WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020
All Laguna Beach Trailheads, City Beaches and Adjacent Beach Parks Remain CLOSED to the Public
Violators Can Be Cited With a Misdemeanor, Fined up to $1,000 or Arrested
To slow the spread of COVID-19, all Laguna Beach Trailheads, City Beaches, and Adjacent Beach Parks are CLOSED and remain CLOSED until further notice. The City closed all City beaches and trailheads under our jurisdiction on March 23, 2020.
You can help us keep our community safe by flagging any false and misleading posts stating the beaches are open on Nextdoor or social media for removal.
Again, all City beaches remain CLOSED and those violating the closure orders can be cited with a misdemeanor, fined up to $1,000 or arrested by the Laguna Beach Police Department.
With the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in the County and the surrounding counties continuing to rise, this is exactly the wrong time to open City beaches and entice large crowds to the City’s beaches and trails.
Opening City beaches will mean large crowds also will mean more people in grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores, and take-out restaurants, again increasing the risk to many including our residents and those most vulnerable to COVID-19.
We appreciate our community’s help ensuring factual information about the closures and our community’s patience and understanding as we all continue to 'flatten the curve' together. This situation will continue to be reviewed and modified as appropriate and as determined by people’s behaviors.
Surfrider Foundation Urges People to Respect Beach Closures
The Following Message on Respecting Beach Closures is from the Surfrider Foundation:
Unfortunately, we have seen surges in beach visitation around the country that are both irresponsible and a threat to public health, and which have, in turn, led to numerous closures.
Surfrider, long a champion of ocean recreation, surfing and beach access, believes it is our responsibility to discourage surfing and beach visitation at this critical time. This includes honoring these closures and avoiding crowded public open spaces.
Through our #StayHomeShredLater effort, we are asking the surfing community to honor stay-at-home orders put in place by governors, local cities and coastal resources managers.
Please stay home as much as possible, recreate with caution if you choose to, and learn more about potential transmission risks of COVID-19 and beach water quality.
We believe that honoring stay-at-home orders is the fastest way to crush the curve and get back to enjoying our ocean, waves and beaches as soon as it is safe and responsible to do so.
Laguna Beach City Council Action:
Saturday Farmer's Market to Reopen
At its regular meeting Tuesday, April 21, the Laguna Beach City Council voted unanimously to reopen the weekly Farmer's Market in lot 11 at the corner of Forest Avenue and Broadway Street in Laguna Beach.
At Tuesday's meeting, the City Council heard how safety modifications have been made to the market including reducing the market's size by half.
State of California COVID-19 guidelines allow for the continued operation of certified farmers markets throughout the state of California.
Those guidelines include discontinuing samples, encouraging pre-bagging to expedite purchasing and spacing booths and patrons in accordance with state social distancing measures.
The Laguna Beach Farmer's Market will reopen on Saturday, April 25 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon in lot 11 of the Village Entrance located at the corner of Forest Avenue and Broadway.
Listen to Today's Podcast Update From Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen
In today's podcast update, Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen discusses why the City Council voted to reopen the weekly Farmer’s Market.
He also talks about his letter asking the County of Orange to close its beaches on behalf of the health and safety of local residents, and a letter he and 33 other Orange County mayors signed asking Congress to pass the 'COVID-19 3.5' Supplemental Plan.
We'll also hear how the City secured a $1 Million grant in the state budget for fuel modification efforts to help protect South Laguna Beach.
Laguna Beach City Council Action:
$1 Million Fuel Modification Grant Accepted to Help Protect South Laguna Beach from the Threat of Wildfires
At its regular meeting Tuesday, April 21, the Laguna Beach City Council accepted a fuel modification grant for $1 Million to help protect South Laguna Beach from the threat of wildfires.
In 2019, under the leadership of Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen, the City was successful in obtaining fuel modification funding as part of the 2020 California State Budget.
AB109 was sponsored by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and included a $1 Million grant for use in the South Laguna area.
The grant, accepted by the City on Tuesday, enables the City to complete fuel modification treatment of 17.26 acres in South Laguna Beach, protecting residents by creating a 100-foot wide fuel reduction barrier next to homes and businesses.
Unlike other State Grants, no matching funds are required by the City for this project, which will take place over the next three years.
How to Participate in the Upcoming April 28 Laguna Beach City Council Meeting
The public will not be permitted to physically attend the upcoming Laguna Beach City Council meeting, but you are invited to observe and participate from home by one of the following methods:
1. You may submit comments on any agenda item or on any item not on the agenda in writing via mail to the City Clerk at: 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA. 92651 or by email to cityclerk@lagunabeachcity.net (there is an interactive public communications form on the front page of the City’s website). Please complete the form and email the completed form to the City Clerk no later than 3 p.m. on April 27, 2020 (the day before the City Council meeting) in order for your comments to be submitted to the members of the City Council the day prior the meeting, which provides them sufficient time to review the comments. You may continue to provide written comments up to 12:00 p.m. on April 28, 2020 (the day of the meeting). Please note that while these comments will be provided to the City Council on 3 p.m. on April 28, 2020, the Council members may not have sufficient time to review them prior to the meeting.
2. You may view the meeting live on Cox cable channel 852 and online on the City of Laguna Beach website: www.lagunabeachcity.net.
3. You may listen to the meeting LIVE on KX FM Radio, 104.7.
4. You may listen and comment over the phone or computer during designated public comment periods by following the steps below:
• Call (669) 900-9128, and wait for instructions. The Webinar id is 92092181384#.
• Let us know you want to comment on an item that is being discussed by pressing *9 on your phone.
• When you hear "your phone is unmuted," please proceed with your comment. The time for comments may be limited, so prepare your remarks accordingly.
• You can also click on the link below from your computer or smart phone to participate via zoom: https://zoom.us/j/92092181384
If you are not able to use this Webinar system, you may submit comments via email during the meeting to cityclerk@lagunabeachcity.net.
Laguna Beach Community Development Department to Host Virtual Workshop for Design Professionals
The Laguna Beach Community Development Department will host a virtual Zoom workshop for design professionals on April 28th @ 4:00 pm. Architects, designers, contractors, real estate professionals, residents, property and business owners are encouraged to call in and attend.
At this workshop, the following topics will be discussed:
- How to submit and pay for applications during Covid-19
- Upcoming virtual Planning Commission & Design Review Board meeting schedule
- COVID-19 construction site protocols
- Development Management Team (DMT) meetings
- Answers to general questions from the public
All design professionals and members of the public are invited to participate.
To join the virtual workshop by phone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 949 9699 3850
