Feathers may fly as the city considers what to do about displaced
ducks on Balboa Island and in other places. In the aftermath of a new
ordinance that forbids most feeding of ducks, officials are considering
scooping up the white ones under cover of night and moving them to a park
somewhere inland. Under federal law, the brown ones cannot be moved by
humans.
The Irvine Ranch Water District might install devices in some Newport
Coast homes that give some serious brain power to sprinkler systems. The
WeatherTrak devices combine satellite-delivered information such as
weather conditions with user-programmed data such as soil type to decide
exactly how long to water each lawn.
And the show will go on for the Toshiba Senior Classic golf tournament
and the annual Spirit Run, despite a mistake that put the events in
conflict on March 10. To clear a path to golf tournament parking, the
spirit run will reroute its courses.
* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)
574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .
Get your motors running
Recreational vehicle owners suffered a stinging blow last week when
the Costa Mesa City Council tentatively approved a ban on recreational
vehicles that will allow them to be parked on city streets only for
loading and unloading.
Audience members murmured and grumbled when the final votes for the
proposed motor home ordinance were locked in: three green lights and two
red. Councilmen Gary Monahan and Chris Steel were opposed.
The new law will require motor home owners to register their vehicles
with the city and place a small sticker on the bumper to identify local
motor homes. Once registered, a resident may request a permit to park on
city streets for 48 hours for loading and another 48 for unloading.
People may register at the police station or online, Costa Mesa Police
Lt. Karl Schuler.
RV owners will be required to place a small card in the windshield to
let police know the vehicle is legally parked. The new ordinance will
allow for a total of 30 round trips per year.
Mayor Linda Dixon and Councilwoman Libby Cowan defended their
decision, saying the council heard -- and responded to hours of public
input -- and approved the best compromise between RV owners and residents
who think the large vehicles are unsightly.
City officials have not yet announced when the new rules will go into
effect.
* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)
574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .
