THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2024
Join Us at National Night Out Next Tuesday! 🚨
City Council Approves New Commercial District Beautification and Property Maintenance Program
On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the Laguna Beach City Council took an important step towards enhancing the City’s commercial areas by approving the first reading of an Ordinance aimed at improving property maintenance and beautification in commercial districts.
The Commercial District Beautification & Property Maintenance Ordinance Program has two key components:
1) Resolution (Effective Now):
- The resolution, effective immediately, establishes a reimbursement program to support businesses in making necessary improvements. All City fees related to paint and signage projects are eligible to be reimbursed with the demonstrated completion of the project within a 12-month period from the program’s adoption.
- Businesses can also receive up to $10,000 in reimbursement for City fees related to the completion of maintenance projects that are required to comply with the new ordinance within a 12-month period from the program’s adoption.
- The program is capped at $300,000 in total City fee reimbursement.
- As part of a new “Charm Challenge,” the City will establish awards to honor property owners and tenants who consistently maintain exemplary standards.
2) Commercial District Beautification Ordinance (Effective 30 Days from Adoption):
All commercial property owners, including those with vacant properties, will be required to maintain their properties in a clean, safe, and visually appealing condition. This includes keeping building exteriors, sidewalks, parking areas, and landscaping well-maintained and free from deterioration and hazards. The City will conduct inspections to ensure compliance with the ordinance.
For more information about the Commercial District Beautification/Property Maintenance Program, including details on the reimbursement process, please contact Louie F. Lacasella at (949) 497-0736 or llacasella@lagunabeachcity.net.
Q: What’s the latest on the Facilities Master Plan effort?
A: The Facilities Master Plan is an attempt to look at nearly all of the City’s facilities – from the library to the Animal Shelter to City Hall to Fire Stations to the Community and Recreation Center to parks like Lang Park to a Community Pool – to see what levels of repair, redesign, or re-purposing each facility needs. The City has been working with Griffin Structures and with LPA Design Group to develop the Master Plan, and we’re finishing up Phase I (Community Engagement & Facility Assessment).
At one of the two Council meetings in October 2024, we hope to return to the City Council at a workshop / study session to have Griffin and LPA talk more about what we’ve heard from the Community Engagement efforts as well as any facility assessments (i.e. the City facilities’ current state of repair or disrepair, as well as Americans with Disabilities Act needs). The Council may be asked at that October meeting to provide further guidance in developing the Plan once hearing about the Phase I input.
The Plan, once drafted and approved (hopefully by May 2025), will be used to guide City decisions as to facility reconstruction, repurposing, repair, and more.
Nomination Period For City Offices Open Through Friday, August 9
The General Municipal Election will be held in the City of Laguna Beach on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.The nomination period is open through Friday, August 9, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. for the following City Offices:
- Two (2) Members of the City Council for a full term of four years
- City Clerk for a full term of four years
- City Treasurer for a full term of four years
Filing deadline will be extended to August 14, 2024, if nomination papers for an incumbent officer of the City are not filed by the August 9, 2024, filing deadline. This extension period is not applicable to incumbents. An appointment to receive and/or file nomination papers is required. To schedule an appointment during the nomination period, please call the City Clerk's Office at (949) 497-0705.
Watch 🎥: 2024 Election Information
The Orange County Bird of Prey Center Public Art Activation is Tonight at the City Hall Lawn!
First Thursdays Art Walk Starts at 6 PM ✨
First Thursdays Art Walk celebrates the diverse cultural art scene of Laguna Beach and is FREE to the public with participation by 40 galleries! First Thursdays Art Walk is held on the first Thursday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Save the Date: Pacific Opera Project's "The Mikado" on August 17
You are invited to watch the Pacific Opera Projects "The Mikado" on August 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Festival of Arts.
Called “about the most fun one can have in a Los Angeles theater right now” (Maestro Arts & Reviews), Pacific Opera Project’s “The Mikado” updates Gilbert & Sullivan’s most popular operetta with Harajuku costumes, inspired by the district of Tokyo famous for its wild mix of colors and styles.
Eye-popping colors, intricate choreography, and zany antics give this beloved classic a signature POP twist, while a reworked libretto is sure to surprise even Gilbert & Sullivan aficionados with its unique take on what was originally a thinly-veiled skewering of British nobility and politics. Presented fully costumed, with a star-studded cast of POP regulars, including E. Scott Levin, Janet Todd, and Phil Meyer.
133 Band to Perform at Music In the Park Concert This Sunday at Bluebird Park 🎶
Laguna Beach’s top musicians have come together to create the beloved 133 Band. The lineup features Nick Hernandez, Poul Petersen, Steve Wood, Beth Wood, Jason Feddy, Richard Bredice, Alan Deremo, and Frank Cotinola, all of whom are talented singers, solo performers, and band members. Their concerts are always a highlight, offering a fantastic and enjoyable experience for everyone.
The free Music in the Park concert starts 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 4 at Bluebird Park! Set up is allowed after 3:00 p.m. As a reminder, no dogs, smoking, or merchandise sales are allowed. Alcohol is permitted for guests 21 or older with a full meal.
Laguna Beach Fire Department to Participate in Motorhome Madness Tonight at OC Fair
Tonight, the Laguna Beach Fire Department will be participating in the Motorhome Madness tonight at the OC Fair. All proceeds will benefit the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). Special thanks to the students from Laguna College of Art and Design for decorating the winning RV!
See You There!
Meet Roxy: The Adorable Guinea Pig for You
Say Hello to Roxy! Roxy is a 1½-year-old spayed female guinea pig with a friendly nature. She’s a foodie who loves being combed and brushed. She’s looking for a loving home!
The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter adoption procedures are designed to make sure that both the potential family and the animal adopted are in the very best situation possible. The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road. For any questions, please call (949) 497-3552.
Laguna Beach's Nyjah Huston Earns Olympic Bronze in Street Skateboarding
Professional Skateboard from Laguna Beach, Nyjah Huston took home the bronze medal in the men’s street skateboarding final at the Paris Olympics on Monday.
This marks the first Olympic medal for Huston, widely regarded as the best contest street skateboarder of all time. This year, he also won his 14th and 15th X Games gold medals, tying a record. He had finished seventh in the men’s street skateboarding event in Tokyo in 2021.
Congratulations, Nyjah!
Make the Most of Your Weekend! ☀️
Printed copies of the newsletter are available Fridays at the Community & Susi Q Center. Alternative Language Options Available Upon Request.