LAGUNA NIGUEL

The City Council voted Tuesday to either buy or lease a device that would automatically call select residents with prerecorded information in an emergency.

But before setting up the system, council members will outline how frequently and in what instances it will be used.

Members Linda Lindholm and Cathryn DeYoung expressed concern that the device, which can make up to 500 calls in an hour, would be overused.

“It could be really irritating,” DeYoung said. “And I don’t want to create a level of fear by calling people each time there’s a burglary in their neighborhood.”