OC cities declare emergencies after coastal surf damage

SANTA ANA, Calif. — San Clemente, Laguna Beach and Dana Point declared local emergencies after high tide and surf from Hurricane Marie damaged homes, infrastructure and the coast, according to Voice of OC.

The declarations come as coastal cities prepare for possible El Niño storms, while other Orange County governments face decisions on elections, public safety tools, budgets and development rules.

Voice of OC reported Friday that San Clemente, Laguna Beach and Dana Point declared local emergencies after Hurricane Marie-related surf and high tide damaged homes, infrastructure and beaches along the Orange County coast.

The train line through San Clemente reopened after coastal erosion forced the tracks to close for one week around the Labor Day holiday, according to Voice of OC. Seal Beach officials are also preparing for El Niño storms by coordinating emergency crews and building a 14-foot sand berm.

In Santa Ana, officials are looking to reexamine automated license plate readers after concerns about misuse elsewhere in the country, Voice of OC reported. Santa Ana City Councilwoman Jessie Lopez’s proposed data center moratorium failed, but officials are expected to consider a ban next month through a zoning code overhaul.

Orange County Supervisors could debate giving themselves subpoena power after audits found weak internal contract oversight, according to Voice of OC. Former Supervisor Andrew Do is serving a five-year federal prison sentence related to a bribery scheme.

Other local issues include Orange city council members preparing for the possibility that a November sales tax increase fails as the city faces projected multi-million dollar deficits. Newport Beach is moving forward with a court-ordered local election on three ballot measures without help from the OC Registrar of Voters because of missed deadlines, marking the first time in over 40 years the city will conduct its own election, Voice of OC reported.

Voice of OC also reported that Angels owner Arte Moreno could avoid Angel Stadium repairs as he moves to sell the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke. Stanton officials are moving to demolish a building in the Tina Pacific neighborhood under a homelessness local emergency declaration, while Laguna Hills officials are looking to create a resident parking permit program to address overcrowded streets.

The coastal emergency declarations add to a wider set of local government decisions unfolding across Orange County as cities respond to storm risk, infrastructure pressure and budget constraints.