THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020
California Public Health Officials Issue Guidance Today Requiring All Californians to Wear Face Coverings
Today the California Department of Public Health released updated guidance regarding face coverings. A growing body of scientific research has shown that people with no or few symptoms of COVID-19 can still spread the disease and that the use of face coverings, combined with physical distancing and frequent hand washing, will reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Today's state guidance mandates the use of cloth face coverings by the general public statewide when outside the home, with limited exceptions.
Californians must wear face coverings when they are in the situations listed below:
- Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor public space;
- Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank;
- Waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle;
- Engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site, when: interacting in-person with any member of the public, working in any space visited by members of the public, regardless of whether anyone from the public is present at the time, working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others, working in or walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities;
- In any room or enclosed area where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present when unable to physically distance;
- Driving or operating any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi, or private car service or ride-sharing vehicle when passengers are present;
- While outdoors in public spaces when maintaining a physical distance of six feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible.
Laguna Beach City Council Approves Updates to Downtown Specific Plan
At its regular meeting Tuesday, the Laguna Beach City Council approved amendments to the City's Downtown Specific Plan (DSP), a planning guide for development and commercial standards in the Downtown area.
The amendments made Tuesday to the DSP reduce business requirements for on-site parking to three spaces for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, which will allow for greater flexibility for changing uses within existing buildings.
The amendments also change the Conditional Use Permit process for some businesses, allowing most uses such as retail and service businesses to be approved administratively.
Restaurants that serve alcohol and bars will still be required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit from the City. This will allow the City to monitor and regulate the number of establishments to ensure that the Downtown does not become saturated with these uses.
The expansion of existing buildings and new construction will require compliance with updated parking standards and will be at the discretion of the City through the Design Review and a Conditional Use Permit process.
A second reading and adoption of the changes are tentatively scheduled for the July 28 City Council meeting.
Scramble Crosswalks Open Friday as Part of Laguna Beach Downtown Coast Highway Intersection Improvement Project
The City of Laguna Beach is completing its new Downtown Coast Highway Intersection Improvement Project, which includes improvements to intersections on Coast Highway from Legion Street to Broadway Avenue in the Downtown area to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety.
"We are excited to be making these improvements. The safety of residents and visitors to Laguna Beach is our top priority," said Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen. "The improvements made to these intersections will improve traffic flow in the downtown area and the new pedestrian scramble crosswalks will make crossing Coast Highway and walking in the downtown area safer and more convenient for our residents and visitors.”
Downtown Coast Highway Intersection Improvement Project Key Features:
- Forest Avenue and Laguna Avenue replace crosswalks with all way (pedestrian scramble) crosswalks;
- Lengthening the southbound left turn lanes at Broadway, Forest Avenue and Legion Street to reduce lane blockage;
- Modifications to crosswalks to improve pedestrian and vehicle circulation;
- Ocean Avenue crossing relocated from south to north side of intersection;
- New intersection curb returns to current Caltrans standards, including new curb ramps and traffic signal equipment.
What's a Scramble Crosswalk?
At a scramble crosswalk, you can cross in all directions – including diagonally. Look for the pedestrian light and wait until the light changes to the walking person. The green light is for vehicles only. The illuminated walking person is for pedestrians.
Public Safety personnel will be available through the weekend to assist with pedestrian and vehicular traffic control while the public gets acclimated to the new crosswalk configuration.
For more information on the project, contact Mark Trestik, City Engineer at mtrestik@lagunabeachcity.net or (949) 497-0300.
People Love The Promenade on Forest!
The Promenade on Forest: Shopping, Dining, Art, and You! is an outdoor dining, display and art performance area that is now open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Downtown Laguna Beach!
The Promenade on Forest creates a safe and exciting pedestrian-only experience on Forest Avenue from Coast Highway to Glenneyre Street- with dining decks, retail display decks, and a performance art deck for virtual and live performances and temporary art installations throughout the Summer of 2020.
Here's what people are saying about The Promenade on Forest:
"Beautiful. Wonderful job city of Laguna!" - Kevin B. Nextdoor
"I love the idea of opening up the promenade. I can’t wait to visit Laguna and try it out." - Susan M. Facebook
"The promenade turned out great. Nailed it!" - @lagunacbd Instagram
"My wife and I ate there yesterday and felt safe on the outdoor deck. Very impressed and happy with what we saw. Kudos to the City Council for making this happen fairly quickly." - Craig M. Nextdoor
"AWESOME...Thank You for all the work behind this Project!" - Andrew D. Facebook
See YOU at The Promenade on Forest!
Laguna Beach Small Businesses: Apply for Small Business Grant Relief up to $10,000 Starting Monday
The Small Business Grant Relief Program will support small businesses and organizations impacted by COVID-19 in Orange County District Five, which is the district for Laguna Beach.
Grants up to $10,000 will be available to eligible Laguna Beach small businesses and non-profits within the Fifth District beginning Monday, June 22.
Applications will open Monday, June 22, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. until June 28, 2020, 5:00 p.m. An informational webinar has been added and will be held this Friday, June 19, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
For more information on program eligibility, criteria and grant selection, click the link below.
Renew Your Shopper Parking Permit Now Online!
Residents who have participated in the shopper parking permit program in the past have been sent their 2020-2022 Shopper Parking Permit renewal application in the mail.
We highly encourage residents to take advantage of the on-line option (link below) to help promote social distancing.
New permits will be mailed out the last week of July. No permits will be sold over the counter until September 8, 2020.
Condor Squadron to Perform 4th of July Laguna Beach Flyover
The Condor Squadron will perform a flyover in Laguna Beach from 5:45 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. on July 4th!
The Condor Squadron Officer’s and Airmen’s Association is a unique non-profit organization founded in 1965 by a group of WWII fighter pilots, preserving a piece of aviation history that played an important part in securing the freedoms we cherish as a nation.
The Squadron proudly flies WWII, North American AT-6 airplanes in formation over parades, memorial services and events commemorating veterans.
