 11 meeting to allow the treated water to bypass the pond and feed directly into ocean. Bonigut described the commission decision as “good news.” He said the city and county have been actively addressing the problem to improve the water quality and raise Poche Beach’s grade from Heal the Bay. “So that’s the goal of the project, from an F grade to something much better,” the assistant city engineer said. “This problem has been 50 years in the making and may take a little while to get correct.” FIND OUT MORE: To see the full report, visit www.healthebay.org. Also, Mayor Lori Donchak is hosting her next mayor’s walk at Poche Beach and of the disinfection system Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. —Stacie N. Galang

… Fees at the City Course Going Up?

THE LATEST: Nearly all rates at the San Clemente Golf Club could cost $1 more. The city’s Golf Committee unanimously approved the increase to most fees—except for juniors—at its May 5 meeting, according to Golf Committee Chairman

Fees could go up by $1 at the city-owned San Clemente Golf Club. Pictured is the course’s 15th hole. File photo

Tim Kiernan. The decision must now be approved by the City Council before taking effect, he said. Kiernan said soaring water costs combined with the city’s relatively low rates as compared to other municipal courses were part of the reasons the committee approved the bump-up in fees. “Compared to all the other golf courses, we’re still a bargain, and we’ll still be a bargain with the increase,” he said. The additional income is estimated at $90,000 because the city greens see about 90,000 rounds of play a year though the figure includes the junior rounds that will remain the same, noted the chairman. Kiernan said he and fellow members are hopeful the course gets more play. In the past, the club has recorded 190,000 rounds of golf, but the tough times have cut away at the play. “It’s the cost of living in a nut shell,” the chairman said.

oped a plan for its 110 acres that reduces water consumption, Kiernan said. The course has been divided into three levels of water use and portions that required the least amount have been—or will be—modified with other drought tolerant plants or chipping areas needing no water. “We’re doing that more and more,” the chairman said. “It actually added more color to the course. From the feedback from other golfers, it’s been very well received.” Additionally, the City Council must formally give the go-ahead on the rate increases at an upcoming meeting.

WHAT’S NEXT: The golf club, led by course manager Gus Nelson, has devel-

THE LATEST: A San Clemente diver was (Cont. on page 5)

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FIND OUT MORE: See the city’s website at www.san-clemente.org. —SNG

… the death of a San Clemente diver in Laguna Beach?