Laguna beach city news City of Laguna Beach, California

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024

This Week's City Council Action:

City Council Holds Joint Meeting with Arts Commission

On Tuesday, the Laguna Beach City Council and Arts Commission held a joint meeting to discuss an overview of Arts Commission programming, an update on the Public Art Ordinance and Policy, and upcoming Cultural Arts programming.

City Council Recognizes First Saturday in May as Laguna Beach Bee Day

On Tuesday, the City Council approved a proclamation declaring the first Saturday in May as Laguna Beach Bee Day. Laguna Beach Bee Day recognizes the important role bees play in our ecosystem as pollinators, contributing to the health and vitality of our environment. Residents can celebrate Laguna Beach Bee Day by spreading awareness, planting bee-friendly gardens, and supporting local initiatives dedicated to bee conservation. Karen Nelson, Nancy Englund, and Lynn Jax from the Laguna Beach Garden Club were recognized for the Garden Club's work in promoting bee-friendly initiatives.

Nonprofit Groundswell Provides Presentation on Services and Programs

On Tuesday, Groundswell Board Members Frank Marmolejo (right) and Susan Reese (left) provided the City Council with a presentation of Groundswell. Groundswell is a non-profit organization, founded over 30 years ago as the Orange County Human Relations Council. Groundswell’s mission is to foster mutual understanding among the people of Orange County with the belief that all residents have the right to live and work without fear of violence and discrimination. They are focused on directing programs, training, and impacts in the following areas: youth and education, community building, training, and dispute resolution.

City Council Prioritizes Environment: Opts for 4th of July Drone Light Show Instead of Fireworks

On Tuesday, the City Council moved forward with a one-year trial drone light show instead of a traditional fireworks show for the City's Fourth of July celebration. In comparison to traditional fireworks shows, drone light shows provide reduced impacts on the environment. The drone light show will launch 300 drones from Monument Point in Heisler Park and last approximately 15 minutes. Drone light shows are performed by illuminated, synchronized, and choreographed groups of drones that arrange themselves into various aerial formations.

City Council Approves Promenade on Forest Work Plan

On Tuesday, the City Council approved the City Council Ad Hoc Committee’s Promenade on Forest work plan. The Promenade transforms a former street (lower Forest Avenue) into a vibrant and shaded pedestrian plaza, offering a place to shop, eat, rest and relax. The Committee’s work plan includes devising a strategy for advancing the project, integrating public engagement methods to gather feedback from the community, and utilizing SWA as the project’s design consultant. The next step is for the Committee to form focus groups in May and hold meetings through August that will include the community, City Staff, and consultants. The Committee will return with an update at a future City Council meeting in September 2024.

Summer Parking Management Plan and Transit Services Update

On Tuesday, the City Council approved the 2024 Summer Parking Management Plan and transit services update. The 2024 Summer Parking Management Plan includes an update to the Summer trolley services and expanded Laguna Local on-demand service hours from June 28, 2024 to September 2, 2024; extended lease agreements for seasonal public parking lots and parking spaces; continued support for library programs; the authorization of summer parking passes for festival artists, staff, and the general public; and the continuation of the Passport to the Arts parking permit program at the Act V parking lot.

City Staff Moves Forward with Sale of 31727 & 31735 Coast Highway

On Tuesday, the City Council moved forward with the sale of the property at 31727 & 31735 Coast Highway (formerly Ti Amo Restaurant). On January 10, 2023, the City Council declared 31727 & 31735 Coast Highway as surplus land. On November 16, 2023, the California Department of Housing and Community Development notified the City that the City met all requirements under the Surplus Land Act, so that the City can proceed with a potential sale of the property. Following City Council's motion on Tuesday, City Staff will come back to the City Council at a future Closed Session meeting with an option to consider an exchange an obtain estimates from three brokers. The sale of the property would result in one-time revenues. Photo Courtesy of Mary Hurlbut & Stu News.

The Next Regular Meeting of the City Council is Tuesday, May 14 at 5:00 P.M.

May 14: Budget Workshop will take place from 2:00 to 4:00 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
Click HERE for the "The Week That Was"
Please join us for the Laguna Canyon Road: Protect & Connect Community Workshop on Tuesday, May 7 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Community & Susi Q Center. Click HERE to take the LCR: Protect & Connect survey!

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 an update on the Promenade on Forest and the upcoming drone light show for the 4th of July. She also encourages residents to attend the April 28 community meeting discussing coyote awareness and living with wildlife.

Congresswoman Katie Porter Tours Marine Safety Facilities with Mayor Kempf, Councilmember Whalen and City Officials

On Monday, Marine Safety Captain Kai Bond gave a tour of the Marine Safety headquarters and the Main Beach lifeguard tower to Congresswoman Katie Porter, Mayor Sue Kempf, and Councilmember Bob Whalen. Captain Bond emphasized the importance of their Marine Safety operations in keeping beachgoers safe, highlighting their swift response to any emergencies. He explained how their team of highly trained lifeguards work diligently to prevent accidents and educate the public on water safety.

Watch 🎥: New Wave Watch Rescue Vessel Starting This Summer!

The Marine Safety Department is excited to announce that the Wave Watch will be fully operational starting this summer. Wave Watch is a Marine Safety rescue vessel that improves response time and provides a stable platform for emergency operations.

This weekend, we will be receiving our second herd of 200 goats. They will start munching behind Nyes Place on Sunday. The goats in 3 Arch Bay have 10 more days of clearing before their next stop at Bluebird Canyon.

As a reminder, please do not try to pet or come in contact with the goats.

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

  • Friday at 5:30 PM: Jackie Pember
  • Saturday at 5:30 PM: Giovanni Simone
  • Sunday at 5:00 PM: Andrew Corradini

Have a Fantastic Weekend, Laguna Beach! 🌊

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.