Laguna Beach City news City of Laguna Beach, California

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2024

Click HERE to take a brief 5-10 minute survey to share your thoughts on Laguna Canyon Road. The Laguna Canyon Road Protect & Connect project aims to improve safety, enhance sustainability, and manage congestion. Additional project details are available on the project webpage. For additional information, please contact Tom Perez, Assistant Director of Public Works, at tperez@lagunabeachcity.net.

This Week's City Council Action

City Council to Explore Options to Build New Community Pool

On Tuesday, March 12, the City Council reviewed alternatives for a future community pool facility. Options under consideration included joint use of a 50-meter pool planned by the Laguna Beach Unified School District at the existing site across from Laguna Beach High School or construction of a new 25-meter pool at an alternate site that would be built, operated, and maintained by the City. Following considerable public input the City Council deliberated the options and determined to not contribute toward design and construction of the District’s approved 50-meter pool and to instead include in the City’s Facilities Master Plan (Plan) will look at options to construct a 25-meter City-owned and operated community pool at a site to be included.

Fire Department Gives Report on In-House Ambulance Program

On Tuesday, the City Council received a report regarding the City's in-house ambulance program for Fiscal Year 2022-23. During that timeframe, the ambulance program completed 2,568 calls for service, 1,494 transports, and maintained an average ambulance response time of 7 minutes, which is 8 minutes faster than the Orange County benchmark for an ambulance response. The ambulance program also operated with a surplus of $42,000.

City Council Approves Mid-Year Budget Adjustments

On Tuesday, the City Council approved mid-year budget adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget and salary schedules for Fiscal Year 2023-24. The City Council also approved the additional appropriations and adjustments by adding $300,000 to the Open Space fund, $200,000 to the Housing Fund, and $20,000 to the Laguna Canyon Foundation.

The Next Regular Meeting of the City Council is Tuesday, March 26 at 5:00 P.M.

The "Tentative Agenda" is strictly tentative and there is no guarantee that items listed will be agendized as scheduled due to changing priorities, new information, staff workloads, and other unforeseeable events.

Click HERE for the City Council Tentative Agenda

The Week That Was (TW2) is an update on City business in previous weeks.

Click HERE for "The Week That Was"

New Video Podcast: Stu New's Fair Game with Tom Johnson & Mayor Sue Kempf

In this week's Fair Game podcast with Tom Johnson, Mayor Sue Kempf recaps this week's City Council meeting including the discussion of a new Laguna Beach community pool and evaluating the first year of the City's in-house ambulance program.

Click HERE to Purchase Tickets to the 2024 State of the City Mayor's Luncheon!

Community Celebrates 7th Annual Arbor Day Celebration at Boat Canyon Park

Last week, the City held the 7th annual Arbor Day Celebration at Boat Canyon Park. Attendees enjoyed live music, plant giveaways, and composting demonstrations. City Arborist Matthew Barker also announced the winners of the Arbor Day art contest. The event concluded with kids planting a new Torrey Pine tree with Mayor Sue Kempf and Councilmember Mark Orgill.

Last week, Mayor Sue Kempf and Mayor Pro Tem Alex Rounaghi attended the completion of the South Coast Water District's Tunnel Stabilization & Sewer Pipeline Replacement project. The project took seven years and involved replacing aging sewer pipelines and stabilizing critical infrastructure to prevent potential failures and ensure continued service to customers.

Inspiring New Art Installation "Dream Big" Takes Center Stage at City Hall

Last Thursday, the City held a public art dedication for "Dream Big" by Elizabeth Laul Healey on the City Hall lawn. Healey spent three months creating a 9-foot-tall watchdog statue named "Dream Big". The sculpture, filled with symbolism, features circles representing the circle of life and cherishing loved ones. Healey hopes her artwork inspires individuals to pursue their dreams fearlessly and have faith in themselves, encouraging them to aim high and persevere in their goals.

Adorable Ariel is Still Looking for a Loving Home

Ariel is a two-year-old spayed female black and tan Doberman. She is quiet and gentle, but also playful and affectionate when she becomes comfortable around others. She is missing a leg, but that does not stop her from walking with ease.

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.

Click HERE for More Information on Adoption Procedures!

On Monday, March 18, Southern California Edison (SCE) plans to resume work to replace five utility poles in the open space north of Park Avenue between Canyon Acres Drive and Bern Court. The work is expected to take up to two weeks and will be monitored by SCE biologists for construction impacts. In January, un-permitted grading work was stopped to allow SCE to apply for an emergency Coastal Development Permit from the City. After the work is complete, SCE has agreed to obtain a full Coastal Development Permit complete with restoration plans.

On Friday, March 22, Crown Castle will install a redundant fiber optic cabling system, that will service City Hall, along Forest Avenue in front of City Hall. For more information, please contact Michael Pham, Engineering Technician, at 949-497-0360 or mpham@lagunabeachcity.net.

LBHS to Host Annual ASICS Laguna Beach Trophy International Track Meet

The Laguna Beach High School Track and Field program is hosting the ASICS Laguna Beach Invitational track meet with over 1000 athletes participating. The field events will begin on Friday, March 15 starting at 2:00 p.m. and the track events will start on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 a.m.

Expect traffic delays and parking congestion before, during, and after the event. Parking is available on the City streets and City parking lots around Laguna Beach High School.

Non-Profits: One Week Left to Apply for 2024 Community Assistance Grants!

The Community Assistance Grant Application period is open until March 21, 2024. Each year, the City of Laguna Beach provides Community Assistance Grants to local non-profit organizations that provide special services to residents.

The objective of this program is to assist local organizations in funding new projects or expanded services within the community. Grant awards are decided by the City Council.

Click HERE for More Information and to Apply Online!

Adult Indoor Pickleball Courts at Boys & Girls Club

Starting Monday, March 18, Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach will be opening the doors to the community for adult indoor pickleball.

The Boys & Girls Club has three courts with absorption reducing playing surface to reduce impact immediate injuries and long-term injuries. The courts make it possible to play pickleball rain or shine.

Pickleball days and times: Mondays & Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Cost per player: $10/hour for doubles play (beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays)
Cost per court: $20/Hour for singles play (four spots must be reserved for singles play)

Click HERE for More Information

Listen to This Week's Live Music at the Promenade 🎶

Friday at 5:30 PM: Brian Roark
Saturday at 5:30 PM: Beth Wood
Sunday at 5:00 PM: Kai Kalama

Enjoy Your Weekend Ahead! 🌴

Have a Question? Click HERE to Contact the City of Laguna Beach!

Printed copies of the newsletter are available Fridays at the Community & Susi Q Center. Alternative Language Options Available Upon Request.