WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025
This Week's City Council Action:
Officer Martinez Awarded VFW Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
City Council Introduces Ordinance to Update Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Outdoor Dining and Parklet Program Update
City Council Approves Renewal of Laguna Beach Tourism Marketing District
The Next Special Meeting of the City Council is Wednesday, June 11 at 3:45 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.
Mayor Alex Rounaghi Recaps This Week's City Council Meeting in Today's Podcast 🎙️
In this week's Fair Game podcast with Tom Johnson, Mayor Alex Rounaghi recaps last night's City Council meeting and previews today's special City Council meeting on appeals.
Q: Does the City enforce parking meter violations and no-parking zones?
A: Yes. In 2024, LBPD issued 22,337 parking citations across the city. Remember that you might see a meter that’s expired with a car parked there, but that car may have paid by plate on their cell phone. Our Parking Control Officers have to look at meters, dashboards, and our parking payment database before writing a ticket.
Q: Why don’t we raise parking rates to reduce the visitor volume and help with city costs?
A: We do adjust parking rates, but we must do so within limits set by the California Coastal Commission. Since most of Laguna Beach lies within the Coastal Zone, parking rate changes require a permit from the Commission. We’re currently in the 5th year of a five-year permit (2025), and we’ll apply for a new one later this fall, for Summer 2026. But we can’t just charge what the market will bear - the Commission caps rate increases to ensure coastal access remains affordable for all Californians.
Q: Can we reserve parking areas for residents only?
A: No. Resident-only parking is prohibited under our Local Coastal Program, per the Coastal Commission. However, we do offer Shoppers Permits to Laguna Beach residents with proof of residency. Remember that even those with Shoppers Permits have to obey the posted time limits for the parking zone – a Shoppers Permit is not a license to park in a timed spot indefinitely.
Q: Can the City limit parking along Coast Highway?
A: No. Parking along Coast Highway is under the jurisdiction of both Caltrans and the California Coastal Commission, so the City cannot make changes unilaterally. We can set up pay stations in some places along Coast Highway that don’t have them, and that may be in the works for 2026 (after we get permits to put them in).
Groundbreaking Celebration: Anita Sewer Lift Station & Beach Stairs Project
Construction for the Anita Sewer Lift Station and Beach Access Stairs Reconstruction Project is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 23, 2025. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held the same day at 11:00 a.m. to commemorate the start of this vital public infrastructure improvement.
Due to construction activity, the stairway at the project site will be closed starting June 23 and remain inaccessible through Summer 2025. Nearby alternative beach access is available just one block away via the Oak Street stairs to the south and the Thalia Street stairs to the north, ensuring minimal disruption to public beach use.
Construction is being completed by GMZ Engineering, Inc., with construction management and inspection services provided by Dudek. The project is anticipated to be completed by December 2026.
For more information, please contact Senior Project Manager Ulises Escalona at (949) 497-0792 or uescalona@lagunabeachcity.net.
Lieutenant Cornelius Ashton Graduates from FBI National Academy
Laguna Beach Police Chief Jeff Calvert proudly announces that Lieutenant Cornelius Ashton has graduated from the 294th session of the FBI National Academy Program at Quantico, Virginia.
Lieutenant Ashton was among 239 law enforcement officers who completed the program this year. The 294th session brought together men and women from 48 states, the District of Columbia, 14 countries, six military organizations, and four federal civilian agencies, demonstrating the program’s diverse and international reach.
A dedicated law enforcement professional with 26 years of experience, Lieutenant Ashton serves in the Support Services Bureau of the Laguna Beach Police Department. Lieutenant Ashton stated, “This prestigious program provided me the unique opportunity to collaborate with law enforcement executives from across the country and around the world. It equipped me with best practices to strengthen operational effectiveness and foster partnerships beyond state lines, ultimately better serving the needs of our community.”
Renowned worldwide for academic excellence, the FBI National Academy offers an intensive 10- week program with advanced investigative techniques, leadership training, and physical fitness development. Candidates are selected based on proven professional records and typically average 21 years of law enforcement experience, returning to serve in executive roles.
Training is delivered by the FBI Academy’s instructional staff, including Special Agents and subject-matter experts with advanced degrees, many internationally recognized in their fields.
Congratulations!
Penny is Still Looking for a Forever Home
Meet Penny—a healthy, spayed 16-year-old chihuahua who loves snuggles and quiet company. She’s ready to share her heart with someone special for her golden years.
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.
A Magical Day with Circus Bella in Bluebird Park ✨
Laguna’s Own Lola Kristine Headlines Sunset Serenades
Join us tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. at the Heisler Park Amphitheater for another unforgettable Sunset Serenades performance, featuring Laguna Beach’s own Lola Kristine. A soulful singer, pianist, and songwriter known as “the little girl with the big voice,” Lola moves audiences with timeless melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and a voice that resonates long after the final note.
Bring a blanket or low-seating beach chairs, your favorite snacks, and your dancing spirit — it’s all free and open to the public! Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. This program is funded by the lodging establishments and City of Laguna Beach.
Celebrating Our 2025 Public Works Institute Graduates
Printed copies of the newsletter are available Fridays at the Community & Susi Q Center. Alternative Language Options Available Upon Request.